Company Overview

It’s Intel all over when it comes to computer chips. Intel, the “Tel” in WinTel, became the largest semiconductor company in the world by focusing on the PC industry. Founded when three mavericks, Bob Noyce, Andy Grove, and Gordon Moore, departed Fairchild Semiconductor in 1968, Intel is something of the granddaddy of all technology startups. The legendary Andy Grove stepped down as CEO in 1998, and Craig Barrett took on the position until he stepped down in 2005 (Barrett is still chairman of the board). Current CEO Paul Otellini is just the fifth CEO in Intel’s 40-year history, and the first non-engineer.

Today, nearly three in four new computers have Intel inside, but it used to own even more of the market: the company’s long-running rival, AMD, has upped the competition, with its Athlon processor taking market share away from Intel’s Pentium models. In 2006, Intel introduced its Core 2 Duo line of microprocessors, and slashed prices for older models. To maintain its lead in the semiconductor industry, Intel spends vast sums on new manufacturing.