18 Iconic Companies That Were Founded by Accident
Most successful businesses start with a detailed plan, a clear vision, and deliberate execution. Yet some of the world’s most recognizable brands emerged through happy accidents, unexpected discoveries, or complete mishaps that entrepreneurs transformed into opportunities.
These success stories remind us that innovation often happens when we least expect it. Here is a list of 18 iconic companies that came into existence through surprising twists of fate rather than careful planning.
Slack
Stewart Butterfield and his team were actually building a video game called Glitch when they created an internal messaging tool to help with development communication. The game flopped but their communication platform gained traction with other companies.
They pivoted completely and launched Slack in 2013. Today it’s valued at billions of dollars and has transformed workplace communication worldwide.
Originally named Odeo, the company was developing a podcasting platform when Apple announced iTunes would include podcast support. Facing obsolescence before launch, the team held a hackathon where Jack Dorsey proposed a simple status-updating service.
This side project eventually became Twitter, transforming from a desperate pivot into one of social media’s giants.
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Play-Doh
This colorful modeling compound started as wallpaper cleaner in the 1930s. When heating systems shifted from coal to oil and fewer people needed wallpaper cleaner, sales plummeted.
The manufacturer discovered that school teachers were using their product as modeling clay in classrooms. They rebranded it as Play-Doh in 1956 and shifted to the toy market where it became an instant classic.
Coca-Cola
Pharmacist John Pemberton was trying to create a medicinal syrup to cure headaches and boost energy when he mixed carbonated water with his concoction by accident. The resulting beverage tasted so good that instead of scrapping it, he decided to market it as a refreshing drink.
His assistant named it Coca-Cola and the rest is beverage history.
Post-it Notes
Spencer Silver at 3M was attempting to create a super-strong adhesive but instead developed an incredibly weak one that could stick and unstick without leaving residue. The formula sat unused for years until his colleague Art Fry needed bookmark markers that wouldn’t fall out of his hymnal during choir practice.
The temporary sticky notes launched in 1980 and became one of 3M’s most successful products ever.
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Viagra
Pfizer scientists were developing a treatment for angina and high blood pressure when test subjects reported an unexpected side effect. The medication didn’t work well for heart conditions but showed remarkable results for treating erectile dysfunction.
Pfizer recognized the potential and repositioned the drug as Viagra, creating a billion-dollar product from a failed heart medication.
Groupon
The company began as The Point, a platform for organizing social campaigns and fundraising through collective action. When this concept struggled to gain traction, founder Andrew Mason created a side project called Groupon to offer group discounts at local businesses.
This accidental pivot became far more successful than the original concept and rapidly grew into a major e-commerce player.
Teflon
Roy Plunkett at DuPont was researching refrigerants when he checked on a stored gas sample and found it had mysteriously transformed into a waxy solid substance. This accidental polymer discovery turned out to be polytetrafluoroethylene, now known as Teflon.
Its non-stick properties revolutionized cookware and found applications in everything from aerospace to medical devices.
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Bubble Wrap
Engineers Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes were attempting to create textured wallpaper by sealing two shower curtains together with air bubbles trapped inside. Their wallpaper idea failed to catch on with consumers.
Years later they repositioned their invention as protective packaging material, founding Sealed Air Corporation which became a packaging industry leader.
WD-40
The Rocket Chemical Company set out to create a rust-prevention solvent for the aerospace industry. Their formula required 40 attempts to perfect, hence the name Water Displacement 40th formula.
Employees began sneaking cans home for household uses, revealing its broader potential. The company renamed itself after its signature product which now sits in millions of garages and toolboxes worldwide.
Avon
David McConnell was a traveling book salesman who offered free perfume samples to entice female customers. He soon discovered women were more interested in his fragrances than his books.
McConnell pivoted to selling perfumes directly to women through a network of female representatives, creating the California Perfume Company which eventually became Avon, pioneering the direct sales model.
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Kleenex
Kimberly-Clark originally developed Kleenex as disposable cold cream removers for women’s makeup routines in the 1920s. Customer surveys revealed many people were actually using them as disposable handkerchiefs for blowing their noses.
The company quickly repositioned their product for this unintended use and created one of the most recognized facial tissue brands in the world.
Paypal
The company began as Confinity, creating security software for handheld devices. They developed a feature allowing people to email payments.
This side feature became unexpectedly popular especially among eBay users. The company abandoned their original mission and focused entirely on payments, eventually merging with Elon Musk’s X.com to become PayPal, revolutionizing online transactions.
Popsicle
In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson accidentally left a cup of soda with a stirring stick outside overnight in freezing temperatures. He discovered his frozen drink the next morning with the stick perfectly positioned as a handle.
Years later he remembered his childhood accident and began producing them commercially as Epsicles, later renamed Popsicles.
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Microwave Oven
Percy Spencer was working with active radar equipment at Raytheon when he noticed a chocolate bar in his pocket had completely melted. Intrigued by this phenomenon, he began experimenting with other foods including popcorn which popped when exposed to the magnetron.
This accidental discovery led to the development of the first microwave oven, transforming food preparation worldwide.
Matches
British chemist John Walker was stirring a mixture with a wooden stick that had dried chemicals on it. When he scraped the stick against the floor it ignited into flame.
Walker recognized the potential of his discovery and began producing friction matches, though he never patented his invention. His accidental discovery revolutionized how humans created fire.
Corn Flakes
While working at a sanitarium, Dr. John Kellogg and his brother Will were preparing boiled wheat for patients. They accidentally left a batch out overnight, causing it to go stale. Attempting to salvage the wheat, they processed it anyway, creating flakes instead of the usual dough.
They later switched to corn and founded the Kellogg Company, creating an entirely new breakfast category.
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Silly Putty
During World War II, engineer James Wright was attempting to create a synthetic rubber substitute amid shortages. His experiment produced a strange bouncing goo that failed as rubber but captivated everyone who played with it.
Years later, marketing consultant Peter Hodgson saw its potential as a toy, packaged it in plastic eggs, and created one of the most popular novelty toys ever.
The Accidental Sparks That Lit a Fire
These accidental origins demonstrate how flexible thinking and openness to unexpected outcomes can lead to tremendous success. Many of these companies might never have existed if their founders had rigidly stuck to their original plans.
The common thread connecting these success stories isn’t just luck but the ability to recognize potential in unexpected places and pivot when opportunity presents itself. Sometimes the best business ideas come not from careful planning but from embracing the happy accidents that occur along the way.
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