Founds Memory Dealers
While in college Ver founds Memory Dealers by buying computer parts from companies that had gone bankrupt after the dotcom bubble burst. He invests $1400 from a summer job into 14 nine-gigabyte drives which he sold on Ebay for $350-380 each. He quits college shortly after.
Yahoo buys Viaweb
Yahoo issues 455,000 common shares in exchange for Viaweb, valuing the deal around $49 million. Viaweb now has 21 full-time employees at its Cambridge, Mass., headquarters. Graham says it was an early prototype for today’s startups:
The reason we know that it’s possible to start a start-up with about $10,000 and someone to help with the paperwork is because that’s exactly what we had.
Operates second pub
Houser owns and operates Rusty’s Buckhead Pub in Lagrange, GA., for two years and four months
In a small town one in the entertainment business had better be in with all crowds.We successfully provided entertainment for all while maintaining an atmosphere worth a regular visit. Well rounded bands, food, and genuine communication coupled with a “don’t hold back” approach was a winning combination.
NAACP elects Bond board chairman
NAACP elects Bond as board chairman and he serves for 10 years.
When everybody else was getting worked up, I could find in Julian a cool serious analysis of what was going on.
Business start
Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings found and launch the Netflix website after Hastings was outraged at a $40 overdue fee when he tried returning Apollo 13 to a local video rental store. Originally, Netflix was created with 30 employees and only 940 titles for rent at 50¢ a piece.
Starts HomeNet
After he drops out of college his mother loans him $1,000 to start HomeNet, a company that installs fiber-optic cable. To make ends meet, he works at car dealerships, setting up computers and helping dealers save money by, for example, stringing together their PCs so they could use a common printer.
Bill Gates (was my inspiration) because he started a company in his basement — a software-based company. I could associate with him. He was solving problems with software, and I knew I could do that.
One dealership asks him to build a website to advertise its cars online. Biter doesn’t know how to create a site, with a friend, makes one. Soon he starts building websites for other dealers.
Biter starts building software that allows information about sales and listings to be handled electronically. The software cleaned up any spotty data…
Dealers would spell ‘Chevrolet’ 100 different ways
…and let sellers and buyers both know exactly what was available where, in real time.
Establishes Linc Media
Establishes LINC Media, a systems integration and incubation company. By 2008 the company has annual revenue of US$15 million and 140 employees. Lloyd says he runs his companies with two mottos:
Make a profit, and have mutual respect.
Co-founds AudioNet
With fellow University of Indiana graduate Todd Wagner, co-founds AudioNet.com, a web site enabling access to live sports games online. Its initial live broadcasts take place later in September 1995.
Start Crisscross Internet
From 1994 Tokyo Classified readers are able to place ads using an online BBS system. As the Internet grows in popularity Mark & Mary start Crisscross Internet, one of the first Internet Providers in Japan. Crisscross’s “Instant Internet” allows anyone to access the Internet by calling a premium-rate telephone number from their modem for an per-minute fee of ¥20 (approx $0.2). The business grows rapidly and gains over 5000 customers.
Founds Intensity Ventures
With the proceeds of the sale of his company Feld founds Intensity Ventures, a company that helps launch and operate software companies. Intensity Ventures was a venture affiliate of SOFTBANK.
Sells Feld Technologies to AmeriData
Feld Technologies, now at 20 people and just under $2m in revenues, is acquired by Sage Technologies (which becomes AmeriData Technologies). Feld becomes Chief Technology Officer. Feld Technologies becomes AmeriData Consulting. By 1997 AmeriData Consulting is a 400 person, $40 million organization and is sold to GE Capital.
Feld, Jilk become partners
Feld technologies becomes formalized when Feld and Jilk become partners. One month later they incorporate as an S-corporation. Together they build the company into one of Boston’s leading software consulting firms.
Feld: Brad, even though he could code, was out in the world trying to make rain. That’s oversimplifying what we did, but it was in large part our role in the business. There is no way I could make rain at all, and that is still not my strength. And, although Brad is capable of working on code, he was not motivated by it. He liked going out and finding clients, and having high level conversations.
Starts LINC Computer
Starts an outsourcing business called LINC Computer, which Lloyd claims is the first foreign-run IT company in Japan specifically servicing other foreign firms.
Starts Feld Technologies
While while a sophomore at MIT he works part-time as a developer for a Dallas company. His work includes writing a management system for a very large dental practice with over 30,000 customers an engagement means he has to commute frequently between Los Angeles and Boston during school.
They paid me a royalty on all the software I developed for them, so I learned the value of being in business for yourself at an early age.
Felds lack of experience is his biggest challenge. After losing money for a few months in a row he fires staff, cuts costs and resets the business to grow more slowly and profitably. He credits his father and other mentors who helped him stay out of trouble.
Starts Micro Solutions
Cuban starts a company called Micro Solutions, working as a PC consultant selling software, training and configuring computers. One day he needed a part and went to PCs Limited which was run by someone younger than him.
I was really impressed by him. I remember telling him, “Dude, I think we’re both going places.” That “dude” was Michael Dell.
That year he got Micro Solutions into local-area networks, hooking up small to medium business sizes so they could share information. The company grows to $30 Million in revenues.
Founds Shaolin Wahnam
Sifu Wong founds the Shaolin Wahnam School of kung fu and qigong. The school is named after his two most influential teachers Sifu Lai Chin Wah and Sifu Ho Fatt Nam. He states that the aim for founding the school is:
[to transmit] genuine Shaolin Kungfu, Shaolin Chi Kung and Shaolin philosophy.
IPO creates 300 millionaires
Apple launches its IPO on the NASDAQ selling 4.6 million shares at $22 per share. As soon as the bell rung in the NYSE about 300 millionaires were instantly created, some 40 of which are Apple employees and investors. Steve Jobs, the largest shareholder, made $217 million dollars alone.
Opens pub
Houser opens the Peachtree pub in Columbus, Georgia. He runs the business for one year and six months before selling it as a going concern:
This establishment was the first “oldies bar” in Columbus and the first to have a live jazz band. This business was sold as a going concern and continued profitably for more than ten years thereafter.
Starts venture capital firm with Eugene Klein
Perkins founds Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, one of the first venture capital firms with Eugene Klein. Later, Frank Caufield and Brook Byers joined the firm, eventually becoming named partners.
Founds SPLC
Bond helps found the Southern Poverty Law Center, a public-interest law firm based in Montgomery, Alabama, and serves as its president for eight years and as an emeritus board member until his death.