Google Marks 28 Years Since Humble Startup Idea Transformed Global Tech
Google is celebrating its 28th birthday on September 27, 2026, marking another year since Larry Page and Sergey Brin's humble startup idea transformed into one of the most influential companies on the planet. To commemorate this milestone, Google has featured a special Doodle on its homepage, showcasing a nostalgic version of its early logo.
The company was officially incorporated on September 4, 1998, but its origin story dates back to August 1998 when Sun Microsystems co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim wrote a $100,000 check to Page and Brin. This seemingly casual gesture formally set Google Inc. into motion before the company even had proper office space.
The date of September 27 was not always fixed as Google's birthday. In the early 2000s, the company marked its birthday on various dates throughout September, likely tied to early milestones or public announcements rather than any single founding moment. Since 2006, however, September 27 has remained the consistent choice.
Today, Google is a global technology powerhouse that encompasses products like Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Android and Pixel phones, a portfolio far removed from the simple search box that started it all. The company continues pushing deeper into artificial intelligence through its Gemini platform, chasing the next major technological wave.