One example is Airbnb. When it started, it was just an idea of two guys who were trying to make some extra money by renting out air mattresses in their apartment. They faced huge competition from established hotel chains. Hotels had brand recognition, resources, and a long - standing customer base. But Airbnb grew by focusing on a different model, leveraging the sharing economy. They managed to turn their small - scale idea into a global giant, which is a true underdog story in business.
Dell Computers is also a good example. Michael Dell started his company in his dorm room. He was up against big, well - established computer companies like IBM. These companies had huge manufacturing plants, large R & D budgets, and a long - standing reputation. Dell, on the other hand, had very little capital and no real brand name. But he focused on a direct - to - customer model, cutting out middlemen. This allowed him to offer custom - built computers at lower prices. Over time, Dell grew into a major player in the computer industry, which shows it was a true underdog story.