Google Inc: How Did Google Originate?

How did Google get its start? It started with a couple of college students who didn't get along. Larry Page and Sergey Brin met at Stanford University, Sergey was in with a group of students who were assigned to show Larry around. The two graduate students in computer science argued about everything and anything. The two never agreed on anything, no matter what the topic was. The pair had strong opinions and divergent viewpoints, which would later lead them to solving one of computing's biggest challenges. Larry and Sergey retrieved information from a massive set of data.

Larry and Sergey begun collaboration on a search engine in January 1996 called BackRub. The name came from its unique ability to analyze black links, pointing to a given website. Larry who loved machinery gained notoriety for building a working printer out of Lego's. Larry also took on the challenge of creating a new server environment that used inexpensive computers. The pair was low on cash so they started tracking down loading docks to see if they could borrow these newly arrived computers. They needed these computers so they could start working on their new network. A year later news started spreading around campus about Larry and Sergey. Their approach to link analysis with BackRub was earning them publicity among those who have seen it.

The pair continued working to improve their technology throughout the first half of 1998. Following a path that would soon lead then to Google, they bought some disks at bargain prices. Larry and Sergey then went on to build their own computer housing in Larry's dorm room. They had no interest in building a company bases on their own technology they had developed. They called a friend, Yahoo founder David Filo and he liked their technology and was impressed. Filo advised Larry and Sergey to grow the service by themselves and start a search engine company. Filo also advised them that when they had fully developed the search engine, they would talk again. Unable to get the attention of other portal players, the pair decided to make a go at it own their own. All they needed now was some money so they could move out of the door and pay off credit cards they had maxed out due to investing in their technology.

The pair designed their business plans and headed out to find an investor. They found Andy Bechtolsheim of Sun Microsystems. After going over Larry and Sergey's business plan Andy knew Google had a lot of potential. Andy was very busy that day and had to rush off during his meeting with Larry and Sergey. Before they had even discussed all the details Andy wrote out a check for $100,000. The check was made out to Google Inc, and was handed over to Larry and Sergey. Although the pair was excited, there was only one problem; Google Inc. had no legal entity, making it impossible to deposit the check. They put the check in a drawer and headed out to find other funders and set up a corporation. After finding funders within family and friends, their initial investment rose to almost $1 million dollars.

In September of 1998, Google Inc. opened its door in California. Their new office was a garage equipped with a washer and dryer, a hot tub, and parking for Googles new corporation's staff, which had three employees. One of Google Inc. first employees was Craig Silverstein, who is now the director of technology for Google Inc. Now Google.com, still in beta they were receiving publicity for their search results. Google Inc. was answering 10,000 search queries daily. Articles started appearing in USA TODAY. That December, Larry and Sergey's new Google Inc. was named one of the top 100 web sites and search engines. In 1998 Google Inc. was moving up in the world.

In 1999 Googles employees had tripled and the crew moved into an office with eight employees. Now they were answering 500,000 queries daily. Google received its first sign on commercial search customer with Red Hat. June 7th the company had secured funding of $25 million. Google Inc. was now answering 3 million searches daily and on September 21, 1999, they removed the beta label from their website. Google Inc. continues to expand; today Google has the largest search engine.