The story challenges the assumption that a successful technology company needs to begin in Silicon Valley. Thawte's early development took place in South Africa while the internet itself was still young — a classic example of identifying a global problem and building a solution from a relatively small local base.
Source: Mail & Guardian
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Thawte actually do?
It focused on internet security and digital certificates — the technology that lets websites use secure, encrypted connections.
How big did it get before being sold?
It grew from a very small home-based operation into a major global certificate authority before its 1999 sale.
Who bought Thawte?
The American company VeriSign, in a deal reported at about $575 million.