Microsoft
Computing company founded 1975 by Bill Gates + Paul Allen. Best known for Windows + Office. Today broad: cloud (Azure), AI (OpenAI partnership), gaming (Xbox + Activision), developer tools (GitHub, VS Code, .NET).
Era 1: PC monopoly (DOS, Windows 95, IE6, Office). Antitrust 1998–2001. Era 2: Steve Ballmer (2000–2014) — Linux-hostility, missed mobile. Era 3: Satya Nadella (2014–) — cloud-first, openness (Linux + GitHub acquisition 2018, OpenAI investment 2019+, $13B+, .NET open source). Today ~$3 trillion market cap (2025), the world's second-most valuable company. Build conference annually in Seattle. Brad Smith (President) leads global policy + AI regulation.