Bomis
Bomis was an influential web portal founded in 1996 by Jimmy Wales and two partners. It is most well-known for creating and initially funding Nupedia and later Wikipedia. The company's business model primarily focused on content appealing to a male audience, with emphasis on subjects such as sports, automobiles, and women. Over time, Bomis gained notoriety for its focus on explicit adult content, earning significant revenue through sections like "Bomis Babes," which was dedicated to erotic imagery.
Bomis and Wikipedia
Bomis played a crucial role in the creation of Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia. Initially, Wikipedia was launched as a subsidiary of Bomis to provide content for Nupedia, which struggled due to its cumbersome expert review process. Wikipedia's ease of use and open editing model allowed it to grow rapidly. However, as Wikipedia's popularity increased, its operational costs became a burden on Bomis, coinciding with a decline in Bomis' own revenues, especially following the dot-com crash. This financial strain led to the decision by Jimmy Wales and philosophy graduate student Larry Sanger to transition Wikipedia into a nonprofit organization.
Transition to Nonprofit
Following the financial challenges faced by Bomis, the decision was made to fund Wikipedia through a nonprofit structure, resulting in the establishment of the Wikimedia Foundation. This foundation was created to support Wikipedia and other wiki projects that Bomis previously hosted. Wikimedia Foundation's formation allowed for continued support and growth of these projects beyond the original commercial intentions of Bomis.
Legacy and Impact
Bomis' impact on the internet landscape is significant, primarily through its early support and development of Wikipedia. The transition from a for-profit entity to a nonprofit model under the Wikimedia Foundation has allowed Wikipedia to become the globally accessible and authoritative source of information it is today. Former Bomis employees, such as co-founder Tim Shell, continued to contribute to the development and management of Wikipedia, further solidifying Bomis' lasting legacy.