Microsoft’s startup story: A new look, with insights for today
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Todd Bishop Host
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David Marquardt Guest
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Margaret O’Mara Guest
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This special edition of the GeekWire Podcast is the first in a four-episode series that we’ll be publishing in the months ahead as part of our year-long Microsoft @ 50 project, recognizing the company’s 50th anniversary in April 2025. On this episode, we’ll take a fresh look at Microsoft’s startup story with tech historian and author Margaret O’Mara of the University of Washington, author of The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America; plus highlights from a recent conversation with David Marquardt, Microsoft’s first outside investor and a longtime board member. Register here for our Microsoft @ 50 event, March 20, 2025, in Seattle. Microsoft @ 50 is an independent GeekWire editorial project supported by Accenture. With GeekWire Co-Founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chapters
- 0:00 Introduction and early days of Microsoft
- 0:47 David Marquardt's first meeting with Bill Gates
- 1:55 Microsoft's financial status and early investment
- 3:01 Welcome and series introduction
- 3:45 Accenture sponsorship message
- 4:27 Comparing Microsoft's founding to other tech companies
- 7:03 Key ingredients for Microsoft's early success
- 9:00 Skepticism about software as a business
- 10:01 Reflections on the early PC era and Microsoft's focus
- 10:56 Software as a product vs. bundled service
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