In the realm of entrepreneurship, there are instances when a burst of creativity coincides with a chance opportunity. Occasionally, this brief spark transforms into thriving companies that become integral to our daily existence.
For certain entrepreneurs, their billion-dollar enterprises have attained recognition even before their names. Discover more about these trailblazers and how they harnessed their accomplishments to establish 10 groundbreaking brands that have become essential to our lives, cherished and sometimes indispensable.
Airbnb
Brian Chesky, Nathan Blecharczyk, Joe Gebbia
In 2007, faced with the challenge of affording rent in San Francisco, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia seized the opportunity presented by a design conference in the city. With limited hotel availability, the roommates converted their loft into a “designer’s bed and breakfast,” complete with three air mattresses and complimentary breakfast. Recognizing the seed of an idea amid one of the most challenging economic periods since the Great Depression, they persisted and enlisted software engineer Nathan Blecharczyk. Yet, it required three attempts, an experience with a premier startup accelerator, a $600,000 seed funding, a rebranding, and unwavering determination for the trio to establish a solid foundation. Over the last 16 years, Airbnb has adeptly managed city-specific regulations and public relations missteps to evolve into the $101 billion publicly traded entity renowned globally.
Glossier
Emily Weiss
The Vogue fashion assistant-turned-beauty influencer leveraged her platform to introduce Glossier in 2014 with a selection of four minimalist “must-have” products. Under Emily Weiss’s leadership, the millennial beauty sensation focused on an immensely successful direct-to-consumer approach, harnessing social media and influencers at every stage. In just a handful of years, this “marketing genius” brand—recognized for its unique “millennial pink” aesthetic and engaging pop-up events—flourished into a unicorn, boasting a valuation surpassing $1 billion. In 2022, Weiss stepped down as CEO, stating, “A founder is a perpetual identity; it begins with a spark of inspiration and never concludes. I will always remain Glossier’s founder. However, a CEO is the driving force that a company looks to, to guide it into the future.” As the brand navigated various challenges before Weiss’s exit, the current CEO, Kyle Leahy, is making her unique impact felt within the iconic business.
Larry Page, Sergey Brin
It may seem unbelievable, but a disagreement between two computer science graduate students led to the creation of a search engine that would redefine the world and fuel the burgeoning internet. The future co-founders crossed paths in the summer of 1995 when Sergey Brin was assigned to show a group of prospective students, including Larry Page, around Stanford University. A year later, they were immersed in the development of what would eventually become Google. Together, they played a crucial role in the company’s growth and transformation, from its launch in 1998 to their departure in 2019. Page and Brin’s two decades at the helm saw a continual stream of brand innovation, introducing products like Gmail and Google Maps, in addition to acquiring YouTube. Both founders continue to serve on the board of Alphabet Investor Relations, Google’s parent organization.
NIKE
Phil Knight, Bill Bowerman
Prior to the integration of “Jordans” into American society, co-founder Phil Knight was a collegiate athlete at the University of Oregon, in search of a superior, lightweight, and more comfortable running shoe. Bill Bowerman, Knight’s renowned coach, had a reputation for tweaking his athletes’ footwear for enhanced performance. Knight’s yearning for a better shoe could not be outpaced. After obtaining an MBA from Stanford University, he partnered with Bowerman in 1964 to establish Blue Ribbon Sports. However, 1971 marked a pivotal moment for the venture, as it adopted the NIKE name, commissioned the iconic “swoosh” logo, and Bowerman designed the inaugural line of waffle-soled sneakers. Years of clever and emotionally-driven marketing, along with celebrity endorsements, solidified NIKE’s presence in contemporary culture.
OpenAI
Notable Founders: Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Elon Musk, Ilya Sutskever
At times, altering the course of history requires collaboration. A group of entrepreneurs, researchers, and scientists came together to establish the nonprofit artificial intelligence research lab OpenAI in 2015. From its inception, the founders emphasized their commitment to the safe advancement of AI technologies that would “serve humanity as a whole.”
Each founder contributed distinct skills to the initiative: Elon Musk’s prominence raised awareness about AI safety; Sam Altman provided entrepreneurial insight; Greg Brockman contributed technical expertise; and Ilya Sutskever showcased his research skills. Despite grappling with internal disputes—including lawsuits (one initiated by co-founder Musk) and the swift firing and reinstatement of Altman as CEO—the nonprofit has maintained its position as a frontrunner in AI development, producing potentially game-changing technologies like ChatGPT.
Oracle
Larry Ellison, Bob Miner, Ed Oates
Before Larry Ellison ascended to become the world’s fifth-wealthiest individual, he was a two-time college dropout in search of opportunity during the 1960s in California, close to what is now known as Silicon Valley. In 1977, the self-taught programmer, alongside fellow Ampex alumni Bob Miner and Ed Oates, launched the initial version of Oracle with a modest investment of $2,000. This foundational company would transform the way businesses globally utilize data. (The CIA was among their first clients.) Ellison’s foresight regarding the internet’s societal influences led him to develop the world’s first autonomous database. Under his stewardship, Oracle expanded from a strategic startup into a robust corporation employing 164,000 individuals and servicing 430,000 clients across 175 countries. Ellison left his position as Oracle’s CEO in 2014 but remains the chairman of the board and chief technology officer. Miner passed away in 1994, while Oates retired in 1996.
Salesforce
Marc Benioff, Frank Dominguez, Parker Harris, Dave Moellenhoff
As the world braced for Y2K and adjusted to navigating AOL, Marc Benioff was light-years ahead of the curve. The former Oracle executive was well-acquainted with rapid innovation, which prompted him to share his idea for an internet-based sales automation system with Parker Harris during lunch in November 1998. Harris involved his colleagues Frank Dominguez and Dave Moellenhoff from a software consultancy. Salesforce officially launched in March 1999, evolving from a four-person team operating out of a one-bedroom apartment to a global enterprise with over 70,000 employees and a towering 61-story, 1,070-foot-high skyscraper dominating the San Francisco skyline.
Taylor Swift Productions
Taylor Swift
Throughout her illustrious career, the groundbreaking artist has influenced the trajectory of the music industry while establishing her entrepreneurial brand through Taylor Swift Productions. This company, encapsulating Swift’s business endeavors, has played a crucial role in producing her latest music videos and short films. However, one of its standout successes was the distribution agreement with AMC Theatres to showcase the film version of her extensive Eras Tour. The movie amassed $250 million globally, with $92 million earned during its opening weekend alone in North America. Now a newly established billionaire, Swift is celebrated for her infectious and compelling lyrical hooks, but her sharp business sense and marketing prowess have evolved to such an impressive degree that they’ve inspired multiple university courses. Regardless of what lies ahead for Swift, one thing is clear: Her journey is just beginning.
Brian Acton, Jan Koum
Brian Acton and Jan Koum forged a friendship while both were engineers at Yahoo in the late 1990s, their camaraderie strengthened by a mutual work ethic. Leaving Yahoo in 2007, they sought new endeavors. Koum, a Ukrainian immigrant, envisioned WhatsApp after acquiring an iPhone and consistently missing calls. He aimed to create an app that allowed friends to easily see each other’s availability. With the launch of Apple’s app store, he recognized a unique opportunity, aware that app development would be crucial. The duo collaborated to develop WhatsApp, releasing it in 2009. In 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for a staggering $19 billion—just a few years after rejecting both Acton and Koum during their job applications. Facebook aimed to monetize its new asset through advertising, which the founders fundamentally opposed, leading to their eventual exits. Nonetheless, over 2 billion users in more than 180 countries continue to utilize the free app, ensuring its global recognition.
YouTube
Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, Jawed Karim
The concept was sparked by a common issue. The three PayPal colleagues sought an efficient way to share videos with friends but faced numerous technological barriers. During their downtime, they began crafting the code that would later evolve into YouTube. In April 2005, Jawed Karim filmed the very first YouTube video—19 seconds of him discussing elephants at the San Diego Zoo. Google acquired the platform for $1.65 billion a mere year and a half later. Since then, the co-founders have pursued different ventures, yet their creation remains a transformative force in branding and has fundamentally altered how the world entertains, educates, and connects.
