In 1976, two young men, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, laid the foundation for what would become one of the most iconic companies in history—Apple. At the time, they were just 21 and 25 years old, respectively, with big dreams but limited resources.
To get their first project off the ground, Jobs and Wozniak sold personal items to raise money. Jobs sold his Volkswagen bus for $1,500, while Wozniak sold his Hewlett-Packard calculator for $500. With a total of $2,000, they started building what would be their first product: the Apple I. This first computer wasn’t as powerful or sleek as the computers we use today, but it was a starting point.
On April 1, 1976 (April Fools’ Day), they officially introduced the Apple I. Soon after, a local computer store placed an order for 100 units, agreeing to pay $50,000. For two young entrepreneurs, this was a massive success, but there was a challenge—they didn’t have enough money to buy the parts required to assemble the 100 computers. Using their connections and buying parts on credit, they managed to get everything they needed. With the help of friends and family, they worked hard to meet the deadline. The order was completed, and just one day before their credit ran out, they were able to pay off their suppliers. This was a major turning point in the story of Apple.
As the company grew, Jobs and Wozniak knew they needed someone with more business expertise. That’s when they met Mike Markkula, a former manager at Intel, who saw great potential in their ideas. Markkula invested $92,000 in Apple, which was a large sum at the time. He also helped secure a $250,000 credit line and put together a solid business plan to ensure the company’s future growth. His involvement gave Apple the stability it needed to scale up production.
The release of the Apple II in 1977 marked a significant breakthrough for the company. Unlike the Apple I, which was more of a DIY kit for tech hobbyists, the Apple II was a fully-assembled, user-friendly computer that appealed to a broader audience. It became a massive success, and within just three years, Apple’s sales skyrocketed to $139 million. The Apple II is considered one of the products that revolutionized the personal computer industry.
In 1980, Apple made history by going public. When a company “goes public,” it sells shares to the general public through the stock market. On its first day of trading, Apple’s value reached $1.2 billion. By the end of the day, the company’s market capitalization had increased to $1.8 billion—a staggering amount, especially for a company that had started in a garage just a few years earlier.
The Macintosh and Challenges
Apple’s next major product, the Macintosh, was launched in 1984. It was marketed as a product for those who embraced creativity and individuality. The Macintosh was more user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing than IBM’s personal computers (PCs), which dominated the market at the time. However, it faced compatibility issues with IBM systems, which limited its potential.
During this time, Jobs recruited John Sculley, a former Pepsi-Cola executive, to become Apple’s CEO. Although the Macintosh had great sales initially, tensions between Jobs and Sculley grew due to different visions for the company. As a result, Jobs left Apple in 1985, a move that shocked the tech world.
Though Jobs left Apple, his story with the company was far from over. In 1997, Apple was facing severe financial problems and was on the verge of bankruptcy. Jobs returned as CEO and worked to turn the company around. His return marked the beginning of a new era for Apple, transforming it from a struggling computer company into a leader in digital products.
Under Jobs’ leadership, Apple introduced revolutionary products like the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad, which completely redefined the technology industry. These innovations not only revived Apple’s fortunes but also made it one of the most valuable companies in the world.
By the time of Steve Jobs’ death in 2011, Apple’s market value had reached a staggering $391 billion. The company had become a global powerhouse, admired for its cutting-edge products, sleek designs, and relentless focus on innovation.
From selling a Volkswagen bus and a calculator to becoming the face of a tech revolution, Jobs and Wozniak’s journey is a prove to how innovation, persistence, and the right partnerships can lead to extraordinary success.
