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Groupon is one of the fastest growing companies. Ever.

How did the pioneering daily deals site reach astronomical success in just two years? Well, it wasn't easy. In fact, Groupon almost failed before it ever existed.

Groupon stemmed from a different site, The Point. Founder Andrew Mason and his investors soon realized The Point was headed toward failure, and fast.

The coupon/daily deal idea was a final attempt to save a company so far gone, it was in the process of handing money back to investors.

Magically, the desperate attempt worked, and it spawned the fastest-growing billion-dollar company in history.