Paul Allen (1953–2018) was an American computer programmer and entrepreneur who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates. His technical skills and vision helped launch the personal computer software revolution.
Microsoft Origins
In 1975, Allen saw the Altair 8800 on the cover of Popular Electronics and convinced Gates they should write a BASIC interpreter for it. Allen wrote the bootstrap loader while Gates and Monte Davidoff wrote the interpreter—all before having access to actual hardware.
Technical Contributions
Allen’s early work included:
- Bootstrap loader for Altair BASIC
- Early Microsoft development tools
- MS-DOS acquisition strategy (seeing potential in Tim Paterson’s QDOS)
- Software architecture decisions
Microsoft Co-Founder
Allen and Gates built Microsoft from a two-person company into the dominant software company of the PC era. Allen served as Executive Vice President until 1983, when he left due to Hodgkin’s disease.
Post-Microsoft
After leaving Microsoft, Allen:
- Invested in technology companies (DreamWorks, Ticketmaster)
- Owned sports teams (Seattle Seahawks, Portland Trail Blazers)
- Founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science
- Supported space exploration (SpaceShipOne)
Philanthropy
Through the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, he donated over $2 billion to:
- Scientific research
- Arts and culture
- Conservation
- Community development
Legacy
Allen exemplified the technical co-founder who combined programming ability with strategic vision. His partnership with Gates created the template for technology startup success.