Solution to #2: Startups
The seven companies, in the order listed, are:
FORTUNEBRANDS
COLECO
YOUTUBE
AVONPRODUCTS
JOHNDEERE
WRIGLEY
NINTENDO
As hinted by '45 degree angle', you want to look at the first letter of the first answer, second letter of the second answer, and so on. Doing so spells 'founded', the puzzle's solution.
FOUNDED