Google founding date: When the search engine was born

If you’ve ever wondered when Google first appeared on the web, the answer is simple: September 4, 1998. That’s the day Larry Page and Sergey Brin officially incorporated Google Inc. in a garage‑turned‑office in Menlo Park, California. The date marks the start of a company that would later dominate search, ads, and so much more.

Why September 4? The two Stanford Ph.D. students had been working on a research project called "BackRub" since 1996. After they refined their algorithm, they needed a name and a legal entity. They chose “Google,” a playful misspelling of the word “googol,” which represents a 1 followed by 100 zeros—just the kind of massive ambition they had.

Key milestones around the founding date

Right after incorporation, the duo secured their first office, a small garage that belonged to a friend’s cousin. With a modest $100,000 investment from friends and family, they began scaling the search engine. By the end of 1998, Google was already handling about 2,000 searches per day, a modest number compared to today’s billions.

In 1999, the company moved to a larger space in Palo Alto and raised $25 million from venture capitalists like Sequoia Capital. That funding helped improve servers, hire engineers, and launch the first AdWords program—setting the stage for the ad empire that would fund future growth.

Why the Google founding date matters

Knowing the exact founding date gives you a reference point for how fast tech can evolve. From a garage startup in 1998 to a multi‑billion‑dollar corporation in less than a decade, Google’s timeline shows the power of a clear vision and rapid execution. It also helps when you’re writing back‑dated articles, building timelines, or just satisfying curiosity.

For marketers, the date is a reminder that timing matters. Google launched when internet usage was exploding, and its clean, fast search experience filled a glaring void. The lesson? Spot a real need, act quickly, and iterate constantly.

If you’re building a startup, keep the Google story in mind: start small, focus on solving a specific problem, and don’t be afraid to pick a bold name. Their founding date isn’t just a historical footnote—it’s a blueprint for turning a university project into a global brand.

So, next time you type anything into Google, remember that the engine you rely on started on September 4, 1998, in a humble garage. That single day set off a chain reaction that reshaped how we find information, shop online, and even communicate. And who knows? Your own big idea could have a similar humble beginning and a date worth remembering.