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This is a list of companies founded by University of California, Berkeley, alumni, including attendees who enrolled in degree-programs at Berkeley but did not graduate. This list is not exhaustive, as it only includes notable companies of which the founding and development history is well recorded by reliable sources. In particular, subsidiaries are listed with their owners in parentheses.
Historically, Berkeley has been noted as a major player from the public sector in the bidirectional transfer of technology and knowledge between the academia and the regional industry. [1] [2] [3] It has often been cited as one of the leading universities worldwide in producing entrepreneurs and attracting funding for start-up companies. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] To date, its alumni and faculty have founded a large number of companies in Silicon Valley. [4] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
Even as a public institution, Berkeley has on many occasions surpassed private universities in the education and supply of employees and founders to the industry. [16] [14] [15] According to PitchBook, from 2006 to 2017, Berkeley produced 1,089 company founders as alumni or current students, second only to Stanford University in the world; and these founders created 961 companies, more than any other university in the world. [17] [18] According to the more recent 2023 report by PitchBook, Berkeley has produced the most number of founders among all public institutions in the US on all six of its categories: undergraduate, graduate, MBA, and female-specific founders of undergraduate, graduate, and MBA backgrounds. [14] [15]
In this list, founders of a company which merged with other companies to form a new company are counted as founders of the new company. However, founders of a company which later dissolved into several successor companies are not counted as founders of those successor companies; this same rule applies to spin-off companies. Finally, a defunct company is a company that had stopped functioning completely (e.g., bankrupt) without dissolving, merging or being acquired.
This list shows companies in Fortune Global 500 founded or co-founded by UC Berkeley alumni. The cut-off revenue for 2017 Fortune Global 500 companies is $21,609M in 2016. [19]
Company | Region | Fortune Global 500 (2017) [19] | Revenue in US$ millions (2016) [19] | Type | Category | Year founded | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Apple | United States | 9 | 215,639 | Public | Technology | 1976 | |
2 | Softbank Group | Japan | 72 | 82,892 | Public | Conglomerate | 1981 | |
3 | Intel | United States | 144 | 59,387 | Public | Semiconductor | 1968 | |
4 | American International Group (AIG) | United States | 175 | 52,367 | Public | Finance | 1919 | |
5 | Morgan Stanley* | United States | 267 | 37,949 | Public | Finance | 1924 (Dean Witter & Co.) |
*:Merger of different companies, at least one of which was founded by UC Berkeley alumni.
This list shows companies in Fortune 1000 (only for companies within the U.S.) founded or co-founded by UC Berkeley alumni. The cut-off revenue for 2017 Fortune 1000 companies is $1,791M in 2016. [20]
Company | Fortune 1000 (2017) [20] | Revenue in US$ millions (2016) [20] | Type | Category | Year founded | Comments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Apple | 3 | 215,639 | Public | Technology | 1976 | |
2 | Intel | 47 | 59,387 | Public | Semiconductor | 1968 | |
3 | American International Group (AIG) | 55 | 52,367 | Public | Finance | 1919 | |
4 | Morgan Stanley* | 76 | 37,949 | Public | Finance | 1924 (Dean Witter & Co.) | |
5 | Gap Inc. | 178 | 15,516 | Public | Clothing | 1969 | |
6 | eBay | 310 | 8,979 | Public | Technology | 1995 | |
7 | Tesla | 383 | 7,000 | Public | Automotive | 2003 | |
8 | Activision Blizzard* | 406 | 6,608 | Public | Video game | 1979 (Activision) | |
9 | NetApp | 468 | 5,546 | Public | Technology | 1992 | |
10 | Bio-Rad Laboratories | 917 | 2,068 | Public | Medical | 1952 | |
11 | Autodesk | 928 | 2,031 | Public | Software | 1982 | |
12 | Cadence Design Systems* | 992 | 1,816 | Public | Software | 1983 (Solomon Design Automation) |
*:Merger of different companies, at least one of which was founded by Berkeley alumni.
For each company, only the latest rankings (up to three years) are shown in this list.
Company | Fortune Global 500 | Fortune 1000 | Type | Category | Year founded | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sun Microsystems | – | – | – | 204 (2010) | 187 (2009) | 184 (2008) [21] | Acquired | Technology | 1982 |
2 | SanDisk | – | – | – | 464 (2016) | 408 (2015) | 422 (2014) [22] | Acquired | Technology | 1988 |
3 | Bay Networks* | – | – | – | 573 (1999) | 603 (1998) | 600 (1997) [23] | Defunct | Network hardware | 1985 (SynOptics) |
4 | UTStarcom* | – | – | – | 782 (2008) | 613 (2006) | 629 (2005) [24] | Public | Semiconductor | 1991 (Unitech) |
5 | LSI Corporation | – | – | – | 870 (2014) | 808 (2013) | 852 (2012) [25] | Acquired | Semiconductor | 1981 |
6 | Fairchild Semiconductor | – | – | – | 984 (2008) | 963 (2007) | 886 (2005) [26] | Acquired | Semiconductor | 1957 |
*:Merger of different companies, at least one of which was founded by Berkeley alumni.
This index also contains companies listed in section "Notable defunct & dissolved".
Company | Type | Stock | Category | Year founded | Total founders | Founder/co-founder from Berkeley |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alef Aeronautics | Private | Automotive | 2015 | 4 |
| |
Allbirds | Public | NASDAQ: BIRD | Clothing/accessories | 2016 | 2 |
|
Barracuda Networks | Public | NYSE: CUDA | Security/technology | 2003 | 3 [29] |
|
BrightSource Energy | Private | Energy technology | 2004 | 1 [31] |
| |
Caribou Biosciences | Public | NASDAQ: CRBU | Biopharmaceutical | 2011 | 4 [33] [34] |
|
Cerebras | Private | Semiconductor industry/Artificial Intelligence | 2015 | 5 |
| |
Chernin Entertainment | Private | Entertainment | 2009 | 1 [37] |
| |
Cloudera | Public | NYSE: CLDR | Software | 2008 | 4 [39] | |
Coursera | Private | Education/technology | 2012 | 2 [42] | ||
Coverity | Public | NASDQ: SNPS | Security/technology | 2002 | 3[ citation needed ] |
|
Crunchyroll | (NYSE: SONY) | OTT streaming platform | 2006 | 4 |
| |
Databricks | Private | Software | 2013 | 7 [46] [47] |
| |
DLive | (TRON Foundation) | Livestreaming | 2017 | 2 | ||
DoorDash | Public | NYSE: DASH | Online food ordering | 2013 | 4 | |
FireEye | Public | NASDAQ: FEYE | Security/technology | 2004 | 1 [51] |
|
Flexport | Private | Logistics | 2013 | 1 [53] | ||
GeneDx | Public | NASDAQ: WGS | Genetic testing | 2000 | 2 | |
Gevo, Inc | Public | NASDAQ: GEVO | Chemicals | 2005 | 3 [62] |
|
Gradescope | Private | Educational Software | 2014 | 4 | ||
GrandCentral | (NASDAQ: GOOGL) | Telephone | 2006 [67] | 2 [68] |
| |
Hansen Medical | (NYSE: JNJ) [70] | Medical Appliances & Equipment | 2002 | 1 |
| |
Hortonworks | Public | NASDAQ: HDP | Software | 2011 | 8 [74] |
|
Hot or Not | Private | Rating website | 2000 | 2 [75] | ||
Hyperloop One | Private | Technology | 2014 | 3 [76] |
| |
Indiegogo | Private | Crowdfunding | 2000 | 3 [78] | ||
Kabam | Private | Mobile software | 2006 | 4[ citation needed ] | ||
Keyhole, Inc. | (NASDAQ: GOOGL) | Technology | 2001 | 3 [84] |
| |
Lime (Neutron Holdings, Inc.) | Private | Transportation | 2017 | 2 |
| |
Lithium Technologies | Private | Software | 2001 | 5 [87] | ||
Lucid Motors (Atieva) | Public | NASDAQ: LCID | Automotive | 2007 | 3 |
|
Luxe | (STO: VOLCAR-B) | Parking app | 2013 | 2 [92] |
| |
Magoosh | Private | Test preparation | 2009 | 4 [94] | ||
Mammoth Biosciences | Private | Biotechnology/genome editing | 2017 | 4 |
| |
Moderna | Public | NASDAQ: MRNA | Biopharmaceutical | 2010 | 5 |
|
Mozilla Corporation | (Mozilla Foundation) | Software | 2005 | Unknown |
| |
Myspace | (NYSE: TIME) | Social media | 2003 | 2 [103] [104] |
| |
NeuroFocus | (NYSE: NLSN) | Neuroscience/Neuromarketing | 2005 | 4 |
| |
Nextdoor | Public | NYSE: KIND | Social media | 2010 | 3 |
|
Niantic | Private | Mobile software | 2015 | 1[ citation needed ] |
| |
Obihai Technology | (NASDAQ: PLCM) | Communication | 2010 | 2 [107] |
| |
OpenAI | Private | Artificial intelligence | 2015 | 7 [109] | ||
Riverbed Technology | (Thoma Bravo) | Technology | 2002 | 2 [111] |
| |
Rodarte | Private | Clothing/accessories | 2005 | 2 [113] |
| |
Sherpa Capital | Private | Finance | 2013 | 2[ citation needed ] |
| |
SiFive | Private | Semiconductor Design | 2015 | 3 |
| |
Sipura Technology | (NASDAQ: CSCO) | Communication | 2003 | 2 [115] |
| |
Stringr | Private | Videography | 2013 | 2 [116] |
| |
Tapas Media | (KRX:035720) | Webcomic platform | 2012 | 2 | ||
TechCrunch | (Oath Inc.) | Online publisher | 2005 | 1 [119] |
| |
Tesla | Public | NASDAQ: TSLA | Automotive | 2003 | 2 [122] |
|
Tilray | Public | NASDAQ: TLRY / TSX: TLRY | Cannabis, Pharmaceutical | 2013 | 3 | |
TrueCar, Inc. (Zag.com) | Public | NASDAQ: TRUE | Automotive pricing technology | 2005 | 3 |
|
TubeMogul | (NASDAQ: ADBE) | Advertising/marketing | 2007 | 2[ citation needed ] | ||
Wetpaint | (Function(X) [133] ) | Internet technology | 2005 | 2 [134] |
| |
Where 2 Technologies | (NASDAQ: GOOGL) | Online map | 2003 | 4 [136] |
| |
Wildtype | Private | Food technology | 2016 | 2 | ||
Youku (Youku Tudou) | (NYSE: BABA) | Online video | 2006 | 1 [141] |
| |
Zap Energy | Private | Fusion power | 2017 | 3 | ||
Zynga | Public | NASDAQ: ZNGA | Social video game | 2007 | 5 [146] |
|
Company | Type | Stock | Category | Year founded | Total founders | Founder/co-founder from Berkeley |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adenza (Calpyso Technology) | (NASDAQ: NDAQ) | Financial software | 1997 | 2 | ||
Advent Software | (SS&C Technologies) | Financial software | 1983 | 2 [150] | ||
Alexa Internet | (NASDAQ: AMZN) | Web analytics | 1996 | 2 [153] |
| |
Alta Partners | Private | Venture capital | 1996 | 4 [155] |
| |
Apache Software Foundation | Non-profit | Technology | 1999 | Unknown |
| |
Ask jeeves (Ask.com) | (NASDAQ: IAC) | Web search | 1996 | 2 [160] [161] |
| |
Atheros Communications | (NASDAQ: QCOM) | Network communications | 1998 | 2 [163] [164] |
| |
Autodesk | Public | NASDAQ: ADSK | Software | 1982 | 2 [166] | |
Barra Inc. (MSCI Barra) | (NYSE: MSCI) | Stock index | 1975 [169] | 2 [170] |
| |
Blue Nile | Private | Luxury retail | 1999 | 2[ citation needed ] |
| |
Bluemercury | (NYSE: M) | Cosmetics | 1999 | 2 [172] |
| |
Citrix Online (Expertcity Inc.) | (NASDAQ: LOGM) | Software | 1997 | 3 |
| |
CollabNet | Private | Cloud computing | 1999 | 2 [174] |
| |
Computervision | (NASDAQ: PTC) | Software | 1985 | 2 [175] |
| |
Connectix | (NASDAQ: MSFT) | Software | 1988 | 3 [177] |
| |
Dahon | Private | Bicycle | 1982 | 1 [179] |
| |
Digidesign (Avid Audio) | (NASDAQ: AVID) | Audio | 1984 | 2 [181] | ||
eBay | Public | NASDAQ: EBAY | Internet/technology | 1995 | 1 [185] |
|
Extreme Networks | Public | NASDAQ: EXTR | Networking/technology | 1996 | 3 [188] |
|
Handspring, Inc. | (Palm, Inc.) | Personal digital assistants | 1998 | 3 |
| |
Hellman & Friedman | Private | Private equity | 1984 | 2 [194] |
| |
HTC Corportion | Public | TPE: 2498 | Telecommunication | 1997 | 3 [195] | |
InFocus | (Image Holdings Corp.) | Electronics | 1986 | 2 [198] |
| |
Informix Corporation | (NYSE: IBM) | Software | 1980 | 1 [200] |
| |
Inktomi | (NASDAQ: YHOO) | Software | 1996 | 2 [202] |
| |
Intuitive Surgical | Public | NASDAQ: ISRG | Medical Appliances & Equipment | 1995 | 3 |
|
Knowledge Universe | Private | Education | 1996 | 3 |
| |
Lattice Semiconductor | Public | NASDAQ: LSCC | Semiconductor | 1983 | 3 [208] |
|
Legalzoom | Private | Legal services | 1999 [211] | 3 [212] |
| |
LoopNet | (NASDAQ: CSGP) | Technology | 1995 | 1 [214] |
| |
LSI Logic | (NASDQA: AVGO) | Semiconductor | 1981 | 4 [216] |
| |
Macsyma, Inc. | (Symbolics) | Software | 1992 | 2 [218] |
| |
Marvell Technology Group | Public | NASDAQ: MRVL | Semiconductor | 1995 | 2 [220] |
|
MoveOn.org | Non-profit | Petition website | 1998 | 2 [223] |
| |
NetApp | Public | NASDAQ: NTAP | Technology | 1992 | 2 [225] [226] |
|
Optigon Interactive (TEN) (Pogo.com) | (NASDAQ: EA) | Gaming | 1996 | 2 [228] |
| |
Organic, Inc. | (NYSE: OMC) | Advertising/Online Advertising/Web design | 1993 | 4 |
| |
Palm, Inc. | (NYSE: HPQ) | Computer hardware and software | 1992 | 1 |
| |
PF.Magic | (Euronext: UBI) | Video game | 1991 | Unknown | ||
PowerBar | (NYSE: POST) | Food | 1986 | 2 [235] [236] |
| |
Renaissance Technologies | Private | Hedge fund | 1982 | 1 [237] |
| |
Rotten Tomatoes | (Fandango) | Review/user community | 1998 | 3[ citation needed ] | ||
RSA Security | (Symphony Technology Group) | Cybersecurity/Network Security and Authentication | 1982 | 3 |
| |
SanDisk | (NASDAQ: WDC) | Technology | 1988 | 3 [243] [244] |
| |
Shazam | (NASDAQ:APPL) | Software/Digital audio | 1999 | 4 | ||
Silicon Gaming | (NYSE: IGT) | Gaming/Arcade game | 1993 | 3 |
| |
Softbank | Public | TYO: 9984 | Finance/investment | 1981 | 1 [250] |
|
Solomon Design Automation(Cadence Design Systems) | Public | NASDAQ: CDNS | Software | 1983 | 3 [252] |
|
Sun Microsystems | (NYSE: ORCL) | Technology | 1982 | 4 [255] | ||
Sybase | (NYSE: SAP) | Software | 1984 | 4 [257] | ||
TAE Technologies (Tri Alpha Energy) | Private | Fusion power, Energy storage | 1998 | 4 |
| |
The Learning Company (TLC) | (NASDAQ: HMHC) | Educational Software | 1980 | 4 |
| |
Third Point Management | Private | Hedge fund | 1995 | 1 [263] |
| |
TPG Capital | Private | Private equity | 1992 | 3 |
| |
Unitech (UTStarcom) | Public | NASDAQ: UTSI | Telecom | 1991 | 1 [266] |
|
Vermeer Technologies | (NASDQ: MSFT) | Software | 1994 | 2 [267] |
| |
VIA Technologies | Public | TWSE: 2388 | Computer Hardware (Custom Embedded Electronics) | 1987 | 1 | |
Vimicro | Private | Technology | 1999 | 2 [269] |
| |
VMware | Public | NYSE: VMW | Software | 1998 | 5 [271] [272] |
|
Wind River Systems | (NASDAQ: INTC) | Software | 1981 | 2 [275] [276] |
| |
Zowie Intertainment | (The Lego Group) | Smart toy | 1998 | 3 |
|
Company | Type | Stock | Category | Year founded | Total founders | Founder/co-founder from Berkeley |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Activision | (NASDAQ: MSFT) | Video game | 1979 | 5 [278] [279] |
| |
Apple | Public | NASDAQ: AAPL | Electronics/technology | 1976 | 3 [282] |
|
Applicon | (FWB: SIE) | Technology | 1969 | 4 [284] [285] |
| |
Blum Capital | Private | Finance | 1975 | 1 [287] |
| |
Cato Institute | Non-profit | Think tank | 1974 | 3 [288] |
| |
Computers and Structures | Private | Engineering software | 1975 | 1 [290] |
| |
Gap Inc. | Public | NYSE: GPS | Clothing/accessories | 1969 | 2 [292] |
|
Intel | Public | NASDAQ: INTC | Semiconductor | 1968 | 2 [294] |
|
Real Goods Solar | Public | NASDAQ: RGSE | Energy | 1978 | 1 [296] |
|
Scientific Data Systems | (NASDAQ: XRX) | Computer Hardware | 1961 | 12 [298] |
| |
Zilog | (NASDAQ: IXYS) | Semiconductor | 1974 | 2 [301] |
|
Company | Type | Stock | Category | Year founded | Total founders | Founder/co-founder from Berkeley |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American International Group (AIG) | Public | NYSE: AIG | Finance | 1919 | 1 [303] |
|
BBN Technologies | (NYSE: RTN) | Technology | 1948 | 3 [306] |
| |
Bio-Rad Laboratories | Public | NYSE: BIO | Medical | 1952 | 2 [308] |
|
Commercial Radio Hong Kong | Private | Radio | 1959 | 1 [310] |
| |
Dean Witter Reynolds | Public | NYSE: MS | Finance | 1924 | 3 [311] [312] |
|
Fairchild Semiconductor | (NASDAQ: ON) | Semiconductor | 1957 | 8 [314] |
| |
Getty Oil | Private | Energy | 1942 | 1 [315] |
| |
HOK | Private | Architecture/engineering/urban planning | 1955 | 3 | ||
Research Corporation | Non-profit | Research fund | 1912 | 1 [322] |
|
Company | Type | Stock | Category | Year founded | Total founders | Founder/co-founder from Berkeley |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amiga (Hi-Toro) | Defunct | Computer | 1982 | 3 |
| |
Berkeley Softworks (GeoWorks) | Defunct | Software | 1983 [326] | 1 [327] |
| |
Berkeley Systems | Defunct | Software | 1987 | 2 [224] |
| |
Eazel | Defunct | Software Development | 1999 | 3 |
| |
Etec Systems, Inc. | Defunct | Equipment | 1970 | Unknown |
| |
General Magic | Defunct | Personal digital assistant/Software | 1990 | 3 |
| |
Imagic | Defunct | Video game | 1981 | 9 [334] | ||
SynOptics | Defunct | Network hardware | 1985 | 2 [340] |
| |
Varian Associates | Defunct | Technology | 1948 | 4 [342] |
| |
Wheels of Zeus | Defunct | Computer hardware | 2002 | 2 |
| |
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