Expansion

In March 1982, Money magazine wrote about teenage entrepreneurs and included the successful company. The owner of a large record company then contacted them, wanting to form a joint venture with the then-juniors.

They agreed to supply the larger company with computer games in return for an initial fee and a commission per game. They hired lawyers and formed the corporation. "Microvations."

"They became businessmen right before my very eyes," recalls high school classmate Bruce J. Rinderman '87.

The two immediately began of function as businessmen. They subcontracted classmates and friend who programmed games. Kept books and typed. And they hired someone to pick up finished programs and run other errands-they were still too young to drive.

At first, Grossman and Niederhoffer say, they tried to include their friends in the business as much as possible. But they learned that business and pleasure don't mix.

"We has 30 people working for us at our peak," Niederhoffer remarks, adding. "It became really difficult because there was a lot of tension from friends who worked for us. We learned that people start to want [money] at the expense of friendship and feelings."

Applled Math

Just before they left for college, Grossman and Niederhoffer dissolved the company on August 31 at 6.00 p.m. Although they aren't professionally involved with computers during the school year, both have found their skills helpful in writing Expos papers on the wordprocessor and sending form letters to friends. "I tell them my handwriting's too had to be read." Says Niederhoffer.

Both entrepreneurs are making an effort to explore areas other that computers. Although Grossmsn isn't sure yet of his field of concentration. Niederhoffer says he's interested in Biology and Psychology and social Relations.

Both say they have made contacts in the business world that should be helpful in the future. Their latest business meeting was with Emmanual Barron, publisher of standardized tests workbooks, to talk about designing computer programs as multi-choice study aids.

"It's hard to say that money wasn't the number-one reward." Grossman says, "but we learned about business, tax law, and how to deal around the sometimes unpleasant feelings of people-not to mention what we learned about computers.