Since its modest beginnings in a garage, Google has grown to be one of the largest and most important corporations in the world, with a total wealth that exceeds one trillion dollars. The history of Google spans 25 years, starting with its foundation in 1998 by Sergey Brin and Larry Page, and continuing with its diversification into new services and products like Google Workspace, Chrome, YouTube, Android, and Google Ads.
The PageRank algorithm, the purchase of YouTube, the creation of the Android operating system, the introduction of Chrome and Chromebooks, and the creation of the Pixel smartphone are just a few examples of Google’s inventive creations and acquisitions that are to blame for its success. Additionally, Google has prioritized AI, as shown by initiatives like the creation of the ChatGPT AI chatbot.
The name and parent corporation of Google, which is regarded as the largest search engine in the world, are well-known on a global scale. It is one of the most well-known brand names, in large part because billions of people use the Google search engine every day. In 2023, Google’s market capitalization is projected to reach a trillion dollars.
Therefore, Google is a huge business that has developed significantly since its humble garage-based beginnings. The 25-year history of Google LLC tells the tale of how the company evolved into the behemoth it is today.
1997–1998: Google’s founding
At Stanford University in the middle of the 1990s, Sergey Brin, a Ph.D. student in computer science, and Larry Page had their first encounter. They worked together here to create a new internet search engine, which they initially called BackRub. The search engine’s name was later changed to Google, and in 1996, Stanford’s website served as the testing ground for it.
In 1997, Page and Brin purchased the Google.com domain name in order to introduce a brand-new worldwide search engine. The Google search engine soon gained popularity as a resource for finding websites. Its distinctive PageRank algorithm, which prioritized results based on the quantity and importance of pages connected to them, set it different from other search engines of the time.
Google was still a smaller search engine than Yahoo at the time, though. Even yet, Page and Brin offered to sell Yahoo their PageRank algorithm for about $1 million. The plan was rejected by Yahoo, and the rest is history.
Launching the Google search engine was one thing, but establishing a business was quite another. In order to launch their new business, Larry and Sergey required the necessary capital.
Andy Bechtolsheim, a co-founder of Sun Microsystems, quickly located Google after they showed it to him. He was deeply affected by what he saw and heard, and he sent Brin and Page a startup cheque for $100,000 for Google Inc. right away.
The $100,000 gift was sufficient to convince Google to leave the garage. September 4, 1998 marked the official founding of Google Inc. Later, Google received investment from another round of investors, including Jeff Bezos, the creator of Amazon.
The first location of Google was in Susan Wojcicki’s garage. On this Google Maps page, you can see Google’s original office. Press the left mouse button to navigate the camera while exploring Google’s first workplace.
Google introduces AdWords in 2000.
In 2000, the fledgling Google corporation initially began to offer ad spaces on its search engine. Businesses can now bid for keyword advertising positions on the search engine thanks to the introduction of Google AdWords. Today, Google Ads brings in over $100 billion annually, making it one of the company’s major cash cows.
Schmidt is chosen as Google’s first CEO in 2001.
From 1997 through 2001, Larry Page served as Google’s first CEO. Page and Brin, who at the time were still in their early 20s, felt that their growing corporation required a leader with more business management acumen. Eric Schmidt, a former CEO of Novell, was named CEO of Google in 2001.
Schmidt held the title of Google CEO for the longest period of time in company history, from 2001 to 2011. He presided over a period of substantial, broad-based company expansion during this time. He humorously tweeted that Google didn’t need adult supervision when he left the position in 2011 after serving for eight years. Sundar Pichai, Google’s current CEO, took over from Page in 2015 after Schmidt stepped down in 2011.
Google relocates to Amphitheatre Parkway in 2003.
Even though Google didn’t stay in the garage for very long, it was obvious by 2003 that the corporation required a sizable website to call its own.
As a result, Google opened its campus on Mountain View’s Amphitheatre Parkway in 2003. Google first rented the location, but later bought assets there to create Googleplex. The Googleplex is still where the company is based today.
Google buys YouTube in 2006.
Google created a website called Google Videos in 2005, and it immediately competed with another brand-new video-sharing website called YouTube. The Steve Chen-founded YouTube website quickly rose to prominence online.
In 2006, Google made the decision to stop competing with YouTube and set up a meeting with Chen to talk about the potential purchase of his video-sharing website over a meal at a Denny’s.
Chen was persuaded by Eric Schmidt to sell YouTube to Google for $1.65 billion, a considerable sum in light of Google’s later acquisition of Android. Google had to purchase YouTube because they were unable to compete. Following the closure of Google Videos, YouTube overtook Google’s own search as the second most popular website after Google was acquired.
Google Web Apps Create a Productivity Cloud in 2006
Google had a big influence in 2006 when it discovered cloud computing, also referred to as web-based productivity software. Google then launched web applications like Sheets, Docs, and Slides. They were a component of the newly released Google Apps suite, which now includes Workspace and Gmail.
Users can now process documents, make spreadsheets, and put up slide shows in their browsers thanks to the new Sheets, Docs, and Slides apps. This marked an important turning point in the development of the World Wide Web. One of Microsoft Office’s main rivals right now is the Google Workspace suite.
The Android Revolution in 2008
One of the largest turning events in the company’s history occurred when Google purchased the failing Android company for close to $50 million in 2005, ushering in a momentous event. A new Linux-based mobile phone operating system was being developed by the Android team after they relocated to Googleplex. By the end of 2007, Android 1.0, the first version of Android, has been finished developing.
The Open Handset Alliance (OHA), which Google founded, released the first version of the Android operating system. In 2008, HTC unveiled the T-Mobile G1, the first smartphone to run on the Android operating system. Google’s Android OS had overtaken all other smartphone platforms by the year 2012.
As of July 2023, Android held a market share of roughly 70–71% in the market for mobile operating systems, making it the largest operating system series in the world.
2008 to 2012: Google Chrome Rise
Eric Schmidt has admitted that he initially disapproved of the notion of a Google web browser when Page and Brin first pitched it to him. Schmidt questioned Google’s ability to compete with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer.
Bypassing the current CEO of Google, Larry and Sergey pushed the creation of a new web browser with the help of Sundar Pichai, who would later become the company’s CEO. Schmidt changed his mind after viewing a preview of Chrome.
Google introduced Chrome in 2008, sparking a new browser conflict alongside Firefox and Internet Explorer. In this conflict, Google Chrome triumphed, surpassing Internet Explorer in terms of user share in 2012. As of July 2023, StatCounter estimates that Chrome had a market share of 63.55%, making it the industry leader.
2016 saw the launch of Google’s first Pixel smartphone.
After Chromebooks, Google entered the hardware market in 2016 with the release of its first Android-based Pixel phone. This represented a crucial turning point for the business. This original Pixel phone was one in a line that ran from 2016 through 2023. Google’s first foldable mobile gadget, the Pixel Fold, was recently announced.
The first mobile device to include Google Assistant was the first Pixel phone. Additionally, it has a strong camera that performed better than many other phones’ cameras in 2016. Even while Google continues to be a less significant player in the mobile device business than Apple, its Pixel smartphones are a serious competitor to iPhones in the market.
Pichai Declares Code Red in 2022
In 2022 and 2023, the well-liked ChatGPT AI chatbot experienced the quickest growth, which alarmed Google. Pichai made a key announcement around the end of 2022 about establishing a Google Code Red to establish an immediate response on ChatGPT. This suggested that Google has made AI a top priority.
On ChatGPT, the initial reaction appears to be a search-generative experience. It’s Google’s in-development AI-driven search engine. To be among the first to use the search generative experience, sign up right away. Visit our Search Generative Experience Guide for more details on how to get on the waiting list.