Final answer:
Agilent Technologies is an example of a company started by ex-HP employees that created disruptive technology, fundamentally altering the tech industry. Disruptive innovations create new markets and gradually outperform established technologies, as demonstrated by the personal computer's rise over mainframes and minicomputers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The disruptive firm that was started by former employees of Hewlett-Packard is Agilent Technologies. Agilent Technologies is a prime example of innovation and disruptive technology that originated from minds previously engaged with a long-established giant in the tech industry.
Disruptive technology creates new markets and value networks, eventually displacing established market-leading firms and products. As seen in the evolution of the computer industry, disruptive technology, like the personal computer, initially catered to a new market—the hobbyists and home users—without competing with large-scale computing systems. Over time, personal computers have evolved and become sophisticated enough to challenge and even replace mainframe computers and minicomputers in numerous applications.
By introducing novel computer architectures and technologies, startups have repeatedly caused industry shifts, signifying the power of innovation in the business landscape.