2023.09.27

Key Takeaways

Google commemorates its 25th anniversary with a special Google Doodle, reflecting on its remarkable journey from humble beginnings to a global tech giant.

Founded by Sergey Brin and Larry Page in 1998, Google has redefined how people navigate the internet and has become an integral part of daily life for billions worldwide.

Google’s Serendipitous Beginning and Continuous Evolution

In a tribute to its 25th anniversary, Google takes a moment to reflect on its extraordinary journey. This tech giant’s story began in the late 1990s when two Stanford University doctoral students, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, serendipitously crossed paths. United by a shared vision, they set out to improve the accessibility of the World Wide Web. Their journey started with a prototype for a refined search engine, developed from the confines of their university dorms.

With unwavering dedication and a visionary approach, Brin and Page made steady progress on their ambitious project. As momentum built, they moved their headquarters to a rented garage, laying the foundation for a company that would revolutionize the internet. On September 27, 1998, Google Inc. officially came into existence, marking a pivotal moment in the digital landscape.

Enduring Mission

Significant changes have occurred since that pivotal moment in 1998. Throughout its 25-year journey, Google’s iconic logo has evolved, but one thing has remained constant: the company’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. Today, billions of people worldwide rely on Google’s suite of services for search, communication, work, and leisure.

Google’s Enduring Impact

As Google marks its 25th anniversary, it expresses gratitude to its users for growing alongside the company. While reflecting on the past, Google also looks ahead to the boundless possibilities of the future. The tech giant remains committed to shaping the digital landscape through continued innovation.

In 25 years, Google has not only transformed how we navigate the internet but has also become an integral part of our daily lives. This anniversary celebration is a testament to the enduring impact of two students’ audacious vision. It leaves us eagerly anticipating the technological marvels that the next 25 years will undoubtedly bring. Google’s journey continues, and the digital world evolves with it.

YEAR EVENT

1995-1996

Page and Brin meet at Stanford University and create a search engine named BackRub.

1998

The startup, now renamed Google, gets $100,000 in funding from Sun Microsystems co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim.

1999

Google announces $25 million in funding from Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins in its very first press release, and officially announces the term “Googlers” to the world.

June 2000

Google becomes the default search engine provider for Yahoo, one of the most popular websites at the time.

October 2000

Launches AdWords, the online advertising platform that would become core to Google’s business.

2001

Eric Schmidt is named Google’s chief executive officer and chairman of the board of Directors.

April 2004

Google announces it is testing the release of Gmail, with up to 1GB of storage capacity.

August 2004

Launches initial public offering of roughly 19.6 million shares, at an opening price of $85 per share.

February 2005

Launches Google Maps for desktop.

August 2005

Acquires mobile startup Android. Launches Google Talk instant messaging service.

2006

Buys online video service YouTube for $1.65 billion.

April 2007

Announces acquisition of web ad supplier DoubleClick for $3.1 billion.

May 2007

Introduces universal search that lets users access search results across all content types, like images, videos and news, at once.

September 2008

Debuts first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1 or HTC Dream. Launches Google Chrome web browser.

January 2010

Launches smartphone, Nexus One, co-developed with HTC.

March 2010

Stops censoring search results in China, leading to its banning in the country.

October 2010

Google tests out its first self-driving vehicles with a small fleet of Toyota Priuscars in California.

June 2011

Launches Google+ social networking service, which was shut down in 2018.

August 2011

Announces acquisition of Motorola Mobility, which includes Motorola’s cellphone and TV set-top box businesses, for $12.5 billion.

2012

Launches Google Glass.

2013

Announces acquisition of Israeli mapping startup Waze for about $1 billion.

2014

Announces in January that it will acquire AI firm DeepMind. In the same month, announces a $3.2 billion deal to buy smart thermostat and smoke alarm maker Nest Labs.

2015

Announces plans to create a new publicly listed company, Alphabet, which will house Google and other units, including YouTube and research and venture capital businesses. Sundar Pichai named CEO of Google.

October 2016

Launches the first Pixel smartphone.

November 2016

Launches Google Home smart speaker.

June 2017

The European Commission fines Google 2.42 billion euros for violating the neutrality of its search.

February 2018

Google reports full-year sales of over $100 billion a year for the first time.

July 2018

The European Commission fines Google 4.34 billion euros for anti-competitive practices with respect to its Android operating system.

March 2019

The European Commission imposes a 1.49 billion euros fine for anti-competitive practices with respect to the company’s online advertising business.

June 2019

Google announces acquisition of analytics startup Looker for $2.6 billion.

November 2019

Announces acquisition of Fitbit for $2.1 billion.

December 2019

Co-founders Page and Brin announce they are stepping down as CEO and president, respectively; Pichai becomes CEO of Alphabet.

2020

Alphabet hits $1 trillion in market capitalization.

January 2023

The company cuts 12,000 jobs, or 6 percent of its workforce.

February 2023

Google announces Bard, a generative AI-powered chatbot that can produce text content and fetch information off the internet. However, a factual error in the AI tool’s demo tanks. Alphabet shares, erasing $100 billion from the company’s market capitalization.

Susan Wojcicki, one of Google’s first employees, steps down as YouTube CEO; Neal Mohan replaces her.