COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 7379

Database Developers

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

28companies1906–1998founding years26still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedXerox CorporationFoundedXerox Corporation
1906
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedBig Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
1967
FoundedSir Speedy, Inc.FoundedSir Speedy, Inc.
1968
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedAmerican Business Information, Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
FoundedAT&T Istel Ltd.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
FoundedGrupo Carso, S.A. de C.V.FoundedGrupo Carso, S.A. de C.V.
1980
FoundedSystem Software Associates, Inc.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedBanyan Systems Inc.FoundedBanyan Systems Inc.FoundedCorporate Software Inc.FoundedSilverPlatter Information Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedBloomberg L.P.FoundedBloomberg L.P.
1986
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedInso Corporation
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedMCI WorldCom, Inc.
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Burda Holding GmbH. & Co. →
Active · Germany
Burda Holding GmbH.
Burda Holding GmbH. & Co. →
Active · Germany
Burda Holding GmbH.
Xerox Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
Xerox Corporation, virtually synonymous with photocopying, now touts itself as The Document Company.
Xerox Corporation →
Active · founded 1906
Xerox Corporation, virtually synonymous with photocopying, now touts itself as The Document Company.
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. →
Active · founded 1967
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
Sir Speedy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Sir Speedy, Inc.
Sir Speedy, Inc. →
Active · founded 1968
Sir Speedy, Inc.
American Business Information, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
American Business Information, Inc.
American Business Information, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
American Business Information, Inc.
AT&T Istel Ltd. →
Active · founded 1979 · United Kingdom
AT&T Istel Ltd.
AT&T Istel Ltd. →
Active · founded 1979 · United Kingdom
AT&T Istel Ltd.
Grupo Carso, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1980 · Mexico
Grupo Carso, S.A.
Grupo Carso, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1980 · Mexico
Grupo Carso, S.A.
System Software Associates, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
System Software Associates, Inc.
System Software Associates, Inc. →
Active · founded 1981
System Software Associates, Inc.
Banyan Systems Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Banyan Systems Inc.
Banyan Systems Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Banyan Systems Inc.
Corporate Software Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Corporate Software Inc., a public company that planned to go private in 1994, is a leading provider of software and…
Corporate Software Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Corporate Software Inc., a public company that planned to go private in 1994, is a leading provider of software and…
SilverPlatter Information Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Although not well known to consumers, SilverPlatter Information Inc.
SilverPlatter Information Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Although not well known to consumers, SilverPlatter Information Inc.
Bloomberg L.P. →
Active · founded 1986
Bloomberg L.P.
Bloomberg L.P. →
Active · founded 1986
Bloomberg L.P.
Inso Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Inso Corporation is a high technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts, with three major product areas:…
Inso Corporation →
Active · founded 1993
Inso Corporation is a high technology company based in Boston, Massachusetts, with three major product areas:…
MCI WorldCom, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1998
MCI WorldCom, Inc.
MCI WorldCom, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1998
MCI WorldCom, Inc.
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