How IBM LOST the Computer Revolution

What if the company that built the computer revolution accidentally handed the future to someone else?

💻 The Deal That GAVE Microsoft Everything — And COST IBM the Computer Revolution

In the early 1980s, IBM was the undisputed giant of computing — powerful, respected, untouchable.
When they needed an operating system for their new PC, they made a decision that seemed harmless:
license software instead of owning it.

That single choice handed a young Bill Gates the greatest opportunity in tech history.

By licensing MS-DOS to IBM without giving them exclusivity, Microsoft kept the rights… and sold the software to every competitor IBM inspired.
The result?
IBM created the category — Microsoft owned the future.

This episode of MISSED BILLIONS reveals how a simple contract reshaped the computer industry, built the Microsoft empire, and cost IBM control over the revolution they started.

🎬 The series where we uncover billion-dollar mistakes, missed opportunities, and the business decisions that shaped our world.

⏱️ CHAPTERS:
00:00 – IBM’S MOMENT OF POWER
01:00 – ENTER BILL GATES
02:20 – THE DEAL
03:40 – THE HIDDEN CLAUSE
05:10 – MICROSOFT EXPANDS
06:40 – IBM LOSES CONTROL
07:40 – THE BILLION-DOLLAR LESSON

#MissedBillions #BusinessHistory #IBM

Inspired by real events — created for storytelling, reflection, and learning.

📘 Recommended reading
The Innovator’s Dilemma — Amazon US: https://amzn.to/4orUBQy