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Overview:

Google celebrates 27 years today, marking its transformation from a 1998 search engine startup to one of the most powerful companies in the world. Founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google quickly rose to dominate web search, expanded into countless tech products, and restructured under Alphabet. One of its most transformative moves was the 2006 acquisition of YouTube, which reshaped digital media forever.

A Birthday with Some Mystery

While Google officially celebrates its birthday on September 27, its actual launch timeline is a little more complicated. The company was incorporated on September 4, 1998, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Over the years, Google has settled on September 27 as the date to commemorate its founding.

To honor the occasion, Google often features a special Doodle on its homepage. Today, it brings back its original 1998 logo as a nostalgic nod to its early days.

From Dorm Rooms to Data Centers: Google’s Rise

  • Origins at Stanford
    Larry Page and Sergey Brin first met as PhD students in Stanford’s computer science program. They developed a search algorithm based on the concept of evaluating backlinks to rank pages (initially called “Backrub”).
  • Naming & Early Growth
    The name “Google” is a playful take on the word googol (a 1 followed by 100 zeros). This reflects their mission to organize vast amounts of information.
    The company operated from a garage in Menlo Park early on. It gradually expanded its infrastructure to support growing search demands.
  • IPO & Expansion
    Google went public on August 19, 2004, via an IPO that raised $1.67 billion. This gave the company a market cap exceeding $23 billion.
    Over time, Google expanded beyond search, launching products like Gmail, Google Maps, and Android. Eventually, it reorganized under the parent entity Alphabet to manage its many ventures.
  • By the Numbers
    For its 25th anniversary, Google published several fun facts. These reflect its scale: indexing billions of pages, powering AI tools, managing global infrastructure, and more.
YouTube player

The YouTube Bet: A Game-Changer

One of Google’s most consequential moves was acquiring YouTube.

  • Acquisition in 2006
    On October 9, 2006, Google announced a deal to buy YouTube for $1.65 billion in stock. The transaction was finalized on November 13 of that year. This marked one of Google’s largest acquisitions at the time.
  • Why the Acquisition Mattered
    At the time, YouTube was just a young company (launched in early 2005) and burning through cash. Google recognized the shift toward video content and envisioned a platform where users could upload, watch, and share videos at scale.
    Behind the scenes, negotiations almost fell apart, and Yahoo was also in the running. Ultimately, Google sealed the deal.
  • After the Deal
    Google kept YouTube operating with a degree of independence. This preserved its brand and community-driven ethos. Over time, YouTube grew into a massive advertising and subscription business. It contributed billions to Alphabet’s revenue and became a cornerstone of its global media strategy.

Why Today Matters

On Google’s birthday, we’re reminded of the audacious vision that started with two grad students and a brilliant search idea. From humble beginnings to a multi-billion-user company, Google’s journey underscores how bets on infrastructure, openness, and user experience can scale.

The YouTube acquisition, once considered a risky move, turned out to be transformative. It enabled Google to become a dominant force not only in search but also in video, entertainment, and media.

So today, as the Doodle revives the 1998 logo, we’re invited to look back and forward at what’s possible when curiosity meets scale.

Sources

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