How the Top Web 2.0 Companies Started Hosting

[manvbf]

Some of the top web sites out there obviously started from somewhere. The ones that worked there way up from very little - how did they start out their web hosting services? Did they invest in Servers right off the bat. or did they start by using a "godaddy" type site and upgrade as the money came in? I am just really curious about how the big guys managed their company from this perspective.

Any one have any insight or thoughts on this topic

[electra]

There's a number of different 'ways' of starting.
Dreamhost started off with a single computer colocated in an office somewhere (or was it a university). Can't recall but at any rate.

There's a number of massive providers who got started on reseller accounts. Obviously at a certain point they decided to rent dedicateds, colocate or get their own infrastructure.

Everyone starts somewhere.