1970s
Foundation and business building
1970: Dr. Sharma founds and incorporates Multi-Tech Systems, renting new office space in the basement of the Schneider's Drug building in Minneapolis. He sells the world's first acoustic coupler to Professor Schmitt, inventor of the Schmitt trigger, for $300.
1971: In addition to growing sales for acoustic couplers, MultiTech wins a bid to provide receiver cards used to measure power flow across the boundry lines of power companies, cementing the company's entry into the energy sector.
1973: MultiTech begins developing modems for Tele-Terminals, one of the company's earliest customers.
1974: MultiTech expands into the basement of the Schneider Drug building to expand manufacturing capacity.
1976: MultiTech introduces the first direct connect modem.
1978: MultiTech outgrows facilities and moves to New Brighton.
1979: MultiTech introduces the MT500 microcomputer -- an all-in-one design incorporating hard drive, floppy drive, CRT and keyboard. Reaches $1 million in sales.