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Many people start side jobs for extra cash, to try something new, or just for fun. But not many expect these side hustles to turn into multi-million-dollar businesses.
However, some of the biggest and best-known companies in the world began as side jobs. Here are some examples of side hustles that became huge businesses.
1. Amazon – From Bookstore to Global BusinessAmazon started in 1994 as an online bookstore in Jeff Bezos’s garage. Bezos was working as an investment banker at the time. He saw the potential of the internet and decided to sell books online.
Over time, Amazon grew into a multi-billion-dollar company that sells almost anything, from books to electronics to groceries. Amazon is now one of the biggest companies in the world.
2. Apple – From a Garage Project to a Tech GiantApple was started in the 1970s by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in Jobs’ garage. They wanted to build a personal computer, and their side project turned into Apple, a company that changed the tech world. Today, Apple is one of the wealthiest companies globally, known for products like the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.
3. Facebook – A College Side ProjectFacebook was created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg while he was at Harvard. It started as a way for students to connect with each other. Zuckerberg didn’t expect Facebook to grow into the giant it is today. Facebook now has billions of users and has made Zuckerberg one of the youngest billionaires.
4. Instagram – A Simple Idea That Became a Billion-Dollar CompanyInstagram was created in 2010 by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. The app started as a photo-sharing platform for friends to post pictures.
In less than two years, Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion. Today, Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms, worth billions of dollars.
5. Airbnb – A Side Job to Pay RentAirbnb started in 2007 when Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia decided to rent out air mattresses in their apartment to make extra money.
This simple idea turned into Airbnb, a company where people can book rooms or homes to stay in while traveling. Today, Airbnb is a multi-billion-dollar business and operates worldwide.
6. Etsy – From Hobby to a Global MarketplaceIn 2005, Rob Kalin and his friends started Etsy as a side project. It was an online platform for artists to sell their handmade products.
What started as a small hobby turned into Etsy, an online marketplace that has made millions for many small businesses. Today, Etsy is valued at over $13 billion.
7. Slack – A Communication Tool for GamersSlack started in 2013 as a side project by Stewart Butterfield and his team, who were working on a gaming project. When the game didn’t succeed, they repurposed their communication tool for businesses. Slack became so popular that Salesforce bought it for $27.7 billion in 2021.
8. Uber – A Ride-Hailing Service That Started as a Side ProjectUber started in 2009 when Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp wanted an easy way to get a ride in San Francisco. It started as a side project that allowed people to book rides through their phones. Today, Uber is valued at over $90 billion and operates in cities around the world.
9. Twitch – A Streaming Service for GamersTwitch was launched in 2011 by Justin Kan and Emmett Shear as a side project. It was a platform for gamers to stream their gameplay. It quickly grew in popularity, and in 2014, Amazon bought Twitch for $970 million. Today, it’s one of the most used streaming platforms in the world.
10. Shazam – A Music App That Became a Global SuccessShazam was created in 1999 by Chris Barton, Philip Inghelbrecht, and Dhiraj Mukherjee. It started as a side project to help people identify songs they were listening to on the radio. Over time, Shazam became a leading music recognition app. In 2018, Apple bought it for $400 million.
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