Google

Listed through it's parent holding company, Alphabet .
Google acquired YouTube in 2006, DeepMind in 2014.
Their 20% time policy is indicative of the value of Protected Play .
Eric Schmidt also promoted the idea of protecting Divas in the organization.
Creates hardware to power AI , such as the Coral Edge TPU .
Google has APIs for everything.
Google Cloud sports an API Library ! Screenshot 2025 02 19 at 6.48.54 PM_Google API Library.png

Google can acquire and hold, so now it's an Alphabet

Google is one of the few companies that has a track record of successful Acquisitions .
ℹ️ Information
Google (now part of
Alphabet Inc.
) has made numerous acquisitions over the years, many of which have been pivotal in expanding its capabilities, diversifying its business, and solidifying its position as a tech giant. Here’s a list of some of the most
notable and successful acquisitions by Google
, categorized by their impact:

1. YouTube (2006)

  • Price : $1.65 billion
  • Impact :
    • YouTube is now the world’s largest video-sharing platform and a critical component of Google’s ecosystem.
    • It generates billions in annual ad revenue and serves as a cornerstone for creators, advertisers, and video content consumption.
    • This acquisition helped Google dominate the online video space.

2. Android (2005)

  • Price : Estimated $50 million
  • Impact :
    • Android became the world’s most popular mobile operating system, powering over 70% of smartphones globally.
    • This acquisition allowed Google to enter and dominate the mobile market, creating the foundation for its Play Store, mobile apps, and hardware ecosystem like Pixel phones.

3. DoubleClick (2007)

  • Price : $3.1 billion
  • Impact :
    • DoubleClick revolutionized Google’s digital advertising business by providing advanced tools for ad targeting and delivery.
    • It played a crucial role in making Google the leader in online advertising, contributing significantly to its revenue.

4. DeepMind (2014)

  • Price : Estimated $500 million
  • Impact :
    • DeepMind advanced Google’s AI and machine learning capabilities.
    • It contributed to energy efficiency in Google’s data centers and enhanced products like Google Assistant, Search, and Translate.
    • DeepMind’s AI breakthroughs, such as AlphaGo and AlphaFold, have had a global impact on science and technology.

5. Waze (2013)

  • Price : $1.1 billion
  • Impact :
    • Waze improved Google Maps with real-time traffic updates and innovative navigation features.
    • It helped Google dominate the mapping and navigation market.

6. Fitbit (2021)

  • Price : $2.1 billion
  • Impact :
    • Fitbit strengthened Google’s position in the wearable technology and health tracking market.
    • It complements Google’s efforts in healthcare and fitness through Google Fit and Wear OS.

7. Nest Labs (2014)

  • Price : $3.2 billion
  • Impact :
    • Nest brought smart home devices, such as thermostats and security cameras, into Google’s ecosystem.
    • It became the foundation for Google’s smart home initiative, now branded under Google Nest .

8. YouTube-Adjacent Acquisitions

  • Key Acquisitions :
    • Next New Networks (2011) : Helped improve YouTube’s content and creator ecosystem.
    • Green Parrot Pictures (2011) : Enhanced video quality technologies for YouTube.

9. Chronicle (2018)

  • Price : Undisclosed (later merged into Google Cloud)
  • Impact :
    • A cybersecurity company that became part of Google Cloud’s security offerings.
    • Enhanced Google’s ability to protect enterprises and expand its cloud services.

10. Applied Semantics (2003)

  • Price : Estimated $102 million
  • Impact :
    • This acquisition formed the basis of Google AdSense , one of Google’s most successful advertising products.
    • AdSense allows website owners to display ads, contributing significantly to Google’s ad revenue.

11. Looker (2019)

  • Price : $2.6 billion
  • Impact :
    • A data analytics company that became part of Google Cloud.
    • Strengthened Google Cloud’s position in business intelligence and analytics.

12. Motorola Mobility (2011)

  • Price : $12.5 billion
  • Impact :
    • While not a major commercial success, this acquisition gave Google access to a vast patent portfolio, which was critical in defending Android against legal challenges.
    • Some Motorola assets were later sold to Lenovo .

13. Keyhole, Inc. (2004)

  • Price : Estimated $35 million
  • Impact :
    • Keyhole’s technology became the foundation for Google Earth and Google Maps , transforming digital mapping and geospatial services.

14. Postini (2007)

  • Price : $625 million
  • Impact :
    • A security and email archiving service that enhanced the enterprise security features of Google Workspace (formerly G Suite).

15. Zagat (2011)

  • Price : $151 million
  • Impact :
    • Zagat’s restaurant reviews were integrated into Google Maps and Search, improving local search functionality.
    • Though Google sold Zagat in 2018, it helped improve Google’s local business offerings.

16. Titan Aerospace (2014)

  • Price : Undisclosed
  • Impact :
    • This company developed solar-powered drones, which contributed to Project Loon , Google’s initiative to provide internet access to remote areas using high-altitude balloons.

17. Slide (2010)

  • Price : $182 million
  • Impact :
    • Slide was acquired to improve Google’s presence in social media and web-based applications. This led to products like Google+ (though it was later discontinued).

18. DoubleTwist (2010)

  • Price : Undisclosed
  • Impact :
    • Focused on improving YouTube’s music-related services, which later became part of YouTube Music .

19. Frommer’s (2012)

  • Price : Undisclosed
  • Impact :
    • Frommer’s travel guides were incorporated into Google’s local search and travel-related services, enriching Google Maps and travel planning tools.

20. Velostrata (2018)

  • Price : Undisclosed
  • Impact :
    • Velostrata improved Google Cloud’s migration tools, allowing enterprises to move workloads to the cloud more easily.

Summary of Success

Google’s acquisition strategy has been instrumental in shaping the company into a tech giant that dominates in advertising , search , mobile , AI , cloud computing , and smart home technology . Many of these acquisitions—such as YouTube, Android, and DeepMind—are considered some of the most successful tech acquisitions in history.