Steve Wozniak, cofounder of Apple, revealed that he faced five rejections from Hewlett-Packard (HP) before cofounding the tech giant in 1976 alongside Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne, according to fortune.com. Wozniak said his motivation was not to make money but to bring his personal computer idea to life and earn respect from fellow engineers.
In a commencement speech at Grand Valley State University in May, Wozniak recounted pitching his personal computer concept to HP multiple times while working there in the 1970s. After being turned down each time, he embraced Jobs’ suggestion to start their own company. This decision laid the foundation for Apple, which has since become one of the world’s most valuable companies with a market capitalization of about $4.8 trillion.
Wozniak emphasized that his goal was never financial gain but rather innovation and recognition from the engineering community. His story highlights the challenges inventors face when introducing new ideas to established companies. Apple’s success contrasts with HP’s missed opportunity, underscoring how unconventional paths can lead to industry transformation.
Today, Apple is known globally for products like the iPhone, iPad, and iMac. Wozniak’s message to graduates was to embrace unconventional paths and not fear failure, reflecting his own journey from repeated rejections to cofounding a technology leader.