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Google

Google LLC is an American multinational technology company focusing on online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics.

Categories

Technology  

#5

Rank

$2.17T

Marketcap

US United States

Country

Google
Leadership team
Industries

Technology

Products/ Services
Search tools, advertising, communication, publishing tools, productivity tools, map-related products, statistical tools, healthcare related, business tools, developer tools, security tools, operating systems, desktop applications, mobile applications, hardware, cloud services
Number of Employees
Above 50,000
Headquarters
Mountain View, CA, United States
Established
1998
Company Type
Public Limited Company
Company Registration
SEC CIK #0001288776
Revenue
20M - 100M
Traded as
GOOG
Social Media
Overview
Location
Summary

Google LLC, founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is an American multinational technology company that has become one of the most influential and valuable companies in the world. It is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., which is considered one of the Big Five technology companies. Google's primary focus is on online advertising, search engine technology, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and consumer electronics.

With its flagship product, Google Search, the company revolutionized the way people access information on the internet. Over the years, Google has expanded its portfolio to include a wide range of products and services. These include popular offerings such as Gmail for email, Google Maps for navigation, Google Drive for cloud storage, YouTube for video sharing, and Android as a leading mobile operating system.

Google's commitment to innovation is evident through its ventures into emerging technologies. It has made significant advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, with products like Google Assistant, TensorFlow (machine learning APIs), and TPUs (AI chips). The company has also made notable investments in areas like quantum computing, self-driving cars (Waymo), smart cities (Sidewalk Labs), and transformer models (Google Brain).

Google's success is reflected in its market dominance, its recognition as one of the most valuable brands globally, and its immense user base. The company's services and platforms, including Google Search, YouTube, and Android, attract billions of users worldwide.

History

Google began as a research project in 1996 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who were PhD students at Stanford University. They developed a search engine algorithm called PageRank, which analyzed the relationships among websites to determine relevance. Initially named "BackRub," the search engine assessed the importance of a site by checking backlinks. Page shared his ideas with Scott Hassan, who wrote the code to implement them.

With the support of investors like Andy Bechtolsheim, Jeff Bezos, and Ram Shriram, Google was able to secure funding in 1998. The company was formally incorporated, and Craig Silverstein became its first employee. Despite initial reticence from venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins and Sequoia Capital, they eventually agreed to invest $25 million in Google due to its promising potential.

The name "Google" was a misspelling of "googol," representing the vast amount of information the search engine aimed to provide. Over time, Google expanded its services beyond search to include Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive, and Android, among many others. The company's commitment to innovation and its ability to dominate multiple markets have contributed to its global success and recognition as one of the world's leading technology companies.

In 1999, Google relocated its offices to Palo Alto, California, a hub for technology start-ups. Despite initial resistance, the company started selling text-based advertisements associated with search keywords, aiming to maintain a clean page design. In 2000, Google secured a significant partnership with Yahoo!, becoming its default search engine provider and replacing Inktomi.

By 2003, Google had outgrown its previous locations and leased an office complex in Mountain View, California, which became known as the Googleplex. The company purchased the property three years later. The term "Google" had become ingrained in everyday language, leading to its inclusion in dictionaries as a verb meaning to search for information on the internet. In 2001, Eric Schmidt was hired as the CEO to strengthen internal management, after Larry Page and Sergey Brin's initial reluctance to relinquish control.

On August 19, 2004, Google went public with an initial public offering, raising over $1.6 billion and attaining a market capitalization of more than $23 billion. Google continued its expansion through acquisitions, including YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion and DoubleClick in 2008 for $3.1 billion. By 2011, Google was handling billions of searches daily and had built multiple data centers worldwide to manage the workload. In 2012, the company acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, primarily to bolster its patent portfolio and support the Android platform.

In recent years, Google made several significant acquisitions and expansions. In 2013, the company acquired Waze, integrating its social features into Google Maps. The same year, Google launched Calico, a company focused on addressing aging and associated diseases. In 2014, Google acquired DeepMind Technologies, bolstering its presence in artificial intelligence and robotics.

In 2015, Google underwent a restructuring and became Alphabet Inc.'s largest subsidiary. Sundar Pichai became CEO of Google, while Larry Page became CEO of Alphabet. Google entered the video game market with Google Stadia in 2019 and faced antitrust investigations.

In 2020, Google implemented cost-cutting measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company continued acquisitions and expansions, such as acquiring Raxium for microLED technology and prioritizing generative AI in its products. Additionally, Google announced plans for new data centers in Ohio.

Mission

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. This mission reflects the company's commitment to providing users with easy access to a vast wealth of knowledge and resources available on the internet. By organizing information from across the web and making it accessible through its search engine, Google aims to empower individuals to find the information they need quickly and efficiently.

In addition to organizing information, Google's mission is centered around making it universally accessible and useful. This involves ensuring that people from all backgrounds and locations can benefit from the information and services Google provides. By developing user-friendly products and services, offering translation capabilities through Google Translate, and expanding internet access through initiatives like Google Fiber, the company strives to bridge the digital divide and enable people around the world to access and utilize information to improve their lives.

Vision

The company aims to create products and services that empower individuals, enhance their productivity, and enrich their lives through the power of technology and information. Google's mission is to organize the vast amount of knowledge available and make it easily accessible to everyone, regardless of their location or background.

At the core of Google's vision is the belief in the transformative potential of technology. The company strives to develop innovative solutions that solve complex problems, improve efficiency, and enhance the overall human experience. Google envisions a future where information is readily available, connections are seamless, and individuals can tap into the power of knowledge to learn, create, and explore new frontiers.

Furthermore, Google aims to push the boundaries of technology and drive advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. By harnessing the potential of these cutting-edge technologies, Google seeks to unlock new possibilities, enable personalized experiences, and shape the future of how people interact with information and the digital world.

Key Team

Sundar Pichai (CEO and Director)

Thomas Kurian (CEO Google Cloud)

Ruth Porat (SVP, CFO)

Lorraine Twohill (CMO)

Kate Brandt (Chief Sustainability Officer)

Melonie Parker (Chief Diversity Officer)

Lisa Cohen Gevelber (Chief Marketing Officer, Americas Region)

Matt Britin (President, EMAE)

Adaire Fox-Martin (President Google Cloud, Go-To Market, Head Google Ireland)

Kent Walker (President of Global Affairs, Google and Alphabet)

Philipp Schindler (Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer)

Hiroshi Lockheimer (Senior Vice President of Platforms and Ecosystems)

Urs Holzle (SVP of Engineering)

Jen Fitzpatrick (SVP, Core Systems and Experiences)

Rick Osterloh (SVP, Devices and Services)

James Manyika (SVP Technology and Society)

Sameer Samat (Vice President of Product Management)

Alison Wagonfeld (Vice President, Marketing and CMO, Google Cloud)

Richard Marks (Director, Technical Project Lead, Google ATAP)

Sagar Kamdar (Director of Product Management)

Recognition and Awards
In 2013, Google won the Brand of the Year for software and website category by Ace Metrix. In 2021, it also won the IDA Ireland Special Recognition Award. Fortune's Best Companies to Work For: Google consistently ranks high on Fortune's annual list of Best Companies to Work For. The company has been recognized for its employee-friendly work culture, benefits, and innovative practices. Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index: Google has been recognized for its efforts in promoting gender equality in the workplace. The Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index acknowledges companies that demonstrate a commitment to transparency and equality in areas such as leadership, hiring practices, and employee benefits. BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands: Google consistently secures a top position in the BrandZ rankings, which assesses the brand value of companies worldwide. The company's strong market presence, innovative products and services, and brand reputation contribute to its high ranking. Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies: Google has been featured multiple times in Fast Company's annual list of the Most Innovative Companies. This recognition reflects Google's continuous efforts to push boundaries and develop groundbreaking technologies and products. TechCrunch Crunchie Awards: Google has been honored with several Crunchie Awards, which recognize achievements in the technology industry. Notable wins include Best Technology Achievement and Best Mobile Application categories for products like Google Maps and Google Photos. American Institute of Architects Innovation Award: Google has received recognition from the American Institute of Architects for its innovative approach to architectural design. Notably, the Google headquarters, known as the Googleplex, has been acknowledged for its unique and environmentally friendly design. Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity: Google has earned numerous accolades at the Cannes Lions, a prestigious festival celebrating creativity in marketing and advertising. Awards have been granted for various Google campaigns, demonstrating the company's ability to deliver impactful and creative marketing strategies. Webby Awards: Google has received multiple Webby Awards, which honor excellence on the internet. The company has been recognized in categories such as Best Search Engine, Best Mobile App, and Best User Interface. Google Play Awards: Google's app store, Google Play, hosts its own awards to highlight outstanding apps and games. Developers recognized through these awards showcase innovation, design, and overall quality in their creations.
Products and Services

Search Engine: Google's search engine is its flagship product, allowing users to find information from billions of web pages using keywords and operators. It dominates the search engine market with its comprehensive index and user-friendly interface.

Advertising: Google generates a significant portion of its revenue from advertising. Its advertising platforms, such as AdMob, AdSense, and DoubleClick AdExchange, enable advertisers to reach their target audience through various channels, including search results, websites, and mobile apps.

Web-based Services: Google offers a suite of web-based services that have become essential for many users. These include Gmail for email, Google Calendar for scheduling, Google Maps for navigation and mapping, Google Drive for cloud storage, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for productivity, and YouTube for video sharing and viewing. Google Translate, Google Photos, and Google Keep are also part of its web-based service offerings.

Software: Google develops the Android operating system, which powers a large percentage of smartphones worldwide. It also offers the Google Chrome web browser and ChromeOS, an operating system based on Chrome. These software products provide users with a seamless browsing and computing experience.

Hardware: Google has ventured into hardware products as well. It launched its own line of smartphones called Nexus, which has since been replaced by the Pixel brand. Google also introduced the Chromebook, a laptop running on ChromeOS, and the Chromecast dongle for streaming content to televisions. The company's hardware lineup expanded to include the Google Nest line, which consists of smart speakers and home devices.

Enterprise Services: Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) is a collection of productivity and collaboration tools designed for organizations. It includes Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides, along with administrative tools and support. Google Cloud Platform offers cloud computing services, enabling businesses to build, deploy, and scale applications.

Internet Services: Google has ventured into providing high-speed broadband internet through its Google Fiber project. It aims to deliver ultra-fast internet connections to selected cities in the United States. Additionally, Google offers Project Fi, a mobile virtual network operator that combines Wi-Fi and cellular networks for seamless connectivity.

References
Google
Leadership team
Industries

Technology

Products/ Services
Search tools, advertising, communication, publishing tools, productivity tools, map-related products, statistical tools, healthcare related, business tools, developer tools, security tools, operating systems, desktop applications, mobile applications, hardware, cloud services
Number of Employees
Above 50,000
Headquarters
Mountain View, CA, United States
Established
1998
Company Type
Public Limited Company
Company Registration
SEC CIK #0001288776
Revenue
20M - 100M
Traded as
GOOG
Social Media