2. Fairchild Semiconductor: Silicon Valley's Progenitor
Founded in 1957 by the "traitorous eight" engineers, Fairchild Semiconductor played a crucial role in the development of modern computing. The company's key innovation was the use of silicon instead of germanium in transistors, leading to more stable and powerful computer chips. Fairchild's advances essentially gave birth to Silicon Valley.
Despite its groundbreaking work, Fairchild struggled with internal conflicts, leading to a talent exodus. Key figures like Robert Noyce left to found Intel, and Fairchild gradually lost its competitive edge. In 2016, ON Semiconductor acquired Fairchild for $2.4 billion, a modest sum considering its historical impact.