IMS Associates, Inc. (IMSAI)

Bill Millard, who had experience in various financial and administrative capacities, left his regular job in 1973 to found a consulting firm IMS (Information Management Services). By 1974, he was working on a client’s project and developed a small computing system using the new Intel 8080 microprocessor. He realized that this might have other markets and, in 1975 placed an advertisement in Popular Electronics offering them in kit form.

The success was immediate and they eventually produced between 17-20,000 units. The company was eventually purchased by one of their dealers and is today a division of the Fischer-Freitas Company, which still offers reproductions of the original for sale to hobbyists.