Breakthrough Software

In 1984, the personal computer was just beginning to find its place in the office, and with it came a new set of challenges. Out of Novato, California, a new company called Breakthrough Software emerged to tackle one of them: project management. They launched their flagship product, Time Line, a sophisticated software tool for the PC DOS environment designed to help businesses manage complex projects. The company was led by key figures including William Lohse, Victoria Lohse, and later, Andrew Layman. They steered the company through the burgeoning and competitive software market of the mid-1980s. By 1986, Breakthrough had gained enough traction to attract a suitor. They entered into merger negotiations with Integrated Software Systems Corp. (ISSCO). However, the deal collapsed when a competitor swooped in to acquire ISSCO instead. This setback turned out to be a prelude to a more significant event. The following year, in 1987, the enterprise software company Symantec saw the value in Time Line and acquired Breakthrough Software. The acquisition marked the end of Breakthrough as an independent company but gave its product a new, larger home. Symantec continued to develop and sell Time Line for years, cementing the legacy of the small company that helped define project management in the early days of the PC.