How it started
Founding
Altair Engineering was founded in 1985 by James R. Scapa, George Christ, and Mark Kistner in Troy, Michigan. Since the company's outset, Scapa has served as its CEO (and now chairman).
Initially, Altair started as an engineering consulting firm, but branched out into product development and computer-aided engineering (CAE) software. In the 1990s, it became known for its software products like HyperWorks, OptiStruct, and HyperMesh, which were often used for product development by the automotive industry.
Some of Altair's early clients included the Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Chrysler. Its software also aided in the development of the Young America and AmericaOne racing yachts, the former of which was used to compete in the 1995 America's Cup.
Its software also found uses in other sectors, including aerospace (NASA), aviation (Airbus), consumer electronics (Nokia), and toy manufacturing (Mattel), among others. In 2002, Altair software aided in the design of the Airbus A380 by weight optimizing the aircraft wing ribs.
Also in 2002, Altair opened offices in Seongnam, South Korea and Shanghai, China, adding those locales to its international footprint alongside India where it had begun investment in 1992.
From Wikipedia’s article on Altair Engineering, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2