Fund India

He Sold His Future for ₹66,000

In April 1976, Ronald Wayne sold his 10% stake in a fledgling startup for just $800.

That startup? 

Today, that stake would be worth over $345 billion (approximately ₹28.5 lakh crore), surpassing the GDP of many countries.

Wayne, then 41, co-founded Apple alongside Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. He was instrumental in drafting the original partnership agreement and designing Apple’s first logo.

However, just 12 days after Apple was formed, Wayne relinquished his stake, fearing personal financial liability if the venture failed. He received $800 initially and later accepted an additional $1,500 to forfeit any future claims.

Lessons for Indian Entrepreneurs

Wayne’s story underscores the importance of long-term vision and risk assessment.

In the Indian online business landscape, many entrepreneurs focus on short-term gains through freelancing, agency work, or affiliate marketing.

While these avenues provide immediate income, they often lack scalability and long-term value.

Building an online business, though challenging, offers the potential for recurring revenue and asset creation. 

The Cost of Fear

Wayne’s decision, driven by fear of financial risk, resulted in missing out on one of the most significant wealth accumulations in history.

Had he held onto his stake, he would have been part of Apple’s monumental growth, including:

 • 1980: Apple’s IPO

 • 2007: Introduction of the iPhone

 • 2020: Apple reaching a $2 trillion market cap 

Each milestone would have exponentially increased the value of his stake.

Building for the Long Term

For online business entrepreneurs, the key takeaways are:

 1. Embrace Long-Term Vision: Focus on building products that offer recurring value.

 2. Assess Risks Wisely: Understand the difference between calculated risks and fear-driven decisions.

 3. Create Assets, Not Just Income: Aim to build solutions that can scale and generate revenue over time. 

 4. Stay the Course: Success in online business often requires patience and perseverance.

In today’s digital age, with tools and technologies readily available, Indian entrepreneurs have unprecedented opportunities to build and scale online businesses.

Remember:

“Build once. Get paid forever.”

Make decisions today with a vision for tomorrow.