History of Google Acquisitions [Infographic]

Established in 1996, Google’s exponential growth trajectory truly ignited in the 2000s, with a pivotal strategy of acquiring companies central to its expansion. Since purchasing Deja in 2001, Google has taken over 100 companies, investing over $22 billion in these acquisitions. This infographic provides an in-depth examination of Google’s acquisition history, highlighting key successes and notable failures. [Insert Infographic Here] WebFX

Google has leveraged acquisitions to drive many of its most significant product lines and innovations, such as Blogger, Google+, and Android, which were significantly developed through mergers and acquisitions. The company seeks out businesses that align with its current and future strategic objectives and values the entrepreneurial spirit and passion of the founders.

While Google’s acquisitions have not always been successful, approximately two-thirds have achieved post-acquisition success. Dave Sobota, Director of Corporate Development, expressed confidence in the company’s approach, stating, “If some haven’t been failures, then we aren’t taking enough risks.” Among the notable failures was Dodgeball, acquired in 2005, which saw its founders leave Google after the company failed to support their product as anticipated. They subsequently launched Foursquare, a location-based app.

Google has faced criticism for some of its recent acquisitions, including the $1 billion purchase of Waze, which is currently under anti-trust review, and the acquisition of Zagat, which has faced scrutiny. Despite these challenges, trends indicate that Google will remain a significant player in technology acquisitions for years to come.