Early Life
David Filo was born on April 20, 1966, in Wisconsin and was raised in Moss Bluff, Louisiana. He attended Tulane University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in computer engineering. He then pursued a Master's degree in electrical engineering at Stanford University.
Rise to Success
At Stanford, Filo met Jerry Yang. Together, they created "Jerry and David's Guide to the World Wide Web" in February 1994, which cataloged websites. The directory was renamed Yahoo! and quickly gained popularity. Recognizing the business potential, Filo and Yang co-founded Yahoo! Inc. Yahoo! became a leading internet brand during the 1990s, offering various online services.
Key Business Strategies
Filo was instrumental in the technical development of Yahoo!. He and Yang expanded Yahoo's offerings beyond a directory. The company acquired several internet startups, including GeoCities and Broadcast.com, diversifying its services. Filo's leadership style was characterized by his ability to empower others and focus on innovation.
Philanthropy
Filo and his wife, Angela, founded the Yellow Chair Foundation (now Skyline Foundation) in 2000. The foundation supports education, civil liberties, gender equality, and environmental causes. Filo donated $30 million to Tulane University for engineering and computer science scholarships in 2005. The Filos are also major benefactors of Stanford and Berkeley, supporting sustainability, education, and journalism.
