Intel
Intel, founded in 1968 by Robert Noyce and Gordon Moore, is the Silicon Valley granddaddy that turned microprocessors into a multi-billion-dollar industry, powering everything from your first PC to the latest supercomputers. The company’s “Intel Inside” campaign of the 1990s was marketing genius, embedding the brand in the public consciousness as the undisputed king of chips. However, recent years have seen Intel stumble as it struggles to keep pace with rivals like AMD and Nvidia, with delays in new chip technologies and a few too many leadership shake-ups tarnishing its once-impenetrable armor. The 1971 IPO, which valued Intel at a mere $58 million, seems quaint compared to its current market cap, but the company’s legacy remains a mixed bag of innovation and missed opportunities. Intel is still a giant, but the tech world is littered with reminders that even the most formidable players can lose their edge if they don’t stay ahead of the curve.