Trending Now - Exploring Apple's Origins: the Untold Stories Behind Its Founders
WHO:
Bill Fernandez, Apple’s first full-time employee, introduced Steve Jobs to Steve Wozniak in 1971.
Ron Rosenbaum, writer for Esquire, inspired Jobs and Wozniak's first business venture with his article "Secrets of the Little Blue Box."
Liza Loop, founder of Lo*op Center, became Apple’s first user and took computers into schools.
Steve Jobs, cofounder of Apple
Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple
Ronald Wayne, cofounder of Apple
Mike Markkula, early investor and chairman of Apple
Paul Terrell, cofounder of the Byte Shop
Dan Bricklin, creator of VisiCalc
Bob Frankston, collaborator with Bricklin on VisiCalc
Liza Loop, educator and first user of Apple-1
Nolan Bushnell, cofounder of Atari
Regis McKenna, marketing consultant for Apple
Chris Espinosa, early Apple employee
Daniel Kottke, early Apple employee
WHAT:
Ronald Wayne signed an amendment stating he would receive $800 for his 10% ownership in Apple just 12 days after the partnership's formation.
Mike Markkula invested $91,000 in Apple and guaranteed a $250,000 loan, becoming chairman when Apple incorporated on January 3, 1977.
The Apple II was shipped in June 1977, and by January 1978, Apple had its first $250,000 quarter, having shipped over 250 Apple IIs.
Apple Computer Company was formed on April 1, 1976.
The Apple-1 was sold for $40 each after being built for $20.
Ronald Wayne sold his 10% stake in Apple for $800.
Apple II was launched in June 1977.
VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet software, was released for the Apple II in October 1979.
Apple had 2.5 billion devices in active use as of 2026.
WHERE:
The first West Coast Computer Faire took place in San Francisco in April 1977.
Cupertino, California, where Apple was founded.
The Byte Shop, the first chain of computer stores, where Apple-1 was sold.
Homebrew Computer Club, where early Apple computers were showcased.
WHEN:
The Homebrew Computer Club was formed in response to the January 1975 cover story of Popular Electronics on the MITS Altair 8800.
The Apple II was released in June 1977.
Apple was founded on April 1, 1976.
The first West Coast Computer Faire took place in April 1977.
The Apple II was released in June 1977.
VisiCalc was released in October 1979.
Apple incorporated on January 3, 1977.
WHY:
Jobs and Wozniak aimed to create a personal computer that was accessible to the general public, inspired by the excitement surrounding the Altair computer.
Jobs and Wozniak aimed to create a personal computer that was accessible to the general public.
The partnership with Markkula was motivated by the need for funding and business expertise.
HOW:
Wozniak designed the Apple II to be fully integrated and user-friendly, with color graphics and BASIC programming built-in.
Jobs and Wozniak sold their personal possessions, including Jobs's Volkswagen bus and Wozniak's HP calculator, to fund the initial production of the Apple-1.
The Apple-1 was initially sold as a bare circuit board for tech enthusiasts to assemble.
The Apple II was designed to be user-friendly, integrating color graphics and a built-in BASIC programming language.
(UPDATED March 26, 2026 09:18 UTC)
In a significant moment for tech history, Bill Fernandez, Apple’s first full-time employee, introduced Steve Jobs to Steve Wozniak in 1971, which eventually led to their groundbreaking work in personal computing. Inspired by an article from Ron Rosenbaum, Jobs and Wozniak launched their first business venture, and by June 1977, the Apple II was shipped, marking a pivotal point as Apple recorded its first $250,000 quarter by January 1978. The Homebrew Computer Club, formed in response to the excitement surrounding the MITS Altair 8800, played a crucial role in fostering innovation, while Wozniak's design of the Apple II emphasized user-friendliness with integrated color graphics and BASIC programming.
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(UPDATED March 26, 2026 07:22 UTC)
On April 1, 1976, Apple Computer Company was founded in Cupertino, California, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne, who sold his 10% stake for just $800 shortly after. The Apple-1, which was sold for $40 each after being built for $20, marked the beginning of a journey that would lead to the launch of the Apple II in June 1977 and the release of VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet software, in October 1979. As of 2026, Apple boasts an impressive 2.5 billion devices in active use, a testament to its founders' vision of creating personal computers accessible to the general public.