Seems pretty misleading to call these one-person startups. Maybe PlentyOfFish should qualify because it was run by one person for years with significant revenues and profits, and there may be a good case for DuckDuckGo.<p>I can't say with absolute certainty about all the rest but many were solo founders who quickly attracted a team.
Shel Kaphan, Amazon's first employee, should arguably be seen as a cofounder of sorts:<p><i>Although he's not officially considered a co-founder, he and Bezos were discussing the company even before it was incorporated, and Bezos once referred to him as "the most important person ever in the history of Amazon.com."</i><p>Source : <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazons-earliest-employees-2014-4" rel="nofollow">http://www.businessinsider.com/amazons-earliest-employees-20...</a>
The top 2 (Amazon & Ebay) where founded in almost a different internet age. It makes wonder if a solo founder could create such a large company today.
How about a single-founder startup list?<p>I wish I had one so I could show it to the VCs who we're closing a round with. They insist I get a co-founder for the business side (I'm a techie), with lot's of contacts. I said I prefer to hire a biz person instead, but they say we can't afford, at this stage, to spend our money on a top-level exec. So it we'll be better if we just find one that's willing to become a co-founder. I replied to them a "co-founder" is much more than an exec with lots of equity and a below-market wage. Years ago it would have been great to have a business co-founder so I could focus more on product. But not after 4 years, with a team of 11 and a profitable enterprise software business. But I don't know if that's common or not. Is it? I feel hiring a co-founder (sic) is not a formula for success.
I'm sort of in the market for a co-founder, someone with a strong marketing, sales, and biz-dev background most likely.<p>I'm the nerd looking for the suit, not the other way around, though I do have some business experience myself. I at least know which way is up in the biz domain. :)<p>But if I don't find such a person who really looks like a great fit (both skills and personality/vision compatibility), I will go it alone. I consider the sole founder path superior to a bad or hasty fit for a co-founder. I do have a partnership and some advisor relationships in the works, so I'm not totally alone. If I raise I'll also have investors to threaten to demote me if the goals aren't m^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H I mean contribute valuable insight.
Techmeme only has 10,000 recurring readers? I don't believe that for a second. I loaded the "source" for this info - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/techmeme-growth-2014-3" rel="nofollow">http://www.businessinsider.com/techmeme-growth-2014-3</a> - and the only place 10,000 recurring readers is mentioned is in a <i>hypothetical</i> example of how stats can be inflated by content sites, not actual stats for Techmeme.
Disappointed there's no women on the list. Even more disappointed that fully 7 of the top 10 have no indication of revenue.<p>Remember: if there's no revenue, it's not a business. It's a hobby.<p>EDIT: To clarify, (I noted someone else pointing out it's very US-centric, which is ANOTHER problem) I have serious doubts it's really the top 10 in the world. More likely the top 10 this author has heard of.