Alphabet Inc.
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Episode Description
In its first six years from 1998 to 2004, Google built one of the greatest products of all time (and certainly the greatest business of all time) with Search. Then in its next six years from 2005 to 2011, Google built seven (!) more billion+ user products: Gmail, Maps, Drive and Docs, YouTube, Chrome, Android, and Photos — all either started from scratch internally or acquired as startups that were still in their infancy. This six-year period of wild innovation STILL stands unmatched in technology history… no other tech company counts more than four billion+ user products in its portfolio total. And of course, this “Google 2.0” era culminated in the transformation of the very company itself into Alphabet.
So the question we answer today is… how did they do it?? And why? What was the strategy that led a once “pure play” search company into such far flung fields as email, mapping, funny cat videos and operating systems? We unpack the brilliant (and sometimes accidental) strategies behind each product, the simultaneous three-front war Google fought against Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook, and the spectacular failure of Google Plus that nearly destroyed the company's culture — before ultimately setting the stage for both Alphabet and the AI revolution to come.
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Links:
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- Jeff Dean and Sanjay Ghemawat New Yorker article
- Eric Schmidt on stage at the iPhone keynote (!)
- Bill Gurley’s classic “Less than Free” Android post
- Our recent ACQ2 episode with Bret Taylor and Clay Bavor
- Worldly Partners’ Multi-Decade Alphabet Study
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Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions.
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AI-Generated Summary
The Rise of Google's Dominance (1998 - 2004)
Google’s foundation was built on Search, emerging as a dominant force in the tech world with an innovative ad-based business model that helped it capitalize on the growing internet landscape. This phase saw the creation of vital products that set its core business framework.
Google's Expansion Era (2005 - 2011)
In a remarkable six-year run, Google expanded into seven additional billion-user products, including Gmail, Maps, YouTube, and Android, significantly broadening its influence and operations. Each product was either developed in-house or through acquisitions that rooted deep into user affection and engagement.
The Shortcomings of Google Plus
Google Plus emerged as an ill-fated attempt to capture the social media market but became notorious for its forced integrations and oversaturation across Google's other products, ultimately failing to generate the expected user engagement.
Transitioning to Alphabet Inc. (2015)
With the transformation into Alphabet, Google’s structure and focus were realigned. The aim was to streamline operations while fostering innovation amid numerous emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The Road Ahead: AI and Google
As Google looks to the future, the company has embraced AI to sharpen its competitive edge. With the expertise and insights gathered over its history, Google aims to further leverage AI to refine user experiences and maintain its market-leading position.
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