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From Rags to Riches: The Untold Stories of 5 Iconic Startups

Discover the moments of crisis, luck, and perseverance that shaped the world’s most successful companies.

Marshall Hargrave
4 min readNov 19, 2024

Every successful startup has a story… A story of humble beginnings, bold visions, and relentless pursuit of a dream.

But what often gets lost in the glossy headlines and impressive IPOs are the moments of doubt, failure, and sheer luck that paved the way to greatness.

Behind every iconic company are the untold stories of near-bankruptcy, last-minute pivots, and serendipitous encounters that changed the course of history. These are the moments that tested the mettle of founders and forged the resilience that would carry them through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

Apple: The Brink of Bankruptcy and the Return of Jobs

Today, Apple is one of the world’s most valuable companies. But in 1997, the company was just 90 days away from bankruptcy. Sales were plummeting, losses were mounting, and the future looked bleak.

That’s when Steve Jobs, who had been ousted from the company 12 years earlier, returned as interim CEO.

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Marshall Hargrave
Marshall Hargrave

Written by Marshall Hargrave

Serial entrepreneur. Finance, startups, investing. Catalyst-focused, event-driven. Hip-hop vigilante. On the quest for the best hot chicken.

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