Stories
Friends Who Founded Companies Together
Starting a company is a really difficult task and it becomes incredibly hard if you are doing it alone. Having a co founder can make the task a little simpler, especially if it is one of your closest friends. Many business experts warn against starting a business with friends, however, the success of the companies mentioned below proved such opinions wrong.
Friends who founded companies together
1) Airbnb
The hugely popular online platform was founded by three roommates, Nathan Blecharczyk, Joe Gebbia and Brian Chesky. Nathan Blecharczyk, who moved to San Francisco, used Craigslist to find a roommate, who turned out to be Joe Gebbia. Brian Chesky, who was Gebbia’s college friend, later moved in with Blecharczyk and Gebbia and the three became close friends. The idea of Airbnb was conceived after the trio realised there is a shortage of hotels in San Francisco. They built a website which allowed people to rent out spaces in other people’s apartments. They also turned their own apartment into a lodging by putting an air mattress in their living room. Eleven years after its launch, Airbnb, which turned its founders into billionaires, is still one of the most used sites in the world.
2) Google
One of the biggest technological companies in the world, Google was founded by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Page met Brin for the first time at Stanford University, during a campus tour for doctoral students. Not a big fan of each other in the beginning, they became friends while working on a research project together. Their project, The Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine, became the foundation of what would soon be called Google. Co founded in 1998, the growth of Google made Larry Page and Sergey Brin two of the richest people in the world.
3) Ben & Jerry’s
This hugely successful ice cream manufacturing company was founded by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. Both Cohen and Greenfield were friends since childhood, having met each other during their seventh grade gym class. They both shared a mutual love for food, which prompted them to take a correspondence course in ice cream making. After completing the course, they started their first ice cream shop together in 1978, with an investment of $ 12,000. Forty one years after starting the shop, Ben & Jerry’s is a world renowned million dollar company.
4) Warby Parker
Warby Parker is an online retailer of prescription glasses and sunglasses, started by Neil Blumenthal, Dave Gilboa, Andrew Hunt and Jeffrey Raider. The four became friends during grad school at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and shared a common frustration towards expensive prescription glasses. The four friends then started a company to sell highly quality and inexpensive glasses online and made a pact of not letting their friendship get affected in any way due to business. Launched in 2010, Warby Parker was valued at $ 1.75 billion in 2018, with a funding of approximately $ 300 million.
The success stories of these friends who became business partners are perfect inspiration for people who want to start their entrepreneurial journey with their friends.
Which of these stories about friends who founded companies together impressed you the most? Let us know in the comments below.
Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
T.N. Seshan’s name stands tall in India’s history as the man who transformed the nation’s electoral system with extraordinary courage and integrity. Born in 1932 in Kerala, Seshan grew up with values of discipline, education, and service to the nation — virtues that shaped his illustrious journey. From his early brilliance at Madras Christian College to his advanced studies in public administration at Harvard University, Seshan’s path reflected rare determination and intellect. Joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1955, he built a reputation as a no‑nonsense officer committed to efficiency and honesty, serving in key roles such as Secretary of Defense and overseeing vital national programs.
As the Chief Election Commissioner of India in 1990, T.N. Seshan sparked a new era of electoral integrity. In a system once marred by corruption, violence, and malpractice, Seshan brought order, fear, and respect through his groundbreaking reforms. He introduced voter ID cards, imposed strict spending limits on campaigns, and insisted on transparency at every level of the election process. Despite criticism from political circles that labeled him dictatorial, his relentless pursuit of fairness empowered every citizen to vote fearlessly. Under his leadership, the Election Commission became a symbol of strength and integrity in Indian democracy.
Seshan’s passing in November 2019 marked the end of an era, but his message continues to resonate across generations. Leaders from every corner of the country mourned the loss of the man who restored faith in free and fair elections. His enduring legacy reminds us that true leadership lies not in wielding power, but in serving people with honesty, courage, and conviction. T.N. Seshan’s life remains a timeless inspiration a reminder that democracy thrives only when its citizens are vigilant, responsible, and fearless.
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