Who founded the company Google?

If you are a company manager, chances are you know that Google was founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. But do you really know how they started, the challenges they faced, and the key factors that contributed to their success? In this article, we will delve into the story of Google’s founders and explore the lessons they learned on their journey to becoming one of the most successful companies in the world.

Early Years of Larry Page and Sergey Brin

Larry Page and Sergey Brin were both students at Stanford University when they first met in 1993. They shared a passion for technology and computer science, and their friendship was based on their love for programming and exploring the world of computers.

In 1994, Page and Brin decided to work together on a project that would allow them to organize and search the vast amount of information available on the internet. They called it “RankDex,” and it was designed to help users find relevant websites based on their search queries. However, they soon realized that there were many other people who shared their passion for technology and wanted to work with them on this project.

The Birth of Google

In 1998, Page and Brin decided to leave Stanford and start their own company to continue working on RankDex. They named the company “Google” after a popular search engine called Archie, which was a predecessor to their new venture. The name “Google” was also a playful reference to the fact that they wanted to help people find information more easily.

However, starting a new company was not easy for Page and Brin. They had no business experience and were competing against much larger and more established companies like Yahoo! and AltaVista. They also faced many challenges in funding their project, as investors were initially hesitant to invest in an untested startup.

Google’s Early Success

Despite the challenges, Page and Brin were determined to make Google a success. They focused on developing a search algorithm that was faster and more accurate than their competitors. In 2001, Google introduced its new search engine, which used a revolutionary algorithm called PageRank to rank websites based on their relevance and popularity. This new approach quickly caught on with users and helped Google become the dominant search engine in just a few years.

Google also began to expand its services beyond search, launching new products like Gmail (email), Google Maps (navigation), and Google Drive (cloud storage). These products became incredibly popular and helped Google attract even more users to its platform.

Lessons Learned from Google’s Founders

Focus on solving a problem

One of the key factors that contributed to Google’s success was Page and Brin’s focus on solving a real problem. They recognized that there was a need for a search engine that could help users find relevant information more easily, and they dedicated themselves to developing a solution to this problem. This approach has been used by many successful companies, including Amazon (online shopping) and Uber (ride-sharing).

Embrace failure

Starting a new company is always risky, and Page and Brin faced many setbacks and failures along the way. However, they learned to embrace failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. They used their failures as a way to refine their products and services, and they never gave up on their vision for Google.

Build a great team

Google’s success can also be attributed to the fact that Page and Brin were able to build a great team of talented individuals who shared their vision and passion for technology. They hired some of the brightest minds in computer science, including Eric Schmidt (former CEO of Google), and they created a culture that encouraged innovation and creativity.

Stay focused on the long term

Finally, Page and Brin were able to stay focused on the long term and avoid getting sidetracked by short-term gains.