Stark Industries is a multinational conglomerate founded by Howard Stark during the middle of the 20th century. Originally primarily a weapons manufacturer delivering weapons to the United States and its allies, the company was mostly responsible for shaping the face of the modern weapons industry.
After the death of Howard Stark, the company fell under the temporary control of Howard's business partner Obadiah Stane before Anthony "Tony" Stark officially succeeded his father at the age of 21. Tony was personally responsible for inventing most of Stark Industries' most ingenious weapons, but had the company stop manufacturing weapons after personally seeing Stark Industries weapons being used by terrorists on soldiers of the United States Army.