ABSTRACT
This chapter constitutes a first and exploratory attempt to understand the rapid, sustained growth of what we call extraordinary entrepreneurial enterprises. These firms have been founded after 1945 and, in this short time, have succeeded in entering the Fortune 500, becoming some of the largest industrial firms in the USA. Growth of this magnitude and scale represents some of the most extraordinary feats of entrepreneurial enterprise in the post World War II American economy. Measured in any terms, share of new job creation, new wealth creation, or technical innovation, these firms contribute massively to societal welfare and, therefore, deserve further attention. This exploratory and descriptive exercise seeks to develop a deeper understanding of the key elements of their growth processes.
