Here are some of the most successful startups and their origins:

• Google – Initially a research project by two Stanford PhD students, Google evolved into one of the world’s largest technology companies.

• Facebook – Founded by Mark Zuckerberg from his Harvard dorm room, Facebook became the world’s largest social network.

• Amazon – Jeff Bezos started Amazon as an online bookstore in the mid-1990s, and it transformed into a massive e-commerce platform and cloud computing pioneer.

• Microsoft – Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in 1975, which became the dominant software company of the 1980s and 1990s, leading to the success of the PC era.

• Apple – Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne started Apple in 1976, revolutionizing the music, mobile, and tablet industries.

• Netflix – Initially launched by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph as a DVD-by-mail rental service in 1997, Netflix has become the world’s largest internet subscription service for streaming movies and TV shows.

• Uber – Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp founded Uber in 2009, which transformed transportation and travel worldwide.

• Airbnb – Started in 2008 by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia as a way to fund their loft’s rent by turning it into a bed and breakfast, Airbnb has since become a global online marketplace that connects people seeking accommodations with hosts offering overnight stays or vacation rentals.

• Instagram – Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger launched Instagram in 2010 as a photo and video sharing app. Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion in 2012.

• WhatsApp – Jan Koum and Brian Acton started WhatsApp in 2009 as a text messaging app, and Facebook acquired it for $19 billion in 2014.

• Snap Inc. – Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown, former students at Stanford, launched Snapchat in 2011, which is now one of the most popular social networks.