These Huge Companies Are Now Household Names, But Their Humble Beginnings Are Inspiring

This Coffee Giant Was Given Life Through A Loan

It’s difficult to find a street corner without a Starbucks in sight. The company’s started wasn’t as clear, and it all started when three men in the academic field decided to invest in an idea in 1971.

An English teacher by the name of Jerry Baldwin, a history professor named Zev Siegl, and a writer by the name of Gordon Bowker decided to each invest $1,350 of their earnings into the first Starbucks shop of Seattle, Washington. The first store was named Starbucks Coffee, Tea, and Spice, and the three men had to borrow another $5,000 to keep the business going. Starbucks has since prospered across the nation with great success.