Who Owns World Wide Technology?
World Wide Technology, commonly branded WWT, is the master brand of World Wide Technology, Inc., a privately held technology solutions provider headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1990 by David Steward and Jim Kavanaugh, the company generates approximately $20 billion in annual revenue and employs more than 14,000 people. It is the largest Black-owned company in the United States.
Parent Company
Founded
1990
Status
Private
Headquarters
GlobalOfficial Website
Who Owns World Wide Technology?
- Parent Company: World Wide Technology, Inc.
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| World Wide Technology | World Wide Technology, Inc. | Wholly owned |
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History of World Wide Technology
- Founded: 1990
- Founders: David Steward, Jim Kavanaugh
The WWT brand began in 1990 as a St. Louis technology equipment reseller. Steward's vision was a systems integrator that could serve federal agencies, and early MBE certification helped win government business that funded the first decade of growth.
The brand's identity shifted from reseller to solutions provider through the 2000s. The key physical embodiment of that shift is the Advanced Technology Center, opened in St. Louis in 2013 as a multi vendor lab where enterprise customers test combinations of Cisco, Dell, NVIDIA, and security gear before purchasing. The ATC became the brand's signature asset.
By the 2010s WWT was a $10 billion plus business, and the AI infrastructure boom of 2023 through 2026 pushed it past $20 billion. The 2025 Softchoice acquisition for $1.3 billion extended the brand into midmarket and commercial accounts through a complementary name rather than folding it under WWT.
The brand has been consistent through every phase: the same name, the same founders, and the same St. Louis base since 1990.
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About World Wide Technology, Inc.
What does World Wide Technology do?
WWT designs, integrates, and deploys technology infrastructure for large enterprises, carriers, and government agencies. It combines hardware and software from vendors like Cisco and NVIDIA into tested solutions, often validated in its Advanced Technology Center before deployment.
Is World Wide Technology publicly traded?
No. WWT is privately held and has been since its 1990 founding. Founder David Steward is chairman and principal owner, and co-founder Jim Kavanaugh is CEO.
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Who founded World Wide Technology?
David Steward and Jim Kavanaugh founded WWT in July 1990 in St. Louis, Missouri. Steward remains chairman and is the controlling owner.
Where is World Wide Technology headquartered?
WWT is headquartered at its campus in Maryland Heights, Missouri, part of the St. Louis metropolitan area. It operates more than 60 locations worldwide.
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How many employees does World Wide Technology have?
WWT employs more than 14,000 people across more than 60 locations, serving customers in up to 130 countries. The Softchoice acquisition added further staff in the US and Canada.
What is World Wide Technology's revenue?
WWT generates approximately $20 billion in annual revenue, making it one of the 20 largest private companies in the United States and the largest Black-owned company in the country.
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- Founded: 1990
- Headquarters: Maryland Heights, Missouri, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
- Revenue: Approximately $20 billion (2025)
- Employees: More than 14,000
Where Is World Wide Technology Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Maryland Heights, Missouri, USA
World Wide Technology Categories & Tags
World Wide Technology Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Founder control enables long term bets without quarterly pressure
- +ATC creates a hard to replicate technical and customer engagement moat
- +Scale allows favorable vendor economics across dozens of partners
- +MBE heritage remains a genuine differentiator in federal markets
- +Private status keeps financial strategy out of competitor view
Considerations
- -No public financial transparency for customers or partners doing diligence
- -Product resale economics produce thin margins at any scale
- -Two founders have led for 35 years, making succession a live question
- -Brand is concentrated on one master identity with limited portfolio insulation
Frequently Asked Questions About World Wide Technology
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Sources & Further Reading
- WWT corporate site,
- World Wide Technology, Inc. company profile, /companies/world-wide-technology
- WWT press kit,
- WWT Wikipedia entry,
- Softchoice acquisition details,
Competitors to World Wide Technology
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arista Networks | United States | 2004 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Atnorth | Iceland | 2009 | Mass market | Europe | All Genders | |
| Hpe | USA | 2015 | Market leader | Global | All-ages | |
| Intel | USA | 1998 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Super Micro | USA | 1993 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
Learn More About Competitors
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Technology SoftwareHPE
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Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: World Wide Technology competes with 5 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to World Wide Technology
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by World Wide Technology, Inc., giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Technology SoftwareArista Networks
Owned by Arista Networks, Inc.
Cloud networking brand of Arista Networks, Inc. (NYSE: ANET), the Santa Clara company behind EOS software and AI data center switching.
networkingdata-centerethernet
Publicly Traded
Arista Networks operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Technology SoftwareatNorth
Owned by atNorth
Pan-Nordic sustainable data center platform owned by CPP Investments, Equinix and Partners Group following a $4 billion deal in 2026.
data-centericelandnordics
Privately Owned
atNorth operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Technology SoftwareHPE
Owned by Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
Flagship brand of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, covering enterprise servers, storage, hybrid cloud, and AI infrastructure products sold to business and government customers worldwide.
enterprise-techserverscloud
Publicly Traded
HPE operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Technology SoftwareSupermicro
Owned by Super Micro Computer, Inc.
Master brand of Super Micro Computer, Inc., the San Jose AI server maker supplying GPU rack systems and liquid-cooled data center solutions.
serversai-infrastructuredata-center
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Supermicro operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Technology SoftwareAdder Technology
Owned by Adder Technology Limited
High-performance KVM-over-IP switches and extenders for mission-critical IT, broadcast, and control rooms.
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Technology SoftwareAkamai
Owned by Akamai Technologies, Inc.
Enterprise edge platform brand for content delivery, cybersecurity and cloud computing, operated by Akamai Technologies since 1998.
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Akamai operates independently without a large parent corporation.
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