# Bomis

> former advertising website

**Wikidata**: [Q935818](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q935818)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomis)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bomis

## Summary
Bomis was a former advertising website founded in 1996 by Jimmy Wales, Tim Shell, and Michael Davis in St. Petersburg, Florida. The company operated as a web portal business that later became the launching platform for Nupedia and ultimately Wikipedia.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1996 (January 1, 2007) in St. Petersburg, Florida
- Founded by Jimmy Wales, Tim Shell, and Michael Davis
- Type: Former advertising website, web portal, business
- Industry: Internet advertising
- Headquarters: St. Petersburg, Florida
- Employees: 10
- Dissolved: 2007 (January 1, 2007)
- End time: 2010-01-01
- Website: https://bomis.com
- Instance of: Former entity, business, web portal
- Owned by: Jimmy Wales (citizen of United States and United Kingdom)
- Product: Adult content and web portal services
- Sitelink count: 38
- Wikipedia title: Bomis
- Wikidata description: former advertising website
- Motto: "Remember, if you aren't having fun, it isn't Bomis!"

## FAQs
### Who founded Bomis and when?
Bomis was founded in 1996 by Jimmy Wales, Tim Shell, and Michael Davis. Jimmy Wales, who later co-founded Wikipedia, was one of the key founders of the company.

### What type of business was Bomis?
Bomis was an advertising website and web portal business that operated in the internet industry. It was classified as a former entity that no longer operates.

### Where was Bomis located and how long did it operate?
Bomis was headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. The company was founded in 1996 and was dissolved in 2007, operating for approximately 11 years.

### How many employees did Bomis have and what happened to the company?
Bomis had 10 employees at its peak. The company was dissolved in 2007 and ceased operations, becoming a former entity in the business classification.

### What is Bomis notable for in relation to Wikipedia?
Bomis is notable as the company that preceded and led to the creation of Nupedia and eventually Wikipedia. Jimmy Wales, one of Bomis's founders, went on to co-found Wikipedia in 2001.

## Why It Matters
Bomis matters because it served as the foundational company that led to the creation of Wikipedia, one of the most significant knowledge-sharing platforms in human history. The company represented an early attempt at creating a web portal business model that would eventually evolve into the free, collaborative encyclopedia model. As a former entity, Bomis demonstrates how failed or transformed businesses can lead to revolutionary innovations in the digital space. The company's transition from an advertising-focused web portal to becoming the launching pad for Nupedia and Wikipedia illustrates the evolution of online knowledge distribution. Its dissolution in 2007 marked the end of an era that had given birth to one of the most visited websites in the world, showing how a relatively small web portal company could have an outsized impact on global information access.

## Notable For
- Serving as the founding company that led to the creation of Wikipedia and Nupedia
- Being co-founded by Jimmy Wales, who became a co-founder of Wikipedia
- Operating as an early web portal business in the pre-social media internet era
- Having a distinctive motto: "Remember, if you aren't having fun, it isn't Bomis!"
- Employing 10 people at its peak operation
- Being based in St. Petersburg, Florida, contributing to the regional tech ecosystem
- Transitioning from adult content advertising to educational content creation
- Having 38 sitelinks indicating its recognition in various knowledge bases
- Being classified as both a business and a web portal in knowledge taxonomies
- Having a specific dissolution date that marks the end of its operational period

## Body
### History and Foundation
Bomis was founded in 1996 by Jimmy Wales, Tim Shell, and Michael Davis in St. Petersburg, Florida. The company began as an advertising website and web portal business, operating during the early days of the commercial internet. The company was established with the goal of creating a web portal that integrated various applications, processes, and services. Jimmy Wales, who would later become famous as a co-founder of Wikipedia, was one of the three founding members of Bomis.

### Ownership and Personnel
The company was owned by Jimmy Wales, who held citizenship in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Wales was employed by Bomis from 1996 to 2004, making it a significant part of his career trajectory before Wikipedia. Tim Shell, an American businessperson, was also one of the founders. The company employed 10 people at its peak, indicating it was a small-to-medium-sized operation during its active years.

### Business Model and Operations
Bomis operated as an advertising website and web portal, which means it integrated various applications, processes, and services into a single platform accessible via the Internet - a global system of connected computer networks. The company was positioned in the internet industry sector, focusing on web-based services and advertising revenue models. The company's motto, "Remember, if you aren't having fun, it isn't Bomis!" reflected its approach to user engagement and brand identity.

### Location and Infrastructure
The company was headquartered in St. Petersburg, a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. This location placed it in the southeastern United States technology market, contributing to the regional development of internet-based businesses during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The geographic location was significant as it positioned the company near other emerging internet ventures during the dot-com boom period.

### Evolution and Transformation
Bomis evolved from being a simple advertising website to becoming the platform that would spawn Nupedia, a former free content online encyclopedia that began in March 2000. This transformation showed how the company's focus shifted from pure advertising to content creation and knowledge distribution. The connection between Bomis and Nupedia was instrumental in the eventual creation of Wikipedia in 2001, demonstrating the company's indirect but profound impact on global knowledge sharing.

### Dissolution and Legacy
The company was dissolved around 2007, with an end time recorded as January 1, 2010. This marked the official end of Bomis as an operating entity, though its legacy lived on through the Wikipedia project that emerged from its resources and personnel. The dissolution classified Bomis as a former entity in business taxonomy, representing an organization that no longer operates or has been terminated.

### Relationship to Wikipedia Development
The connection between Bomis and Wikipedia is crucial to understanding the company's significance. Jimmy Wales, who worked at Bomis from 1996 to 2004, used resources and experience from the company to develop Nupedia, which then led to Wikipedia. Larry Sanger, who was also involved with Bomis and Nupedia, co-founded Wikipedia with Wales in 2001. This succession of projects shows how Bomis served as the financial and intellectual foundation for one of the world's most important collaborative knowledge platforms.

### Classification and Taxonomy
In knowledge organization systems, Bomis is classified as a former entity, a business, and a web portal. It is part of the broader category of "No longer existent subjects" on Wikimedia Commons and falls under "Category:Former entities" for thematic organization. The company represents a specific state of existence where it was once active but has since ceased to function in its original capacity.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013