Dropbox was founded in 2007 by Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi to synchronize files online.
Drew Houston conceived Dropbox after repeatedly forgetting a USB flash drive. He wanted files to remain accessible across computers without manual copying. Arash Ferdowsi joined him as co-founder while the project was being developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Dropbox entered Y Combinator’s Summer 2007 batch. Its early product demonstrated a folder that synchronized files across devices, hiding much of the technical complexity from users. This simple experience helped popularize consumer cloud storage.
Dropbox is often confused with Box, which was also an early cloud-storage company. Dropbox initially emphasized personal file synchronization and sharing, while Box developed a strong enterprise focus. Dropbox later added collaborative tools, business plans and integrations, but synchronized folders remained central to its identity.