I think you would see this pattern with every hugely successful company. Microsoft took the work that happened in the 70s to make personal computing possible a

I think you would see this pattern with every hugely successful company. Microsoft took the work that happened in the 70s to make personal computing possible and developed a business around it at the point it was ready for huge growth. It is rarely good for a startup to be on the absolute bleeding edge of an industry, but if you can catch the tipping point[0] (and execute well), you have pretty much guaranteed success. [0] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316346624/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=theworlofsoft-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217153&creative=399353&creativeASIN=0316346624 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316346624/ref=as_li_ss_tl?...