Fortytwo

Fortytwo was founded in 1999 by three students majoring in Bedrijfsinformatiesystemen (IT & Economics) from the University of Amsterdam. Bedrijfsinformatiesystemen is a study that combines technical and commercial skills, which typically leads graduates to positions that require knowledge of both. In addition, the three founders each bring unique skills, acquired during years of experience in the industry. They have honed both their technical and commercial abilities in various environments.

Why 42 ?

The name Fortytwo originates from 'The Hitchhikers' Guide to the Galaxy,' written by Douglas Adams. In this book, main character Arthur Dent is taken on a voyage through the cosmos. During one of his encounters, Dent witnesses something very special: a computer named 'Deep Thought' is about to answer a question it had been asked a long time before: 'The Great Question of Life, the Universe and Everything'.

The response formulated by the computer is '42,' to great dismay to all present. How can this be a serious answer? When asked to explain the background of this peculiar response, the computer explains that it is not so much the answer that's strange, but rather the question itself.

The idea that that sometimes the question, rather than the response, causes the problem, fits perfectly with the vision of the Fortytwo founders. Many other IT-companies have found inspiration in Douglas Adam's work as well. For example, IBM named their chess computer Deep Thought, and it is not uncommon to find computers and software with names that refer back to characters like Zaphod, Beeblebrox, Babel Fish en Bethselamin.

The book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is published by Del Rey Books and available from bol.com. The BBC has produced various audio books based on the original text. In 2005, the book was made into a movie.

Various Wikipedia articles have been written on the number 42, Douglas Adams

Other 42's

Our company is not the only one that uses the term Fortytwo in their name. A like-named company, situated very close to us here in Amsterdam, is '42', Enterprise Software Specialists. Their website is 42.nl.