It took 45 years, but spreadsheet legend Mitch Kapor finally got his MIT degree

10 months ago

Bill Aulet invited Mitch Kapor, a renowned software programmer and investor, to give a speech at MIT's Sloan School of Management.
Kapor attended MIT in the 1970s but left without a degree, which became a humorous topic between him and Aulet.
Before enrolling at MIT, Kapor had a varied career, including being a DJ, meditation teacher, and mental health counselor.
Kapor became fascinated by the Apple II computer and started writing programs, leading to his involvement in the early software industry.
He left MIT to work full-time on software projects, similar to other tech founders like Bill Gates.
Kapor founded Lotus Development Corp., creating the groundbreaking Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet program.
Aulet and Kapor met when Kapor demonstrated Lotus 1-2-3 at IBM, where Aulet worked.
Kapor later co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation and developed a 'gap-closing investing' philosophy with his wife.
In 2024, Kapor decided to complete his MIT degree by writing a thesis on his investing strategy.
Kapor graduated with a master's degree in May 2024, reflecting on his journey and the importance of supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Hasty Briefsbeta