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MICROSOFT CORPORATION (sample)

Company Profile

Empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more

Quick Facts

Founded	April 4, 1975
Founders	Bill Gates and Paul Allen
Headquarters	Redmond, Washington, USA
CEO	Satya Nadella (since 2014)
Industry	Technology, Software, Cloud Computing, AI
Employees	Over 225,000 (2024)
Revenue (FY 2024)	$245.1 billion USD
Market Cap	Over $3 trillion (2024)
Stock Symbol	NASDAQ: MSFT

Company Overview

Microsoft Corporation is a multinational technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. As one of the world’s most valuable companies and a leader in the technology industry, Microsoft develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.

Founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975, Microsoft rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the 1980s, followed by Windows. Today, under the leadership of CEO Satya Nadella, Microsoft has transformed into a cloud-first, AI-powered technology leader with diverse revenue streams across enterprise software, cloud computing, gaming, and artificial intelligence.

The company’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. This vision drives Microsoft’s innovation across multiple domains including productivity software (Microsoft 365), cloud infrastructure (Azure), business applications (Dynamics 365), gaming (Xbox), professional networking (LinkedIn), and cutting-edge artificial intelligence research and products.

Core Business Segments

Productivity and Business Processes

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365): Cloud-based productivity suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams
LinkedIn: Professional networking platform with 900+ million members globally
Dynamics 365: Cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) solutions

Intelligent Cloud

Azure: Second-largest cloud computing platform globally, offering IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS solutions
Azure AI: Comprehensive AI and machine learning services including Azure OpenAI Service
GitHub: Leading software development and collaboration platform (acquired 2018)
Windows Server and SQL Server: Enterprise infrastructure software

More Personal Computing

Windows: Operating system powering over 1 billion devices worldwide
Xbox: Gaming console, Game Pass subscription service, and gaming content
Surface: Premium line of laptops, tablets, and accessories
Bing: Search engine and advertising platform

Historical Timeline

The Founding Era (1975-1980)

1975: Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after developing a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800 microcomputer. The company’s original name was Micro-Soft (hyphenated), combining ‘microcomputer’ and ‘software’.

1976: The hyphen was removed from the company name, becoming ‘Microsoft’. Gates dropped out of Harvard to focus full-time on the company.

1979: Microsoft moved its headquarters from Albuquerque to Bellevue, Washington. The company released its first version of BASIC for the 8080 and 8086 processors, establishing itself as a software developer.

The DOS and Windows Revolution (1980-1990)

1980: IBM approached Microsoft to create an operating system for its first personal computer. Microsoft purchased 86-DOS from Seattle Computer Products and adapted it to create MS-DOS.

1981: MS-DOS 1.0 was released with the IBM PC. Microsoft restructured as a privately held corporation with Bill Gates as president and chairman and Paul Allen as executive vice president.

1983: Microsoft announced the development of Windows, a graphical user interface (GUI) for MS-DOS. The company also launched Microsoft Mouse and Microsoft Word for DOS.

1985: Windows 1.0 was released, introducing a graphical interface to PC users. Microsoft also released the first version of Microsoft Excel for Macintosh.

1986: Microsoft went public with an initial public offering (IPO) at $21 per share, raising $61 million. The company moved to its current Redmond, Washington campus.

1987: Windows 2.0 was released with improved graphics and the ability to overlap windows. Microsoft also released Excel for Windows.

1989: Microsoft Office was introduced, bundling Word, Excel, and PowerPoint into a single productivity suite.

Dominance and Diversification (1990-2000)

1990: Windows 3.0 was released with significant improvements in performance and interface, selling 10 million copies in its first two years.

1992: Windows 3.1 was released with multimedia capabilities. Microsoft also launched Windows for Workgroups, targeting business networking.

1995: Windows 95 revolutionized personal computing with the Start menu, taskbar, and built-in Internet capabilities. Internet Explorer 1.0 was also released. Microsoft Network (MSN) launched as an online service.

1996: Microsoft launched MSNBC (with NBC) and Hotmail, one of the first webmail services (acquired from Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith).

1998: Windows 98 was released with improved USB support and Internet integration. The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging monopolistic practices.

2000: Windows 2000 launched for business users. Steve Ballmer succeeded Bill Gates as CEO, while Gates remained as chairman and chief software architect.

Enterprise Focus and Gaming (2000-2010)

2001: Windows XP was released, becoming one of Microsoft’s most successful operating systems. Xbox gaming console was launched, entering the gaming hardware market.

2002: The .NET Framework 1.0 was released, establishing Microsoft’s modern development platform.

2005: Xbox 360 was launched. Microsoft also released SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005.

2006: Windows Vista was released with enhanced security features and visual redesign, though it faced criticism for performance issues.

2007: Microsoft Office 2007 introduced the ribbon interface. Windows Server 2008 was released.

2008: Bill Gates transitioned to part-time work at Microsoft to focus on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Windows Azure (later Microsoft Azure) was announced as Microsoft’s cloud computing platform.

2009: Bing search engine was launched to compete with Google. Windows 7 was released to critical acclaim, addressing Vista’s shortcomings.

Cloud Transformation (2010-2020)

2010: Windows Phone 7 was launched. Microsoft entered into a partnership with Nokia for mobile devices. Azure became generally available as a commercial service.

2011: Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion, the company’s largest acquisition to date. Office 365 was launched as a cloud-based subscription service.

2012: Windows 8 was released with a touch-optimized interface. Microsoft Surface tablet was unveiled, marking the company’s entry into hardware manufacturing. Windows Server 2012 launched.

2013: Xbox One was launched. Steve Ballmer announced his retirement. Microsoft reorganized into four main divisions: Operating Systems, Apps, Cloud, and Devices.

2014: Satya Nadella became CEO, ushering in a new era focused on cloud computing, mobile, and AI. Microsoft acquired Mojang (Minecraft creator) for $2.5 billion. Office for iPad was released, signaling Microsoft’s embrace of competing platforms.

2015: Windows 10 was released as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8 users. Microsoft Edge browser replaced Internet Explorer. Azure Active Directory reached 200 million users.

2016: Microsoft acquired LinkedIn for $26.2 billion, its largest acquisition ever. The company joined the Linux Foundation, marking a dramatic shift in its approach to open source.

2018: Microsoft acquired GitHub for $7.5 billion. The company surpassed a $1 trillion market capitalization for the first time. Azure became the second-largest cloud platform globally.

2019: Microsoft became the most valuable public company in the world. The company announced a $1 billion investment in OpenAI. Project xCloud (Xbox cloud gaming) was launched in preview.

AI Leadership Era (2020-Present)

2020: Microsoft announced plans to acquire ZeniMax Media (Bethesda parent company) for $7.5 billion. Microsoft Teams surpassed 75 million daily active users during the COVID-19 pandemic. Azure experienced significant growth as businesses accelerated digital transformation.

2021: Windows 11 was announced and released. Microsoft announced plans to acquire Nuance Communications for $19.7 billion, strengthening healthcare AI capabilities. The company’s market cap exceeded $2 trillion.

2022: Microsoft announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, the largest acquisition in gaming history. The company extended its partnership with OpenAI with a multi-billion dollar investment. Azure surpassed $100 billion in annual revenue run rate.

2023: Microsoft integrated GPT-4 into Bing and launched Copilot AI assistant across its product portfolio, including Microsoft 365, Windows, and Edge. The company deepened its OpenAI partnership with an additional $10 billion investment. Microsoft successfully completed the Activision Blizzard acquisition after regulatory approval. Microsoft 365 Copilot was launched for enterprise customers.

2024: Microsoft became the first company to surpass a $3 trillion market capitalization. Azure AI became the fastest-growing segment, with thousands of organizations using Azure OpenAI Service. The company announced major investments in AI infrastructure, including new data centers globally. Microsoft expanded Copilot across all product lines and launched dedicated AI chips (Maia and Cobalt) for cloud infrastructure.Key Milestones and Achievements

Technology Innovation

Pioneered the graphical user interface with Windows, making computing accessible to millions
Created the modern productivity suite concept with Microsoft Office
Built Azure into the second-largest cloud computing platform globally
Led the integration of AI into enterprise software through partnerships with OpenAI
Revolutionized development tools with Visual Studio and GitHub integration
Transformed gaming with Xbox consoles and Game Pass subscription service

Market Leadership

Windows powers over 1 billion devices worldwide, maintaining dominant market share in desktop operating systems
Microsoft 365 has over 400 million paid commercial seats globally
Azure serves 95% of Fortune 500 companies
LinkedIn has over 900 million members in more than 200 countries
Teams has over 280 million monthly active users
Xbox Game Pass has over 25 million subscribers

Corporate Transformation

Successfully transitioned from perpetual license model to subscription-based cloud services
Shifted from Windows-centric to cloud-first, AI-powered strategy
Embraced open source, becoming a major contributor to Linux, Python, and other projects
Achieved carbon negative status commitment by 2030, with plans to remove all historical emissions by 2050
Became one of the world’s most valuable companies with market cap exceeding $3 trillion

Strategic Acquisitions

LinkedIn ($26.2B, 2016): Expanded into professional networking and talent solutions
Nuance ($19.7B, 2021): Enhanced healthcare AI and speech recognition capabilities
Activision Blizzard ($68.7B, 2023): Became third-largest gaming company by revenue
GitHub ($7.5B, 2018): Dominated developer tools and open source ecosystem
Skype ($8.5B, 2011): Established presence in communications and video conferencing

Leadership and Governance

Current Executive Leadership

Position	Name
Chairman & CEO	Satya Nadella
President & Vice Chair	Brad Smith
CFO	Amy Hood
EVP, AI	Mustafa Suleyman

CEO Evolution

Bill Gates (1975-2000): Co-founder who built Microsoft into a software giant, establishing Windows and Office dominance
Steve Ballmer (2000-2014): Focused on enterprise growth, Xbox success, and early cloud initiatives; faced challenges with mobile strategy
Satya Nadella (2014-Present): Transformed Microsoft into cloud-first AI leader; shifted culture to growth mindset; achieved $3 trillion valuation

Corporate Culture and Values

Core Values

Growth Mindset: Embracing learning, innovation, and continuous improvement
Customer Obsession: Deep understanding and commitment to customer success
Diversity and Inclusion: Creating an environment where everyone can thrive
One Microsoft: Collaboration across divisions to deliver integrated solutions
Making a Difference: Using technology to empower people and solve global challenges

Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030 and removing all historical emissions by 2050
Achieved 100% renewable energy procurement for global operations
Invested over $1 billion in climate innovation fund
AI for Good initiatives: AI for Earth, AI for Accessibility, AI for Humanitarian Action, AI for Health
$2 billion commitment to increase access to technology in underserved communities
TechSpark program supporting economic opportunity in rural and smaller metropolitan areas

Financial Performance

Recent Financial Highlights (FY 2024)

Total Revenue: $245.1 billion USD (15% YoY growth)
Operating Income: $109.4 billion USD
Net Income: $88.1 billion USD
Cloud Revenue: Over $120 billion annualized (Azure + Microsoft 365)
Market Capitalization: Over $3 trillion (January 2024)

Revenue by Segment (FY 2024)

Segment	Revenue	YoY Growth
Intelligent Cloud	$96.8B	+20%
Productivity & Business Processes	$76.9B	+12%
More Personal Computing	$59.7B	+3%

Strategic Direction and Future Outlook

AI-First Strategy

Microsoft is positioning itself as the leader in enterprise AI through its partnership with OpenAI and integration of generative AI across its entire product portfolio. The company is investing billions in AI infrastructure, developing custom AI chips, and making AI capabilities accessible to every customer through Copilot.

Azure OpenAI Service serves thousands of organizations globally
Microsoft 365 Copilot integrated across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams
GitHub Copilot leads AI-assisted coding with millions of developers
Dynamics 365 Copilot enhances business applications with AI
Security Copilot revolutionizes cybersecurity operations

Cloud Computing Expansion

Azure continues rapid growth as the second-largest cloud platform globally, with focus on hybrid cloud solutions, edge computing, and industry-specific clouds for healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, and retail.

Gaming Evolution

With the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft is the third-largest gaming company by revenue. The company is expanding Game Pass, cloud gaming (Xbox Cloud Gaming), and mobile gaming while building a content library that spans console, PC, and mobile platforms.

Responsible AI and Trust

Microsoft is leading industry efforts in responsible AI development, establishing principles for AI ethics, transparency, fairness, reliability, safety, privacy, and security. The company has created an Office of Responsible AI and maintains strong commitments to digital trust and cybersecurity.

Contact Information

Corporate Headquarters: One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA
Phone: +1 (425) 882-8080
Website: www.microsoft.com
Investor Relations: www.microsoft.com/investor
News Center: news.microsoft.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/microsoft
Twitter/X: @Microsoft

This company profile is intended for informational purposes and reflects Microsoft Corporation’s status as of January 2026. Financial data and market information are approximate and subject to change. For the most current information, please visit Microsoft’s official website and investor relations portal.

Document prepared: January 2026