The Beginning: A Stanford Research Project
Founded by two Stanford students in the late 1990s, Google has transformed from a simple search engine project into a multinational conglomerate controlling vast swaths of the internet. Larry Page and Sergey Brin's creation revolutionized how humanity accesses and organizes information.
Timeline of Google's Evolution
1996: BackRub
Larry Page and Sergey Brin begin collaborating on a search engine called "BackRub" that analyzed web backlinks to determine site importance.
1998: Google Founded
The company officially incorporates as Google Inc. on September 4, 1998, in a friend's garage in Menlo Park, California. The name comes from "googol" (10^100), reflecting their mission to organize infinite information.
2000: AdWords Launch
Google introduces AdWords, revolutionizing online advertising and establishing the business model that would make it one of the world's most profitable companies.
2004: IPO
Google goes public at $85 per share, raising $1.67 billion and valuing the company at $23 billion. The unconventional Dutch auction IPO breaks Wall Street norms.
2006: YouTube Acquisition
Google acquires YouTube for $1.65 billion, securing dominance in online video and creating what would become the world's second-largest search engine.
2008: Android & Chrome
Google releases Android mobile OS and Chrome browser, both of which become market leaders and cement Google's control over internet access points.
2015: Alphabet Inc. Created
Google restructures under a new parent company, Alphabet Inc., allowing Google to focus on internet products while other ventures (Waymo, Verily, etc.) operate as separate subsidiaries.
2019: Sundar Pichai becomes Alphabet CEO
Sundar Pichai, who had been Google's CEO since 2015, becomes CEO of Alphabet as Larry Page and Sergey Brin step back from daily operations.
Alphabet's Major Products & Services
Core Google Products
- • Google Search (90%+ market share)
- • YouTube (2B+ users)
- • Android (70%+ mobile OS share)
- • Chrome Browser (65%+ market share)
- • Gmail (1.8B+ users)
- • Google Maps
- • Google Cloud Platform
- • Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, etc.)
Other Alphabet Ventures
- • Waymo (autonomous vehicles)
- • Verily (life sciences)
- • Calico (aging research)
- • Wing (drone delivery)
- • X (moonshot factory)
- • GV (venture capital)
- • CapitalG (growth equity)
Business Model & Revenue
Alphabet generates over $280 billion in annual revenue (2023), with the vast majority coming from advertising across Google Search, YouTube, and partner sites.
Advertising: ~80% of Revenue
Search ads, display ads, YouTube ads, and Google Ad Network
Google Cloud: ~10% of Revenue
Cloud computing, infrastructure, and enterprise services
Other: ~10% of Revenue
Google Play, Pixel hardware, YouTube Premium, subscriptions
Controversies & Challenges
- • Antitrust lawsuits in US, EU, and other jurisdictions
- • Privacy concerns over data collection practices
- • Market dominance and anti-competitive behavior allegations
- • Content moderation challenges on YouTube
- • Employee activism over military contracts and ethics
- • Tax avoidance strategies criticized globally
The Future of Alphabet
As of 2025, Alphabet faces both opportunities and threats:
- AI Revolution: Competing with OpenAI, Microsoft, and others in generative AI while defending search dominance
- Regulatory Pressure: Ongoing antitrust cases could force structural changes
- Cloud Growth: Google Cloud continues expanding, though trailing AWS and Azure
- New Frontiers: Quantum computing, autonomous vehicles, and healthcare innovations