Alice Chambers |
Microsoft is marking its 50th anniversary in 2025, celebrating five decades of technological innovation that have shaped the digital landscape. Founded on 4 April 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft (originally named Micro-Soft) has grown from a small software venture to a global technology powerhouse with continued advancements in personal computing, cloud services, AI, cybersecurity and enterprise solutions.
“We were founded in 1975 with a belief in creating technology that would enable others to create their own,” wrote Satya Nadella, current CEO and chairman of Microsoft, in Microsoft’s Annual Report 2024. “And, nearly 50 years later, this belief remains at the heart of our mission to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.”
In its early days, Microsoft entered a technology landscape dominated by bulky mainframes and emerging personal computing concepts. The company made its mark by developing software for early PCs and by 1981, its MS-DOS operating system was a key component of IBM’s first PC. The subsequent release of the first version of the Windows operating system in 1985 then established Microsoft as a leader in computing.
Microsoft co-founders Paul Allen (left) and Bill Gates pictured in 1975
Over the years, Microsoft expanded its product and services portfolio, launching Microsoft Office in 1989, Encarta in 1993, Xbox in 2001 and Microsoft Bing in 2009. Its transformation accelerated in the 2010s under Nadella’s leadership, who has shifted Microsoft’s focus towards cloud computing and AI since becoming CEO in 2014. For example, the rebranding of Windows Azure to Microsoft Azure in 2014 signalled Microsoft’s commitment to cloud services, and the acquisitions of LinkedIn in 2016 for $26 billion and GitHub for $7.5 billion in 2018 reinforced its influence in professional networking and software development.
AI has become a major focus for Microsoft, with the company investing $13 billion in OpenAI since 2019 and integrating AI-powered tools into its products. The introduction of Copilot in Bing and Microsoft 365 is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to make AI accessible to businesses and individuals. Nadella has also emphasised that AI will play a central role in shaping the company’s future strategy, further strengthening its competitive edge in the evolving technology landscape.
Beyond technology, Microsoft has demonstrated a commitment to corporate social responsibility. Since launching its Giving Campaign in 1983, the company and its employees have raised over $1.3 billion and supported more than 23,400 organisations in Washington State, USA, through grants, technology donations and corporate match of employee giving and volunteer time. Microsoft is also actively giving back to the area where it was first formed by giving grants of $50,000 to support ‘champions’ in the region.
“We will work across the Puget Sound to honour the people and organisations that help make our region such a vibrant centre of innovation, creativity and inclusion,” said Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft in a blog post titled ‘Thank you, Puget Sound’. “And we will invest in new and existing partnerships to help ensure that we move forward, together, to One Future, One Sound.”
Considering Microsoft’s milestone, Nadella said: “I’ve found myself reflecting on how Microsoft has remained a consequential company decade after decade in an industry with no franchise value. And I realise that it’s because – time and time again, when technology paradigms have shifted – we have seized the opportunity to reinvent ourselves to stay relevant to our customers, our partners and our employees. And that’s what we are doing again today.”
Satya Nadella on stage during the Microsoft AI Tour in Rome, Italy
A lasting impact for partners
Microsoft’s commitment to innovation continues to shape the partner ecosystem, which currently has more than 500,000 members, including cloud solution providers, volume licensing distributors, solution partners and original equipment manufacturers.
“Alongside our joint venture Avanade, we help our clients innovate and reinvent their businesses with Microsoft technology. As the world enters the intelligence era, we believe that deep strategic partnerships like ours are a competitive differentiator and together, we can help accelerate value for every enterprise, government and citizen for the next 50 years and beyond,” said Karthik Narain, group chief executive for technology at Accenture.
“Microsoft has transformed the way we work and communicate by establishing industry standards with its innovative technologies and platforms. Its collaboration tools have enhanced productivity for businesses and organisations worldwide. The partnership between Shure and Microsoft has resulted in advanced solutions for Microsoft Teams Rooms, significantly improving collaboration experiences and addressing customer challenges,” said Julie Crawford, senior manager of strategic alliance marketing at Shure.
“As a proud Microsoft alum, I’ve seen firsthand how our collaboration has evolved to drive meaningful change for businesses across industries. From strategy through engineering and implementation, PwC and Microsoft drive innovation and deliver real business outcomes for clients worldwide,” said Stephanie Mosticchio, principal of implementation at PwC.
Discover more insights like this in the Spring 2025 issue of Technology Record. Don’t miss out – subscribe for free today and get future issues delivered straight to your inbox.