3M

More than a century ago, 3M started as a small-scale mining venture in Northern Minnesota, then named Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company. Now a global powerhouse, their products improve the daily lives of people around the world. 

But their success and longevity were not apparent from the start. They tried. They failed. They tried something new. Repeat cycle. Innovation and perseverance drove their founders, and it continues to drive 3Mers today. 

When 3M began in 1902, their five founders had a simple goal: to mine for corundum, a mineral ideal for making sandpaper and grinding wheels. Turns out, what they thought was corundum was really another low-grade mineral called anorthosite.

Discovering the poor-quality mineral could have caused an early end to their fledgling company, but their founders persisted. Why? Because something more important was born that first year: the spirit of innovation and collaboration that forms the foundation of 3M today. So instead of calling it quits, they turned to different materials, applied them to other products, gained the trust of important investors and built up sales little by little.

Scientific, technical and marketing innovations produced success upon success over the years, eventually making 3M a constant name on the Fortune 500 list. Today, more than 55,000 3M products are used in homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and other industries. One third of their sales come from products invented within the past five years, thanks to innovations from the thousands of researchers and scientists they employ around the world.

With corporate operations in 48 countries and sales in 200, they are committed to creating the technology and products that advance every company, enhance every home and improve every life.