Steve Wozniak
Co-founder of Apple
Quick Facts
- Born
- 1950, San Jose, California
- Company
- Apple
- Apple founded
- 1976
- Industry
- Technology
- Born
- 1950, San Jose, California
- Known as
- "Woz"
- Famous for
- Designing the Apple I and Apple II
- Co-founded
- Apple, in 1976
Early Life
Steve Wozniak was born in 1950 in San Jose, California, and almost everyone calls him Woz. As a kid he was crazy about electronics. He loved taking things apart, building circuits, and figuring out exactly how a machine did what it did.
His father was an engineer, and that rubbed off early. Woz read every electronics book he could get his hands on and entered science fairs with gadgets he'd wired together himself. By the time he was a teenager, he was designing working computers on paper just for fun, long before he owned the parts to build them.
The Engineer Behind Apple
Woz had a rare gift. He could design a whole computer in his head and then make it work with as few parts as possible, which kept the cost down and the machine elegant. Other engineers needed teams. He often worked alone.
He designed the Apple I and the Apple II largely by himself, drawing the circuits, writing the software, and testing every piece. The Apple II became one of the first personal computers that ordinary families could actually buy and use at home. It could show color graphics, and it sold by the millions.
Starting Apple With Steve Jobs
Woz had known Steve Jobs since their teenage years, when a mutual friend introduced them because both boys loved electronics and pranks. They got along right away. Jobs saw something in Woz's machines that Woz didn't quite see himself: a product people would pay for.
In 1976 the two Steves founded Apple. They made a good pair. Woz was the technical genius who built the machines, and Jobs handled the vision and the selling. To raise their first bit of money, Woz sold his prized HP calculator and Jobs sold his Volkswagen van.
What Woz Teaches Us
Woz stepped back from full-time work at Apple, but he never stopped caring about people who were learning. For years he taught computer classes to schoolchildren, often paying for the gear out of his own pocket and asking that his name be kept quiet.
He stayed friendly and playful his whole career, the kind of person who'd rather explain how something works than show off that he knows. Kids who love taking gadgets apart can look at Woz and see where that habit can lead. Curiosity and a willingness to do the hard building yourself can end up changing the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Steve Wozniak?
Steve Wozniak is an American engineer and inventor who co-founded Apple in 1976. He designed the Apple I and Apple II computers and is known by his nickname, Woz. He's famous for being the technical brain behind Apple's earliest machines.
Who founded Apple?
Apple was founded in 1976 by two friends named Steve: Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. Wozniak built the computers, and Jobs led the vision and the selling. A third partner, Ronald Wayne, was involved very briefly at the start.
What did Steve Wozniak invent?
Wozniak designed the Apple I and the Apple II computers, doing most of the engineering himself. The Apple II became one of the first hugely successful personal computers. He created both the hardware circuits and much of the software that made them run.
What is Steve Wozniak's nickname?
His nickname is Woz. Friends, fans, and the tech world have called him that for decades. It's short for Wozniak, and he's embraced it happily.
Did Steve Wozniak design the Apple computer?
Yes. Woz designed the Apple I and Apple II largely on his own, from the circuit boards to the software. His talent for building a powerful machine with very few parts is a big reason the early Apple computers worked so well.
How did Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs meet?
They met as teenagers, introduced by a mutual friend because both loved electronics. They hit it off over their shared interest in gadgets and pranks. That friendship led to them founding Apple together years later.
Where is Steve Wozniak from?
Steve Wozniak is from San Jose, California, where he was born in 1950. He grew up in the area that later became known as Silicon Valley. That region became the heart of the computer industry.
Is Steve Wozniak still alive?
Yes, Steve Wozniak is still alive. Born in 1950, he remains a well-known and beloved figure in the tech world. He still gives talks and supports education and young inventors.
What is the difference between the two Steves at Apple?
Steve Wozniak was the engineer who designed and built the computers, while Steve Jobs handled the vision, the design ideas, and the selling. Woz made the machines work, and Jobs got the world to want them. Together their skills balanced each other out.
What was the Apple I?
The Apple I was Apple's first computer, designed by Steve Wozniak and sold starting in 1976. It was sold as a circuit board, so buyers had to add their own case, keyboard, and screen. It set the stage for the far more popular Apple II that followed.
More Founders to Explore
Inspire Your Children with Stories That Matter
Help your children learn valuable lessons from the journeys of successful founders like Steve Wozniak.