From its inception as an entrepreneurial venture, Gore has always been about product innovation. Indeed, the firm was founded in 1958 by Bill and Vieve Gore to explore opportunities for fluorocarbon polymers, especially polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE). Bill had the idea of seeking applications with PTFE while working as a scientist for DuPont Corporation. Because of a lack of interest at DuPont , Bill purchased the patent on which PTFE was based and launched his own business venture.