Acquired returns with a classic, delving into Microsoft’s first acquisition ever: Forethought Inc, the makers of PowerPoint. Hate it or love it, you can’t deny the combined companies’ impact: by the early 90’s PowerPoint had transformed the way businesses, educators and governments communicate, ensuring job security for pointy-haired Dilbert bosses everywhere.

Sponsors:

WorkOS: https://bit.ly/workos25 Huntress: https://bit.ly/acqhuntress Statsig: https://bit.ly/acquiredstatsig24

More Acquired!:

Get email updates • with hints on next episode and follow-ups from recent episodes Join the SlackSubscribe to ACQ2Merch Store • !

© Copyright 2015-2025 ACQ, LLC

Links:

Robert Gaskins’ definitive history of building PowerPoint: Sweating BulletsAbsolute Powerpoint • by Ian Parker

Carve Outs:

• Ben: Mindfulness in Plain English • and discussion on Hacker News • David: The Birds have landed…