Are you curious to find out what companies Google has acquired over the years? From tech giants to innovative startups, Google’s acquisition strategy is impressive and extremely diverse. Keep reading to learn all about 12 of Google’s most notable acquisitions that have made a lasting impact on technology and the way we live our lives today. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or simply a fan of tech culture, it’s worth understanding the successes that these companies experienced as part of Google.
1. YouTube
Google has made many notable acquisitions over the years, but one that stands out is YouTube. The online video-sharing platform has become a household name, and it's hard to imagine a world without it. In 2006, Google acquired YouTube for a whopping $1.65 billion, and it has only grown in popularity since then. With over 2.7 billion monthly active users and countless hours of content, YouTube has become an integral part of our lives. From funny cat videos to educational tutorials, there's something for everyone on the platform. It's hard to believe that YouTube was once just a small startup, but thanks to Google's acquisition, it's now one of the most influential platforms on the internet.
2. Fitbit
Fitbit has long been recognized as a trailblazer in the world of consumer fitness tracking. Since its founding in 2007, the company quickly rose to become the market leader, setting the standard for innovations in wearable health technology. And it seems that Fitbit's impressive track record has caught the eye of yet another influential industry leader: Google. With its $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit, Google has made a bold move towards expanding its reach in the world of wearable technology. As we wait to see what the future holds for this newly-formed partnership, one thing is for sure: the world of tech and fitness is about to get even more exciting.
3. Waze
In 2013, Google made a decision that changed the way people navigate their daily commutes: it acquired Waze for a whopping $1.3 billion. This small but mighty startup made it possible for drivers to receive real-time traffic updates, accident reports, and even alerts about nearby police cars. It's no surprise that Google saw the potential of Waze's technology, which has since been integrated into Google Maps. Thanks to this acquisition, millions of people now have access to the most up-to-date and accurate traffic information, all at their fingertips.
4. DeepMind
Google made one of its most notable acquisitions in 2014 by acquiring the London-based artificial intelligence company, DeepMind, for more than $500 million. DeepMind has been known for its breakthroughs in machine learning and has greatly contributed to the development of Google's artificial intelligence capabilities. With its cutting-edge technology, DeepMind has been used to improve Google's speech recognition systems and to optimize data center energy efficiency. The acquisition of DeepMind has been a significant move for Google, positioning the company as a major player in the AI market and demonstrating its continued commitment to innovation.
5. Looker
In 2019, Google made a significant move in the tech industry with their acquisition of Looker. Looker is a unified platform for business intelligence, data applications, and embedded analytics that has quickly become a game-changer. The power of Looker lies in its ability to help companies make smarter, data-driven decisions. The platform empowers businesses by bringing together all the information scattered throughout different systems and platforms into one centralized location. With Looker, it's easy to visualize data and gain actionable insights to drive business growth and stay ahead of the competition. Google's acquisition of Looker not only enhances their cloud portfolio but also reinforces their commitment to helping businesses harness the power of data to drive success.
6. Tenor
In 2018, Google made one of its most notable acquisitions with the addition of Tenor to its portfolio. Known for bringing GIFs to mobile messaging, Tenor's launch of the first GIF Keyboard on iOS revolutionized the way people communicate through text. Suddenly, sending a quick animated clip became the perfect way to express emotions, convey sarcasm, or inject a bit of fun into a conversation. With Tenor's acquisition, Google gains access to a vast library of GIFs for use across many of its products, from Google Images to Gboard, and Chrome. All in all, Tenor's contribution to the world of mobile messaging is truly remarkable.
7. Android
Back in 2005, Google made a very smart move when it acquired Android for only $50 million. Android, which has since become the world's most popular mobile operating system, was still in its infancy back then. But Google's visionary leadership team saw the potential, and they pounced on the opportunity to bring the fledgling platform under their umbrella. In the years that followed, Android would go on to revolutionize the mobile industry by offering an open-source operating system that offered endless customization possibilities. Today, Android is the backbone of billions of smartphones and tablets around the world, and with each new iteration, it continues to evolve and improve. It's almost hard to imagine how different the mobile landscape would be today if Google had never bought Android.
8. Apigee
Back in 2016, Google made one of its most notable acquisitions by entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Apigee. In case you're not familiar with the company, Apigee is a provider of application programming interface (API) management. This acquisition marked a significant milestone for Google, as it allowed the company to further expand its cloud offerings and enhance its capabilities for enterprise customers. With Apigee's technology, Google now provides customers with tools and services that simplify the process of managing, securing, and analyzing their APIs.
9. Nest
In 2014, Google made waves in the tech world by acquiring connected device company Nest for a staggering $3.2 billion. At the time, many were left wondering what Google, a company known for their search engine and other software, saw in a hardware-focused company like Nest. However, it soon became clear that Nest's expertise in home automation, specifically with their line of smart thermostats and smoke detectors, would be a valuable addition to Google's arsenal. As technology continues to infiltrate every aspect of our lives, this acquisition was a forward-thinking move that placed Google firmly at the forefront of the emerging connected home space.
10. DoubleClick
In 2007, Google made one of its most notable acquisitions with DoubleClick for an impressive $3.1 billion. This acquisition set the stage for Google to become one of the largest players in the digital advertising industry. DoubleClick's ad-serving technology helped Google expand its advertising capabilities to reach more consumers across the Internet. The acquisition also gave Google insights into the behavior of online users and helped them improve their ad targeting. With DoubleClick's technology under their belt, Google was able to connect advertisers with their desired audiences more effectively than ever before. This acquisition had a lasting impact on Google and the digital advertising landscape as a whole.
11. Mandiant
In 2022, Google made a significant move by acquiring Mandiant, a leading cyber threat intelligence company. This acquisition marked a significant milestone for the tech giant, as it expanded its capabilities in cybersecurity and threat intelligence. Mandiant has long been regarded as a pioneer in the field, with a reputation for uncovering some of the most high-profile hacks and breaches. Their expertise in identifying cyber threats and developing solutions to tackle them is second to none. With Mandiant now a part of the Google family, the company is poised to take on some of the biggest security challenges of our time and continue to lead the charge in keeping the internet a safer place.
Most Asked Questions
1. When did Google acquire YouTube?
Google acquired YouTube in November 2006 for a whopping $1.65 billion.
2. What was the first company Google acquired?
The first company Google acquired was Dejanews in 2001. Thanks to this acquisition, Google was able to expand its services and roll out Google Groups, an online forum and discussion platform that united users from around the world.
3. How has the Android acquisition impacted Google's mobile presence?
The acquisition of Android solidified Google's position in the mobile industry and greatly impacted their mobile presence. With the growing popularity of smartphones and mobile devices, Google recognized the need to expand beyond their search engine and web-based platform. The Android acquisition not only gave them access to a robust operating system but also a talented team of engineers and designers. Since the acquisition, Google has released a wide range of successful Android-powered devices, including the Pixel series and the Nexus tablet. Additionally, Android has become the most widely used mobile operating system in the world, further cementing Google's dominance in the mobile space. The Android acquisition was a smart move for Google and has greatly contributed to their success in the mobile industry.