Perhaps, companies in which employees can pursue hobbies/personal projects. (kodac & digital camera[0] being an interesting case study))
Companies arise out of diverging from 'parent' company goals/objectives.
Also a side project grows beyond original intent.
How to pay for US college education / research ...
* side jobs/projects that superceeded 'getting a degree': Dell, Nerf, Microsoft, facebook, netscape.
* While doing research .... microwave, transisor, antibiotics, digital camera, c/unix, bsd, alto & apple Lisa, etc ...