 Bomis is best known for supporting the creation of free @-@ content online @-@ encyclopedia projects Nupedia and Wikipedia . Tim Shell and Michael David continued their partnership with Wales during the 2000 Nupedia venture . Larry Sanger met Jimmy Wales through an e @-@ mail communication group about philosophy and objectivism , and joined Bomis in May 1999 . Sanger was a graduate student working towards a PhD degree in philosophy , with research focused on epistemology ; he received his degree from Ohio State University , moving to San Diego to help Bomis with its encyclopedia venture . At the time Sanger joined Bomis the company had a total workforce of two employees with help from programmers . 
