Tag: Yahoo!

  • Why Yahoo Failed: The Biggest Reasons for Its Failure

    From the time the internet took over – very few companies have experienced the highs and lows quite like Yahoo. Once a global tech giant and pioneer of the internet era, Yahoo’s downfall serves as a cautionary tale for businesses in this massive, competitive tech industry. Well, come on. Not every day, you come across a company that had it all figured out, before getting lost in this sea of Google-owned products, suites, and businesses. As fascinating as it gets, this is the story of the poster boy of search engines in the early 2000s and how quickly it became irrelevant. In this comprehensive analysis, we will dive deep into the factors that led to Yahoo’s failure, exploring mismanagement, strategic errors, technological shifts, intense competition, and what happened to Yahoo!

    The Rise of Yahoo
    The Challenges and Missteps
    Yahoo’s Transformation and Current State
    Lessons to Learn from Yahoo’s Downfall

    Marissa Mayer’s 3 Biggest Decisions As Yahoo CEO

    The Rise of Yahoo

    Founded in January 1994 by Jerry Yang and David Filo, Yahoo started as a humble project called “Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web.” Little did they know that their venture would grow into a global tech powerhouse that would shape the internet as we know it today.

    Yahoo’s initial mission was to organise and categorize the rapidly expanding World Wide Web. At a time when search engines were scarce, Yahoo’s directory of websites provided users with a structured and intuitive way to navigate the vast depths of the internet. It became the go-to starting point for countless internet users, propelling its popularity.

    As the 1990s progressed, Yahoo evolved beyond a mere directory. It expanded its services to include email (Yahoo Mail), news (Yahoo News), instant messaging (Yahoo Messenger), and more. These services were integrated into the Yahoo portal, creating an all-in-one destination for Internet users. Yahoo had become an integral part of internet culture.

    Acquisitions and Partnerships

    Yahoo was very successful in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The company made a lot of money and became very popular. It went public in 1996, raising $33.8 million in its IPO. By the end of the decade, Yahoo’s value grew to $125 billion, making it one of the world’s most valuable companies.

    During this time, Yahoo bought several companies to grow bigger and offer more services. Some important purchases were GeoCities, a web hosting platform, and Broadcast.com, a streaming media company. These smart moves helped Yahoo become a major internet company.

    Stage Year(s) Key Events Impact
    Rise 1994-2000 Founded by Stanford students Jerry Yang and David Filo-Becomes a popular directory of websites, email service, and news portal-IPO in 1996 Dominated the early web as a one-stop shop for information and services.
    Missed Opportunities 2000-2004 Declined to acquire Google-Passed on buying Facebook Failed to capitalize on emerging technologies like search and social media.
    Stagnation & Decline 2005-2014 Internal leadership struggles and lack of vision-Failure to adapt to changing user behavior and mobile technology Lost relevance in the internet landscape.
    Fall & Acquisition 2015-2017 Data breaches and security issues damaged brand reputation-Declining revenue and profits-Acquired by Verizon Lost independence and became a part of a larger company.
    Present 2018-Present Operates as a subsidiary of Verizon Media, focusing on email and news. Remains a recognizable brand but lacks its former prominence.

    The Challenges and Missteps

    After its meteoric rise, Yahoo faced a series of challenges and strategic missteps that ultimately led to its downfall.

    Missed Opportunities

    One pivotal moment in Yahoo’s decline was its decision to pass on the opportunity to acquire Google in its infancy for a mere $5 billion. This decision allowed Google to dominate the online search and advertising space, leaving Yahoo struggling to keep up.

    Furthermore, the emergence of social media giants like Facebook and Twitter diverted user attention and advertising revenue away from Yahoo’s properties. As user engagement declined and consumers flocked to other platforms, Yahoo failed to take timely action.

    Leadership Crisis

    From the late 1990s to the 2010s, Yahoo experienced a revolving door of CEOs, each bringing their vision and strategy. This lack of continuity in leadership resulted in a lack of clear long-term vision and strategic direction. The constant shifts in corporate strategy confused employees and scared off investors.

    Even when co-founder Jerry Yang returned as CEO in 2007, Yahoo missed crucial opportunities, including the failure to acquire Google. Subsequent CEOs, such as Carol Bartz, Scott Thompson, and Marissa Mayer, were unable to reverse Yahoo’s decline.

    Data Breaches and Controversies

    In the early 2010s, Yahoo faced a series of high-profile data breaches that severely damaged its reputation. The first breach, which occurred in 2013 but was not disclosed until 2016, affected over 3 billion user accounts. The breach exposed sensitive data, shaking the tech community and Yahoo users.

    To make matters worse, in 2014, Yahoo experienced another significant data breach, impacting at least 500 million user accounts. These breaches raised serious concerns about Yahoo’s security practices and further eroded its user trust.


    Jet Airways Case Study: Soaring High, Crashing Down, Reviving Hope, and the Final Descent
    Explore the dramatic journey of Jet Airways—from its rise as India’s leading airline to its downfall, attempts at revival, and the final chapter in this Jet Airways Case Study.


    Misguided Acquisitions

    Before its decline, Yahoo company made a series of failed acquisitions that drained its resources and distracted the company from its core business. Acquisitions like Broadcast.com in 1999 quickly became irrelevant as technology evolved, representing major financial missteps.

    One of Yahoo’s most infamous acquisitions was Tumblr, a microblogging platform purchased for $1.1 billion. While the acquisition aimed to tap into Tumblr’s youthful user base, Yahoo struggled to monetize the platform effectively and failed to retain its community. Tumblr’s value plummeted, further contributing to Yahoo’s downfall.

    Missed Opportunities with Alibaba

    One of Yahoo’s bright spots was its early investment in Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce behemoth. In 2005, Yahoo invested $1 billion in Alibaba, fueling its rapid growth. However, as Alibaba expanded and diversified, it became evident that Yahoo could have reaped even greater returns from this investment.

    In a pivotal moment, Yahoo’s then-CEO, Marissa Mayer, sold a significant portion of its Alibaba shares to address tax concerns. This decision left billions of dollars on the table, missing out on the potential windfall from Alibaba’s subsequent success.

    Yahoo’s Transformation and Current State

    After a series of costly mistakes, Yahoo underwent a turbulent transformation. In 2017, Verizon Communications acquired Yahoo’s core internet business for approximately $4.48 billion. This acquisition aimed to bolster Verizon’s digital advertising and media portfolio.

    Yahoo’s remaining assets, primarily its stake in Alibaba Group and other investments, were rebranded as Altaba Inc. The focus shifted to monetizing these holdings. However, Yahoo’s struggles did not end there. The internet business acquired by Verizon was merged with AOL to form Oath Inc., later rebranded as Verizon Media Group. Despite efforts to compete in the digital media and advertising space, Verizon Media Group faced challenges in an industry dominated by tech giants like Google and Facebook. In 2021, Apollo Global Management acquired Verizon Media Group for $5 billion, marking another transition and rebranding effort. The company returned to its iconic Yahoo name.

    Today, Yahoo is transforming its new owner. It has streamlined its workforce and focuses on core businesses like Yahoo Mail, Finance, and Sports. The company is also exploring new growth opportunities, as seen with the recent acquisition of the peer-to-peer sports betting app Wagr.

    How Yahoo Failed?
    Revenue of Yahoo from 2004 to 2016

    Lessons to Learn from Yahoo’s Downfall

    Yahoo’s failure offers valuable lessons for businesses in the tech industry:

    1. Embrace Innovation and Adapt: Stay ahead of technological shifts and evolving user behaviour. Failure to adapt to changing trends can lead to irrelevance.
    2. Maintain a Clear Vision: Establish a clear long-term vision and strategic direction. Continuity in leadership is crucial for aligning efforts and avoiding confusion.
    3. Prioritise User Trust and Security: Protect user data and maintain robust security measures. Data breaches can severely damage a company’s reputation and erode user trust.
    4. Make Strategic Acquisitions: Be cautious when making acquisitions. Ensure they align with the company’s core business and have a clear path to profitability.
    5. Capitalise on Opportunities: Be open to seizing opportunities and taking calculated risks. Missing out on game-changing acquisitions can have long-lasting consequences.
    6. Focus on Core Competencies: Avoid spreading resources too thin. Concentrate on strengthening core businesses and nurturing growth opportunities.
    7. Learn from Mistakes: Reflect on past missteps and use them as learning opportunities. Continuously adapt and improve to stay competitive.
    8. Maintain a Strong Leadership: Strong leadership is essential for a company’s success. Yahoo’s leaders made some poor decisions that weakened investor trust and slowed the company’s growth.

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    Conclusion

    In conclusion, Rise and downfall of Yahoo serve as a reminder of the quick-turn nature of the tech industry. No matter what you are doing & how it is important to remember that you aren’t irreplaceable. It is important to understand that the times demand innovation of an unprecedented level, especially with the advent of AI– the times are changing in the blink of an eye. What was prevalent yesterday isn’t relevant today and what will be relevant tomorrow is known to none. In times like these, we can only work to the best of our abilities and make things work. That’s all we can do! Yahoo’s story reminds us of just that. It is a note to the fact that change is a constant, and if we do not hold on to the opportunities that come our way, we may become irrelevant, sooner or later!

    FAQs

    Why did Yahoo fail?

    Passing on acquiring Google and Facebook, failing to adapt to search and social media trends, internal leadership struggles, data breaches, and misguided acquisitions.

    What are the key takeaways from Yahoo’s story for businesses?

    Embrace innovation, adapt to change, maintain a clear vision, prioritize user trust and security, make strategic acquisitions, capitalize on opportunities, focus on core competencies, and learn from mistakes.

    What is Yahoo’s focus today?

    Yahoo focuses on core businesses like Mail, Finance, and Sports under Apollo Global Management, exploring new growth opportunities like sports betting.

    What are Yahoo failed acquisitions?

    Yahoo’s failed acquisition include Broadcast.com and Tumblr.

  • From Dominance to Decline: The AOL Story

    Today we have so many browsers to navigate the internet. But back in the day, there was one dominating force, America Online (AOL). In 1985, Marc Sheriff with his business associates introduced the first internet giant.

    From online chat rooms to email, AOL gave internet connectivity a whole new meaning. The success reached such a milestone that it once collected revenue of more than $200 billion.

    However, after reaching a peak, AOL faded into the background. It could not keep up with Google and other contemporaries took the upper hand. How did a success story turn into a disastrous nightmare? Time to find out!

    America Online: A Miracle for the Online World
    AOL’s Secret to Success
    End of an Era: Beginning of AOL’s Downfall
    Beginning of a Digital Era: AOL Could Not Manage Market Trends
    Evolution of New Competitors
    Unprofitable and Outdated Business Model
    America Online’s Final Retirement
    America Online: Present Scenario

    America Online: A Miracle for the Online World

    America Online Logo (1991 - 2005)
    America Online Logo (1991 – 2005)

    Years ago, before the digital era arrived, America Online was the main character. It was the very first company to offer internet connectivity to the common masses. From an initial dial-up service to a giant media company, AOL evolved like none.

    America Online revolutionized everyone’s entertainment and media consumption. The success first gained momentum in the early 1980s. Initially, it operated under the name Control Video Corporation (CVC). However, it failed to get a hold of the market space. Eventually, after a touch of rebranding as AOL, the company finally found its footing.

    AOL’s Secret to Success

    At first, America Online (AOL) had a few basic functions. It only had features like chat rooms and email. However, it was not long before AOL realized the importance of expansion.

    It went on to give services like news, online games, search databases, etc. A decade later, AOL dominated the digital world with a million users like the world had never seen before.

    The entire 1990s witnessed the success of America Online. It expanded all of its media properties. And had a good run! What else made AOL a success of its time?

    Simple and Easy-to-Use Interface

    America Online made it easy for all its users to navigate the online world. Unlike the other services in the 80s and 90s, AOL had a simple interface. Even people with no technical experience could use it easily. Its accessibility was what attracted users in the nascent stages of the internet.

    Excellent marketing Strategy

    AOL had quite an aggressive advertising style. With effective commercials and slogans, the company knew how to build its brand. Not only did it attract new users but also retained loyal customers.

    Focus on Community

    Community inclination was another key player in AOL’s success. Their chat rooms were great meeting opportunities. Such gatherings create a sense of community among users. AOL connected people and pushed it to its peak position.

    End of an Era: Beginning of AOL’s Downfall

    US Based AOL Subscribers in Millions for Each Fiscal Year (Q1) From 2002 - 2006
    US-Based AOL Subscribers in Millions for Each Fiscal Year (Q1) From 2002 – 2006

    AOL gained a revenue of $200 billion at the highest position in the market space. However, then in 200, the company entered a merger with Time Warner. But why did the deal end in a disaster?

    • In 2000, AOL’s deal with Time Warner was quite historic with a valuation of $160 billion.
    • The businesses went through the merger. However, the 21st century saw an impending disaster.
    • From workplace culture shock to failure to anticipate media space and future interest, the company lacked diligence.
    • The business merger seemed logical since AOL and Time Warner were leading companies. But the execution could have been better. AOL acquired 55% of the shares whereas Time Warner got 45%.
    • Unfortunately, just a year into the deal, there was a loss of $99 billion. And by December 2002, both companies saw a decrease of 90% in their stock prices.
    • The merger was supposed to create ripples in the media business. However, the combination of both companies did not go as expected.
    • The plan was to make the most of AOL’s online expertise and Time Warner’s assets. But there were challenges and unexpected obstacles.
    • Then there was an unexpected dot com bust soon after the merger.

    The merger which was supposed to be the best deal of the century became a disaster. AOL’s share values started sinking and their stock prices took a bad hit.

    Market trends change. The media space is a dynamic setting. If businesses do not grapple with these changing times, they are not sustainable in the long run. With market trends, customer preferences also change.

    Failure to evolve was also a primary contributor to AOL’s downfall. The world moved on to broadband, but AOL hung up on dial-up internet.

    But it did try to change. However, their attempt was not successful. Their consumers shifted to broadband connections. Users wanted reliable connectivity. Hence, slowly America Online’s subscriber base began declining over the years.

    Evolution of New Competitors

    Innovation is not enough. You need to be quick to get ahead of your contemporaries. You need to innovate but fast! Today, consumers need high connectivity and internet speed. People rely so heavily on the Internet for education, communication, entertainment, and work.

    However, America Online (AOL) did not predict the needs of companies and individuals soon. Their competitors realized that change was necessary. So, in the early 2000s, they shifted to broadband to provide better connectivity.

    Users lost interest in their service. AOL could not meet their users’ need for high-speed internet connection. They did not feel satisfied with dial-up internet.


    How Google Became A Globally Well-Known Brand
    The Google Inc business model can be seen more clearly when it is divided into a few key areas Key Partners,Key activities,Key resources and……….…


    Unprofitable and Outdated Business Model

    America Online began to lose its relevance in the changing digital landscape. AOL had so many popular services which no longer fit user preferences. From AOL Mail to AOL Instant Messenger, the company could not beat other new players.

    The company lost user engagement due to its outdated services and business model. When the company saw that it started losing its relevance, it acted by amending its strategies. AOL made a change in December 1996. It made a shift from hourly fee to monthly recharge. The company made a turn from a temporary to a permanent connection.

    The company made a point with their change. Users signed up in heavy numbers. However, the idea did not stick around for long. The servers collapsed. Subscribers struggled to use the internet because the server reached its saturation limit. Eventually, it completely stopped working.

    America Online’s Final Retirement

    • The merger started a sequence of disastrous events. When America Online merged with Time Warner in 2000, executives thought it was a great beginning.
    • The market space changed but AOL could not adapt. The company could not move on with broadband from a dial-up internet connection.
    • Given their situation, AOL executives fell behind their competitors. Once a top online dominating force, it became a struggling company. In 2006, AOL let go of their old name ‘America Online.’ 
    • After the downfall, AOL became a subdivision of Time Warner. Their services which were once celebrated among users, the company let go of them for free.

    America Online: Present Scenario

    AOL Present Site
    AOL Present Site
    • In 2009, Tim Armstrong joined the AOL as a Chairman. It was again spun off as an independent company in 2009 in order to focus on digital media and advertising business independently.
    • In 2010, Time Warner cut its ties with AOL. With the change in CEO, the company began to rise again forming its own brand and growth.
    • In 2015, Verizon acquired AOL with all its sets of brands.
    • In 2021, Verizon announced that sell 90% of its Verizon media division to a private equity firm named Apollo Global Management.
    • Apollo Global Management also acquired Yahoo in order to merge both media platforms into one.
    • AOL now performs as a second incarnation of Yahoo! Incorporation.

    Jerry Yang’s Journey: From Co-Founding Yahoo to Internet Icon
    Explore the incredible story of Jerry Yang, the visionary co-founder of Yahoo, and his pivotal role in shaping the internet landscape.


    Conclusion

    One of the first internet service providers and web portals of the 80s and 90s, AOL had a glorious run. However, once the world moved on to a better digital era, AOL could not adapt to the sudden change.

    The internet boom cut short America Online’s digital success. The emergence of broadband was not a good sign for AOL’s online presence. The dent in their business was too deep for repair.

    FAQs

    Is AOL a search engine?

    AOL was not started as a search engine instead with time it included the search engine as an additional service of its online web portal.

    Who owns AOL today?

    AOL is owned by a private equity firm named Apollo Global Management which after the purchase rebranded AOL and Yahoo into a single brand “Yahoo”.

    Is AOL like Yahoo?

    Yes, AOL and Yahoo both offer multiple similar services such as email services, news and media content, etc. Moreover, both web portals are owned by a single firm named Apollo Global Management.

  • Jerry Yang’s Journey: From Co-Founding Yahoo to Internet Icon

    Imagine a time when the internet was like a wild jungle, with information scattered everywhere. People struggled to find their way through this online wilderness.

    This ocean of information required organizing and arranging. This requirement gave a spark in the mind of Jerry Yang who along with his friend decided to create something amazing to make sense of the chaos.

    They built Yahoo, a magical place on the internet where you could find everything you needed – from news to funny cat videos!

    Let’s look at the journey of Jerry Yang which led to the founding of Yahoo.

    Jerry Yang – Biography

    Name Jerry Yang
    Birthplace Taipei, Taiwan
    Born November 6, 1968
    Nationality American
    Education Master of Science, Stanford University
    Position Co-founder
    Net worth $2.6 billion

    Jerry Yang – Early Life
    Jerry Yang – Career
    Jerry Yang – Personal Life
    Jerry Yang – Yahoo
    Jerry Yang – Personal Investments
    Jerry Yang – Partner Investments
    Jerry Yang – Awards and Recognitions
    Jerry Yang – Philanthropy
    Jerry Yang – Interesting Facts

    Jerry Yang – Early Life

    Jerry’s childhood was a blend of traditional values and an appetite for exploration. Yang was born in Taiwan and later relocated to the United States. He completed his education at Sierramont Middle School and Piedmont Hills High School. He later earned his Bachelor’s degree in Science and a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

    While studying at Stanford, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Jerry’s childhood was full of curiosity and experiments, setting the stage for him to later become a big-shot entrepreneur in Silicon Valley.

    In an interview, while talking about his career path, he says “My ability to rely on math and science as my strengths during the early years as an immigrant probably ended up helping me choose my future career path.”

    Jerry Yang – Career

    Jerry didn’t seem to have a planned roadmap for his career. He graduated from Stanford in 1990 as an electrical engineer and joined a Ph.D., not as a matter of choice but more of a compulsion since he couldn’t land a desirable job after graduating.

    It was during their Ph.D. days that he met his business partner David Filo.

    They co-created an Internet website called “Jerry and Dave’s Guide to the World Wide Web” with David Filo in 1994. This website consisted of a directory of various other websites.

    Later, they gave it the acronym Yahoo! for “Yet Another Hierarchical Officious Oracle.” Yahoo became very popular and they started realizing the business potential of Yahoo. Together they co-founded Yahoo! Inc. in 1995 and dropped out of their doctoral program.

    He served as the CEO of Yahoo from 2007-2009. Years later, amidst a few twists, turns & criticisms, Jerry stepped down as the CEO of Yahoo and remained on the board of directors. Later in 2012, Jerry completely left the company along with resigning from its board of directors. After that, Yahoo! hired Marissa Mayer as CEO and president in 2012.

    Yang established AME Cloud Ventures in 2012, a venture innovation company that makes investments in seed-stage to later-stage tech businesses. Through this investment company, Yang has funded more than 50 startups, including Evernote, Wattpad, and Tango.

    Jerry Yang’s connection with Alibaba is a notable chapter in his post-Yahoo career. In 2005, Yahoo made a strategic investment in Alibaba, a Chinese E-commerce and technology giant founded by Jack Ma. This investment proved to be immensely lucrative over the years.

    Jerry Yang has also held many other responsibilities as an investor & advisory board member at Sarcura, an investor at Birdeye, and a general partner at HCVC.

    Tradition of Innovation: Jerry Yang, Yahoo!

    Jerry Yang – Personal Life

    Yang was born in Taiwan. His parents were English teachers. After his father passed away when he was two, he immigrated to the U.S. with his mother and brother.

    Jerry Yang currently lives in California. He met his wife, Akiko Yamazaki, at Kyoto University and they got married in 1997. They have two children.

    Jerry Yang – Yahoo

    When founded Yahoo was a great sensation. Yahoo! wasn’t just a website, it was like a friendly guide in the vast world of the web.

    Initially conceived as a web directory, Yahoo evolved into a multifaceted platform offering services such as search, email, news, and more. Yahoo! acquired various companies such as Rocketmail and ClassicGames.com, which subsequently became Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Games, respectively.

    Yahoo was one of the first wizards who made the web a more fun and organized place for all of us!

    Jerry Yang – Personal Investments

    Jerry has made some significant personal investments:

    Announced Date Organization Name Lead Investor Funding Round Money Raised
    May 24, 2023 Semafor Seed Round $19 million
    March 16, 2023 Fairmatic Series B $46 million
    September 20, 2022 Somewear Labs Series A $13.7 million
    September 1, 2022 QDC.ai Pre Seed Round
    August 31, 2022 Fairmatic Series A $42 million
    July 29, 2022 FiscalNote Post IPO Equity $100 million
    June 17, 2022 Hebbia No Series A $30 million
    March 16, 2022 Clockwork Systems Series A $21 million
    February 8, 2022 Rewire Venture Round $25 million
    August 12, 2021 Kojo Series B $33.3 million

    Jerry Yang – Partner Investments

    In addition to his personal investments, Jerry has also made investments as a partner:

    Announced Date Organization Name Investor Name Lead Investor Funding Round Money Raised
    August 16, 2023 Caden AME Cloud Ventures Series A – Caden $15 million
    April 5, 2023 Ronbow AME Cloud Ventures Series A – Ronbow $10 million
    November 30, 2022 Caden AME Cloud Ventures Seed Round – Caden $6 million
    November 30, 2022 Giraffe360 AME Cloud Ventures Series A – Giraffe360 £13.2 million
    November 17, 2022 Sarcura HCVC Yes Seed Round €7.1 million
    August 23, 2022 Nitra HCVC Seed Round $16 million
    September 7, 2021 SalaryBox AME Cloud Ventures Seed Round $4 million
    June 8, 2021 Gideon HCVC Gideon $32 million
    May 5, 2021 Vida Health AME Cloud Ventures Series D – Vida Health $110 million
    April 22, 2021 Boundless AME Cloud Ventures Series – Boundless $25 million

    Jerry Yang – Awards and Recognitions

    Here are some prominent awards and recognitions for Jerry Yang:

    • He was named to the MIT Technology Review TR100 as one of the top 100 innovators in the world under the age of 35 in 1999.
    • Yang was enlisted in the Forbes World’s billionaires list in 2023.

    Jerry Yang – Philanthropy

    Jerry Yang and his wife are also known for their philanthropy:

    • In 2007, they donated $75 million to Stanford University, their alma mater, $50 million of it was contributed to the “Jerry Yang and Akiko Yamazaki Environment and Energy Building”, a multi-disciplinary research, teaching, and lab building for sustainable architecture principles.
    • In 2017, they pledged $25 million to San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, the largest gift in the museum’s history.

    Jerry Yang – Interesting Facts

    Here are some interesting facts about Jerry Yang:

    • Yang was a former Chinese calligraphy student. He has a collection of 250 works of ancient Chinese calligraphy from the Ming and Qing eras.
    • The only word in English Yang knew when he came to the US was “shoe.”

    David Filo: Co-Founder Of Yahoo | David Filo & Jerry Yang
    Yahoo! The earliest web portal was founded by David Filo & Jerry Yang. Know the story of David Filo, his biography, and the growth story of Yahoo!


    FAQs

    Who are the founders of Yahoo?

    Jerry Yang and David Filo founded Yahoo.

    Who is the current CEO of Yahoo?

    Jim Lanzone is the current CEO of Yahoo.

    How much did Verizon pay for Yahoo?

    Verizon acquired Yahoo for $4.5 billion in 2017.

  • Masayoshi Son – The 2nd Richest Man in Japan

    Masayoshi Son is a Japanese Entrepreneur, Investor, and Philanthropist. He founded the Japanese holding company, SoftBank, and serves as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He is the Chairman of the UK-based Arm Holdings. According to Forbes, Masayoshi is the 74th richest man in the World and the second richest man in Japan with a net worth of $44.4 billion.

    Get an insight into the SoftBank and Masayoshi Son Story in the post ahead!

    Masayoshi Son – Biography

    Name Masayoshi Son
    Born 11 August, 1957
    Birthplace Tosu, Saga, Japan
    Age 65 (2022)
    Nationality Japanese
    Citizenship Japan
    Education University of California, Berkeley
    Profession Entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist
    Position Founder & CEO, SoftBank
    Net worth $44.4 billion ( 2022)
    Brothers 3
    Marital Status Married
    Spouse Masami Ohno
    Children 2

    Masayoshi Son- Personal Life
    Masayoshi Son- Education
    Masayoshi Son- Professional Life
    Masayoshi Son- SoftBank
    Masayoshi Son- Vision Fund Investments
    Masayoshi Son- Investor
    Masayoshi Son- Arm Holdings
    Masayoshi Son- Philanthropy
    Masayoshi Son – Latest News

    Masayoshi Son- Personal Life

    Masayoshi Son- CEO of Softbank
    Masayoshi Son- CEO of Softbank

    Masayoshi was born in Tosu, Japan. He belongs to “Zainichi Koreans”, ethnic Koreans having permanent residency in Japan. He has three brothers and is the second eldest of the siblings. Taizo Son, his younger brother is the Founder of GunHo Online Entertainment and the venture capital firm Mistletoe.

    At age 16, he moved out from Japan to California for higher studies. He then lived with his friends and family in South San Francisco. He met his wife, Masami Ohno while studying at the university. The couple bears two children. He currently resides with residesmily in Tokyo.

    Masayoshi Son- Education

    Masayoshi went to California and finished high school in just three weeks by taking the necessitated exams at Serramonte High. After that, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts specializing in Economics and also studied Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley.

    He completed his graduation in 1980. He pursued his interest in business before Japan’s McDonald’s president, Den Fujita, and on the advice of the latter, he started studying English and Computer Science.

    Masayoshi Son- Professional Life

    Masayoshi Son and Softbank Story

    At age 19, Masayoshi got besotted by an integrated circuit featured in a magazine and he realized that computer technology would fuel the next commercial revolution.

    While pursuing his studies, he developed an electronic translator that was sold to Sharp Corporation for $ 1.7 million. He earned $ 1.5 million by importing used video games and installing them in dormitories and restaurants.

    After graduating in 1980, he started Unison in Oakland, CA, which was acquired by Kyocera. He is one of the active investors and holds maximum stakes at companies like Yahoo!, and Alibaba through the means of his venture SoftBank.


    David Filo: Co-Founder Of Yahoo! David Filo Story, Net Worth
    If one considers the late nineties and early years of 21stcentury, one giantruled the internet segment—Yahoo!. Be it search engine, online tabloid, financereports, or anything else, Yahoo! was the go-to solution for online needs, apowerful mega web services provider. While the brand may not be as…


    Masayoshi Son- SoftBank

    SoftBank Logo
    SoftBank Logo

    Masayoshi founded SoftBank Group Corporation on 3 September 1981. The company is headquartered in Minato, Tokyo and he serves as its Founder and CEO. He also owns a professional Japanese baseball team, which he named SoftBank Hawks.

    SoftBank is a multinational conglomerate holding venture which holds stakes in many technology, energy, and financial companies. It also runs Vision Fund which is the world’s largest technology-focused venture capital firm, with over $ 100 billion in the capital.

    Masayoshi Son- Vision Fund Investments

    Vision Fund Logo
    Vision Fund Logo

    The $ 100 billion Vision Fund is an investment vehicle that runs for SoftBank. It invests in emerging technologies like, robotics, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things. The company aims to double its portfolio of AI companies to reform real estate, transportation, and retail.

    He makes personal connections with the CEOs of all companies funded by Vision Fund. He plans to raise $100 billion for a new fund. Every few years, he invests about $ 50 billion each year in startups.

    The graph shows some of the investments made by the Vision Fund in its first round
    The graph shows some of the investments made by the Vision Fund in its first round

    In 2020, Vision Fund was recorded to have invested in 88 companies including ride-share companies Grab, Coupang, and Paytm. As of the year 2022, the vision fund has around 475 companies included in its portfolio.

    Masayoshi Son- Investor

    He is an active investor such that his holding company, SoftBank holds 25 % of the Alibaba company. Moreover, his stake in Yahoo! had diminished by 7%. He then established Yahoo! Japan in September 2001, where he holds a controllable interest. He stepped down from the Alibaba board in June 2020.

    Post hyperinflation of SoftBank’s equity, he was strained to pivot towards Yahoo! BB and BB Phone. SoftBank has an accumulated debt of about $1.3 billion to date. Still, Yahoo! BB acquired Japan Telecom, which was then the third-largest broadband and landline provider with 600,00 residential and 170,000 commercial subscribers in the year 2020. Thereafter, Yahoo! BB is Japan’s leading broadband provider.

    Masayoshi Son- Arm Holdings

    Arm Holdings was successfully purchased by SoftBank in 2016 for the amount $ 31.4 billion
    Arm Holdings was successfully purchased by SoftBank in 2016 for the amount $ 31.4 billion

    Masayoshi serves as the Chairman of the US-based software design company, Arm Holdings. In July 2016, there was an announcement that SoftBank is planning to acquire Arm Holdings for $31.4 billion, which would be the largest-ever purchase of a European technology company.

    Arm Holdings was officially acquired by SoftBank in September 2016. The company approved the complete transaction. The total acquisition price counted to $34 billion. Moreover, SoftBank further acquired Sprint Corporation by purchasing 76% of its share.

    Sprint Corporation was acquired by SoftBank by purchasing 76% of shares
    Sprint Corporation was acquired by SoftBank by purchasing 76% of shares

    Masayoshi Son- Philanthropy

    Masayoshi vowed to donate $120 million and his remaining salary until retirement to support victims of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in the year 2011.

    Post devastating effects of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, he criticized the nuclear industry for creating a problem that worries the Japanese thoroughly. He thus invested in a nationwide solar power network for Japan. It was announced in March 2018 that Masayoshi was investing in the biggest ever solar project.

    Masayoshi Son – Latest News

    11 May 2022- Masayoshi recorded another point but with the loss of about $18.6 billion from Softbank’s Vision Fund Inc in the last quarter of March.

    23 May 2022- Masayoshi Son was reported to meet Indian Prime minister “Narendra Singh Modi”. The meeting was mainly to discuss the role of Softbank in the technology, energy, and finance sector of India and its development.

    30 May 2022- After acquiring the loss, the Softbank firm gets the paycheck compensation cut from its executive employees with no change in the paycheck of the CEO.

    Conclusion

    Masayoshi Son is entitled to the second richest man in Japan and 74th richest man in the world according to the Forbes Rich List. He is also the founder and CEO of Softbank. Masayoshi Son is an industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. Many other important aspects of Masayoshi Son have been shared in the above context.

    FAQs

    Who is the CEO of Softbank?

    Masayoshi Son is the founder and CEO of Softbank.

    How much of SoftBank does Masayoshi Son own?

    Masayoshi Son owns about 21.25% of SoftBank.

    Why is SoftBank called SoftBank?

    The word “Soft” stands for the synonym of the bank. Hence the word “SoftBank” stands for the general idea of having banks of software. And the reason behind using the word bank in the title is to give the general idea of being a key source of infrastructure for the society.

    Who is the richest man in Japan in 2022?

    Tadashi Yanai is the richest man in Japan with a net worth of US$26.1 billion.

    Does SoftBank own ARM?

    ARM was acquired by SoftBank in the year 2016 for a deal of $31.4 billion.

  • Top 11 Free Business Listing Sites in India in 2022

    We all know that the phone directory used to be an important household for many people. It had a hold on all the numbers that are required to be there with a person. With the changing times and growing technologies, the way of operating the lists has also been upgraded. We have come up with a free business directory for enabling the user to make a list and save them.

    Business listing sites not only maintain the contact details but also other required information about one and all altogether. If you are a business owner, you can make a page for your company using these.

    Here are some of the top business listing sites that you can use to list your business for free.

    How to List your Business on a Business Listing Website?
    Benefits of Business Listing
    Top Free Business Listing Sites in India
    FAQ

    How to List your Business on a Business Listing Website?

    It is important for any particular business to get noticed easily on the internet. Any business listing site will help you to create multiple platforms for your name, address, and phone number that will be accessed by potential customers. People nowadays trust customer reviews, which is why a business must have a strong online presence.

    Choose a business listing website

    There are numerous business listing sites, you must make sure to choose a website that will benefit you in multiple ways.

    Claim your business page

    Most businesses already have their own pages on some platforms, but they tend to be incomplete or made by a user. This is why you must claim your business page on these business listing sites.

    Complete your business listing

    After claiming your business page, you must complete your listing with valid and up-to-date information, images and videos so the customers can get an idea of the company. Details such as an address, phone number, services offered, timings, and social media links must be added.

    Verify your listing

    Any internet user can claim your business listing as their own, which is why you must verify your identity before the listing goes live.

    Benefits of Business Listing

    Growth of your online presence

    The biggest benefit for online businesses is that business listing websites help them maximize their online presence. It is vital to create a business page for your company on different review sites and multiple social media platforms to increase your company’s presence.

    Making your business known locally

    A business directory helps you target an audience in a particular geographic region. Local business listing websites usually have geographic filters to catch the eye of a potential customer.

    Putting out information

    The information based on timing, address, contact information, speciality, location, and ratings must be added to the business listing sites. This is done so a potential customer can get in touch with you or purchase your products or services.

    Driving your brand engagement

    Business listing sites have ratings and customer reviews which helps potential customers in checking your brand engagement before buying products. They also have the potential to attract and redirect traffic to your websites but make sure you manage your listings and engage with your visitors regularly.

    Top Free Business Listing Sites in India

    1. Google My Business

    Google My Business Homepage
    Google My Business Homepage

    Google My Business is a basic and free business listing platform that enables local businesses to create a company profile as well as enter various information about their enterprise.

    This feature in Google My Business complements the Google Maps feature and search functions. It helps you to easily connect with customers across the given time zones. Google My Business is linked to local addresses that are integrated on the very first page of organic search results as well as in Google Maps.

    2. Crunchbase

    Crunchbase Homepage
    Crunchbase Homepage

    If finding business information about private and public companies is on your mind, then Crunchbase is the one. This is one of the best business listing websites that helps the user that includes investments as well as funding information. This gives you information on founding members and individuals in leadership positions, mergers and acquisitions, industry trends, and other news.

    Founded in 2007, Crunchbase works for sourcing their data in four ways. These have machine learning, a venture program, an in-house data team, and lastly, the Crunchbase community. The information submitted is subjected to social validation, registration. These are at times reviewed by a moderator before getting accepted for publication.


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    3. Yelp

    Yelp Homepage
    Yelp Homepage

    Yelp is a crowd-sourced, modern and online version of the yellow pages. Yelp enables all businesses to attract customers through online word of mouth. It is a good way to reach people who actively search as well as intend to make a purchase.

    It is preferable to list your business in Yelp, which is one of the free business listing sites available. In Yelp, you can update your information, comment on reviews, upload photos and can do many other things.

    4. Meta for Business

    Meta for Business Homepage
    Meta for Business Homepage

    Meta for Business (Previously Facebook for Business) is one of the most popular business listing websites around the world. This helps you to get a supply of detailed information. There is a ‘Submit your business’ page that you can fill in to start your listing.

    Facebook Business gets the users the latest news, advertising tips and best practices. It also shows various case studies for using Meta to meet the company’s business goals.


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    5. Linkedin

    Linkedin Business Homepage
    Linkedin Business Homepage

    There are more than 30 million companies right now that are actively using Linkedin for listing their companies. Linkedin marketing tools have been made available for every business size and type. No matter if you are a small or a large or a B2B to B2C.

    It is easy to list your business as well as you can get a hassle-free experience. This site helps you to get equipped with the best tools, making it one of the top listing sites. It also helps you get the most out of your Linkedin marketing strategy for free.

    6. Tripadvisor

    Tripadvisor Homepage
    Tripadvisor Homepage

    ‌With great photos, updated information, and rave reviews, Tripadvisor helps your future customers see your unique business’s locations. This helps to get as many eyes as possible if you are listing your business on TripAdvisor. It gets around 730 million reviews and opinions. Also, it attracts monthly unique visitors on an average of 490 million on over 8.1 million businesses.

    There are guidelines and manuals on how you would enlist your business on Tripadvisor. It is easy, free, and comes without any hassle.


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    7. Verizon Business (Previously Yahoo Small Business)

    Verizon Business Homepage
    Verizon Business Homepage

    Verizon Business (Previously Yahoo Small Business) offers a lot. It ensures your customers find the exact information about your business. You can track everything from profile views to calls. Some business listing sites like Yahoo allow you to use competitive insights in case you want to make informed business decisions.

    Not only this, but you can also monitor as well as respond to reviews throughout the platforms quickly from one place, using Verizon Business (Previously Yahoo Small Business) Localworks. It also enables the user to interact with the team experts within a certain allotted time regarding any complaints or questions.

    8. Glassdoor

    Glassdoor Homepage
    Glassdoor Homepage

    ‌‌Glassdoor enables you to create an official online presence on the popular jobs website. It helps you to attract the right hires for your business needs. Glassdoor is mong the best business listing sites that hold a set of reviews for your business through which you can get the most number of people seeking your company.

    These company reviews have been proved valuable for 83% of job seekers. These work especially when it comes to deciding where they want to work. They can only see those reviews if you have listed the company on the Glassdoor listing.


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    9. Bing Places

    ‌‌Bing is one of the top search engines that has taken over the world, after Google. Bing is one of the best, as it is used as a default search engine on many Windows devices.

    There are mainly three categories of businesses you can list on Bing. They are first, the Local or small business with a storefront, chain business that comes with multiple locations, and lastly, businesses offering services at customer locations.

    So here are a few that are running successfully. These websites have been helpful for many businesses out there, regardless of their types and sizes. If you want to grow your business and want a good takeoff, you can rely upon these websites, without any doubt.

    10. Justdial

    Justdial Homepage
    Justdial Homepage

    ‌‌JustDial is a well-known business listing site in India 2021 as it is free, fast, and reliable along with service activities between the business and its customer. JustDial is a one-stop-shop, where you can plan your business’s promotion so it grows rapidly. JustDial is unique compared to other free business listing sites as it has features like rate and review features, best deals, last-minute deals, and live quotes to help users get the best discounts and businesses get to showcase their specialities.

    JustDial is one of the leading IT company’s in India that offers services over websites, apps, and phones. The company was founded by VSS Mani in 1998 and has its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra. JustDial currently has a database of over 29.4 million listings and 536,236 active paid campaigns.

    11. Yellowpages

    Yellowpages Homepage
    Yellowpages Homepage

    ‌‌Yellowpages is the best local business listing site that is simple and easy to use. It just has the name and phone number of the business is listed alphabetically with other listed businesses in the category. Another advantage of listing your business on Yellowpages is that it will reach millions of people around the world. Yellowpages is one of the best-known and trusted providers.

    The company is one of the most popular telephone and business directories. The company first started out by printing yellow paper instead of white pages for non-commercial listings. It has now well known for being a free business directory of businesses.


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    Conclusion

    When it comes to listing your businesses online, there are plenty of websites now which can help you avail of this benefit. A lot of startups have gained customers whether online or offline through the listing. In today’s world, it has become easier to attract first-time audiences but to keep them as retaining users, the product that is provided must give them a good experience.

    FAQ

    How can I list my business online for free?

    You can use free listing websites to list your business online for free.

    Which site is best for business listing?

    Google My Business, Crunchbase, Yelp, Meta for Business, and Yahoo Small Business are some of the best free business listing websites.

    What are free listing sites?

    Free listing websites are websites that help you list your business and maintain the address, phone number, services offered, timings, and social media links that are displayed to potential customers.

  • Story of David Filo: Co-Founder Of Yahoo!

    If one considers the late nineties and early years of 21st century, one giant ruled the internet segment—Yahoo! Be it search engine, online tabloid, finance reports, or anything else, Yahoo! was the go-to solution for online needs, a powerful mega web service provider. While the brand may not be as powerful as it once was, it still wields influence even in the presence of competitors like Google, Facebook, Twitter, and others. 26 years and still counting!

    Yahoo! was founded in the year 1994 by Jerry Yang and David Filo. An electrical engineer by profession, Filo co-founded Yahoo! at Stanford University. Initially, the duo called their venture, “Jerry and David’s guide to the World Wide Web”.

    David Robert Filo – Biography

    Name David Robert Filo
    Born April 20, 1966 – Wisconsin, U.S.
    Age 55 years (2021)
    Nationality American
    Spouse Angela Buenning Filo
    Education Tulane University, Stanford University
    Occupation Co-founder and Chief Yahoo, Yahoo! Inc.
    Net worth 350 crores USD (Forbes, 2021)

    David Filo – Growth of Yahoo!
    David Filo – Problems With Stanford University
    David Filo’s Marketing Strategy
    David Filo – Simplicity
    Coming Up With The Name Yahoo!
    Yahoo’s Connection With Netscape
    Yahoo!’s Decline
    Why To Follow David Filo?
    David Filo – FAQs

    David Filo – Growth of Yahoo!

    Yahoo Logo
    Yahoo Logo

    After launching Yahoo!, Filo recognized the potential of this website and subsequently launched ‘Yahoo! Inc.’. What started out as a web portal soon turned into something larger. Yahoo! became popular and started acquiring online gaming websites like ClassicGames.com, thereby releasing Yahoo! Games. Due to its partnership with multiple websites, Yahoo! enjoys considerable web traffic. By November 1994, its popularity sky-rocketed and 170,000 unique visitors were accessing the site every day.

    Soon, more than a million web users were visiting Yahoo! daily. While David was operating Yahoo! alongside Jerry for enjoyment, they were revolutionizing the world wide web. Companies like Microsoft and Prodigy approached Jerry-David to buy Yahoo!, but they simply refused.

    David Filo – Problems With Stanford University

    Yahoo Founders- David Filo and Jerry Yang
    Yahoo Founders- David Filo and Jerry Yang

    Success stories and struggles go hand in hand. The story of Yahoo! was no different. While at Stanford, David and Jerry faced infrastructure issues. They were using the servers provided by Stanford and when the company was expanding, the systems regularly crashed. The Stanford University administration asked the duo to take their venture off-campus. However, this move encouraged the team at Yahoo! to take it to the next level, from a college experiment to the full-fledged business unit.

    After funding from known sources was secured, the pair of Filo and Yang took a leave of absence from Stanford. They then hired school friends and interns to work for their company. Tim Koogle, former president of Motorola Inc., was roped in to add experience to the emerging team.

    By 1995, Yahoo! had become a formidable company. An alliance with the famous Reuters boosted its popularity as users could access news headlines with a click.


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    David Filo’s Marketing Strategy

    A great entrepreneur knows how to pump customers with exciting offerings. Filo added new sections such as quotations, weather, and sports scores to the website. Extensions like ‘My Yahoo’ and ‘Yahooligans’, a special version of the website for children in the 8-14 age group, were released. By 1999, the company was making a profit from the advertisements displayed on the website and related pages. Yahoo! Inc. also made special co-op deals with online retailers all over the world.

    David Filo – Simplicity

    Even after achieving success and becoming a sensation, Filo’s lifestyle didn’t see changes. As usual, he went to office in a junk-filled Datsun, and his office desk was still surrounded by litter cans all around.

    Coming Up With The Name Yahoo!

    David Filo- Co-founder of Yahoo

    The name Yahoo! is an urban legend. It stands for ‘Yet Another Hierarchic Officious Oracle’. The name became popular overnight courtesy of Filo and Yang’s brilliance.

    Yahoo’s Connection With Netscape

    Yahoo! and Netscape, two of the most popular websites, have some common elements. In return for a graphical link on Yahoo!’s homepage, Netscape’s founder gave the required equipment to keep the website running. A directory button was later added on the Netscape website which led to Yahoo!’s homepage. However, this didn’t go on for long and Netscape ditched Yahoo! for another website which offered a larger sum. Betrayals are inevitable.

    Yahoo!’s Decline

    According to many sources, Yahoo!’s decline began in 2000 when its search engine was powered by Google. After an all-time low value of the stocks at 4.40 USD, its popularity decreased and Google took over as the dominant player. Yahoo!’s rigidness in keeping up with evolving trends (much like Nokia’s debacle) was the salt rubbed into the wound.


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    Why To Follow David Filo?

    Filo transformed his hobby into profession. His work went on to leave a drastic mark on the World Wide Web. Although it’s Google that is the big shot at present, one cannot overlook Yahoo!’s dominance in the 20thcentury and early 21st century.

    David Filo’s net worth is 350 crores USD as of 2021. Filo is one of the early men to have realized the potential of the world wide web. His initiative came at a time when the internet segment was in its infancy. Innovation drove Yahoo! to prominence. What started with providing weather forecasts, match scores, and quotations is a behemoth today.

    David Filo’s story should compel you to explore those untouched opportunities in the digital world and fill in gaps yet to be identified!

    Also Read: Sheryl Sandberg: The Inspirational Female Entrepreneur

    David Filo – FAQs

    Who is David filo?

    David Robert Filo is an American billionaire businessman and the co-founder of Yahoo! with Jerry Yang.

    What is David Filo famous for?

    David Filo is a tech entrepreneur and businessman who co-founded Yahoo! with Jerry Yang in the year 1994.

    What is Yahoo?

    Yahoo! is one of the Internet’s leading search engines and web portals.

    Who is the founder of yahoo?

    Jerry Yang and David Filo are the founders of Yahoo.

    What is Yahoo used for?

    It is a web portal that provides news, entertainment, and sports information. The portal also gives users access to other Yahoo services including Yahoo! Search, Yahoo! Mail, and Yahoo! Finance.

    What is Yahoo founders’ net worth?

    Jerry Yang’s net worth is $240 crores and David Filo’s net worth $350 crores.

    What is the difference between google and yahoo search engine?

    Google is a company with an array of products that all integrate with search, the search engine being the flagship product. And Yahoo is not a search engine at all, but a web portal with a search engine powered by Bing.


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  • Top Sequoia Capital Investments

    Sequoia Capital has invested in some of the greatest ideas that this planet has ever seen. Don Valentine founded Sequoia Capital in 1972 and it has been creating history since then. It seems they have some ‘magic formula’ to predict the immense success of start-ups that get pitched to them. Of course, they don’t pick all of them but they sure do have a good hand.

    Sequoia Capital Portfolio is bejewelled with many start-ups that changed the face of the world. Sequoia Capital investments are not necessarily done in fancy places. They are willing to meet start-up owners anywhere they want. They understand that young start-ups need to save money.

    But just like everything in this world, Sequoia Capital investments are not perfect. It let go of some great opportunities like:

    • Investing in Apple, which it dropped out of after a short period
    • letting go of twitter because they wanted 20-30% share and the company offered 10%
    • Investing in Facebook

    All in all, this hasn’t stopped the venture capital from making some great investment deals.

    Paypal
    Reddit
    Tumblr
    Zoom
    Whatsapp
    Yahoo
    Google
    Glossier
    Youtube
    Instagram
    Linkedin
    Zomato
    Picsart
    FAQ

    Here’s a list of the top 13 Sequoia Capital Investments ventures that got big

    Paypal

    PayPal revolutionized the way we pay for things. It made cashless transactions easy and Hassel-free. Sequoia Capital investments are majorly made in companies that provide solutions to a problem.

    Companies like PayPal simplify peoples’ lives therefore they are bound to make profit.

    Founder: Elon Musk, Max Levchin, Peter Theil

    Founded in: 1999

    Partner: Michael Moritz

    Partnered in: 1999

    Reddit

    Reddit has become the core of funny online content. Although it’s a site where people discuss and comment on all kinds of topics, its GIFs are the most popular. Recently, Reddit users shook up the stock market which made clear the power that it possesses.

    Founder: Steve Huffman

    Founded in: 2005

    Partner: Alfred Lin

    Partnered in: 2014

    Tumblr

    Tumblr provides creative people all around the world to create, share and follow the content of their choice. The venture capital calls this idea authentic and said that when the idea was pitched in, it was, “equivalent of love at first sight”.

    It’s beautiful to see when an investor shares the vision of the founder. It’s bound to be a success.

    Founder: David Karp

    Founded in: 2007

    Partner: Roelof Botha

    Partnered in: 2010


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    Zoom

    Zoom is a video conferencing app. It provides group messaging and online meeting services that became our survivor in the Covid situation. Its top-of-the-class video and audio qualities make meetings effortless.

    Founder: Eric Yuan

    Founded in: 2011

    Partner: Carl Eschenbach, Pat Grady

    Partnered in: 2016


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    Whatsapp

    Who doesn’t know what WhatsApp is? If you don’t, you might be living under a rock. It an online messaging, calling, and video calling app. Recently, WhatsApp has launched its new payment feature.

    It has more than 100 million active users. It’s the most used messaging app in India. Sequoia Capital funded WhatsApp and helped it reach phenomenal heights.

    In 2014, WhatsApp was bought by Facebook.

    Founder: Brian Acton, Jan Koum

    Founded in: 2009

    Partner: Jim Goetz

    Partnered in: 2011

    Yahoo

    Yahoo is an information site that brings together all the information on one platform for users to benefit from. Yahoo is creating personalized user experiences to make the task easier.

    Founder: David Fello, Jerry Yang

    Founded in: 1994

    Partner: Michael Moritz

    Partnered in: 1995

    Google

    Google, the world’s biggest search engine is also among Sequoia Capital Investments. You can find out information about everything on Google. By organizing different websites and indexing their content, Google provides the best possible results for user search. It is dedicated to improving the overall user experience and caters to all their needs.

    Founder: Sergey Brin, Larry Page

    Founded in: 1998

    Partner: Michael Moritz

    Partnered in: 1999

    Glossier

    Glossier is another company under Sequoia Capital Investments. It is a beauty brand that customizes beauty according to the person. It focuses on individual needs rather than providing one product that is to be used by everyone.

    Founder: Emily Weiss

    Founded in: 2014

    Partner: Sonya Huang

    Partnered in: 2019


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    Youtube

    YouTube is the world’s greatest video-sharing site. It allows users to effortlessly upload videos for users to see. Sequoia Capital Investments helped the site become a platform for learning, entertainment and message spreading that also created tons of jobs.

    Founder: Chad Hurley, Javed Karim, Steve Chen

    Founded in: 2005

    Partner: Roelof Botha

    Partnered in: 2005

    Instagram

    Instagram has become extremely popular in very little time. It is the go-to app to upload art and photos for the huge audience that is at your disposal. Brands and small businesses can also promote their products through influencers.

    Founder: Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger

    Founded in: 2010

    Partner: Roelof Botha

    Partnered in: 2012

    Linkedin

    Sequoia Capitals investments are about bringing unique ideas to life. It’s something that we all need but just cannot put a finger on. An online platform for businesses and employees that promotes jobs and servicepersons was much needed.

    LinkedIn made it possible to link talented individuals to the employers that need them.

    Founder: Reid Hoffman, Jeff Weiner

    Founded in: 2002

    Partner: Michael Moritz

    Partnered in: 2003

    Zomato

    Zomato made the option of food delivery, wide open in India. It was present before but wasn’t used much. The brilliant idea of linking the restaurant to a hungry person worked wonders. What’s the use of good food without a foodie, right?

    Zomato is a unicorn company now.

    Founder: Deepinder Goyal, Pankaj Chaddha

    Founded in: 2010

    Partner: Mohit Bhatnagar, Abheek Anand, Ashish Agarwal

    Partnered in: 2013


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    Picsart

    PicsArt Website
    PicsArt Website

    PicsArt is a popular online image editing app. It provides a wide range of features to present a simple photograph in the most creative way possible.

    Founder: Hovhannes Avoyan, Artavazd Mehrabyan

    Founded in: 2011

    Partner: Mike Vernal, Stephanie Zhan

    Partnered in: 2014

    FAQ

    How many employees does Sequoia have?

    Sequoia Capital has around 760 employees.

    What is sequoia capital

    Sequoia Capital is an American venture capital firm.

    Who founded Sequoia?

    Sequoia was founded by Don Valentine in 1972. In the mid-1990s, Valentine gave control of the company to Doug Leone and Michael Moritz.

    Conclusion

    These were some amazing companies that made a mark in the world. Sequoia Capital Investments ventures have shaped these companies’ future for the better. It takes a great ‘eye’ to identify the true potential behind an idea. This venture capital continues to support bright minds with their finances.

    Some recent sequoia capital investments include CoinSwitch Cuber, Pristyn Care, Druva, and Razor pay.

  • Hubblu: One Workspace for All Your Apps

    The core of every business lies in using the right software tools. You need to use specific software for every workflow of your project, and sometimes more than one to execute your project.

    So swiping between tabs and apps can be a time-consuming process. Needless to say, it dampens productivity and slows down team efforts.

    What you need is a platform to combine all these apps into a single workspace. This will help you save time and increase productivity while minimizing distractions. You can focus more on your business and its growth.

    Presenting Hubblu…

    Hubblu Work Apps Dashboard
    Hubblu Work Apps Dashboard

    What is Hubblu?
    Hubblu – Features
    Hubblu – Pricing
    Hubblu – FAQ’s

    What is Hubblu?

    Hubblu is a distraction-free workspace where you can integrate all your apps to a single platform. Whether you need to contact your team, share ideas, attend meetings or answer your customers, you can do all these things seamlessly saving both time and effort.

    Navigate between team chats, calendars, project management tools, and emails in just a single click. With Hubblu, you will never again miss an appointment as its task scheduler not only reminds you of your appointments but also opens the work app at a scheduled time.

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    Hubblu – Features

    One master password

    Break from the routine of using multiple passwords for multiple apps. Now you can quickly login to all your apps with one master password.

    Easy-to-use

    Friendly user interface lets you switch apps with just a click

    Distraction-free

    Interact with your team, via emails and chats seamlessly by having a distraction-free workspace for all your apps

    Task Schedulers

    Hubblu’s scheduler is not just a to-do list. Users can create a work schedule, take a break, get reminders of tasks, and much more. For instance, you can create a schedule for your daily tasks so that even if you forget to check your emails, Hubblu will automatically open the email app for you at the scheduled time.

    Hubblu's Task Schedule Dashboard
    Hubblu’s Task Schedule Dashboard

    Cross-platform compatibility

    Hubblu is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms.

    Multiple Integrations

    Hubblu allows users to integrate more than 50+ apps including emails, meeting software, calendars, project management apps, and team chats with just a click on your desktop. With more and more apps joining the integration list, you can always request integration to Hubblu’s team.

    Uses

    • Team Collaboration – Take notes or create actionable to-dos quickly while you’re attending a meeting
    • Compare and share info – No need to waste your time on multiple tabs and a variety of apps for each project. With Hubblu you can compare all data from your apps simultaneously with just a few simple clicks.
    • Effortless communication – Whether it be your clients, partners, or even your boss, you can easily communicate with everyone from a single platform.
    • Easy sharing – Share your work with your team whit just a click. Update your team members on your progress to get instant feedback on multiple projects without ever needing to minimize anything.

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    Hubblu – Pricing

    Solo Plan – $39 /lifetime

    Features

    • Use on 1 PC
    • Unlimited Integrations
    • Full Screen and Small Floating Hub Modes
    • One Master Password
    • Work Sharing
    • Meetings
    • Future Features and Updates Included
    • 60-days Refund Policy

    Plus Plan – $59 /lifetime

    Features

    • Use on 5 PCs
    • Unlimited Integrations
    • Full Screen and Small Floating Hub Modes
    • One Master Password
    • Work Sharing
    • Meetings
    • Future Features and Updates Included
    • 60-days Refund Policy

    Pro Plan – $97 /lifetime

    Features

    • Use on 10 PCs
    • Unlimited Integrations
    • Task Scheduler
    • Full Screen and Small Floating Hub Modes
    • One Master Password
    • Work Sharing
    • Meetings
    • Future Features and Updates Included
    • 60-days Refund Policy

    Team Plan – $197 /lifetime

    Features

    • Use on 30 PCs
    • Unlimited Integrations
    • 1 master + 5 team member accounts
    • Ability to assign PC licenses to team members
    • Task Scheduler
    • Full Screen and Small Floating Hub Modes
    • One Master Password
    • Work Sharing
    • Meetings
    • Future Features and Updates Included
    • 60-days Refund Policy

    Hubblu – FAQ’s

    What’s a distraction-free workspace?

    A distraction-free workspace is one that is designed not to take your focus off work. You will never have to take your eyes off your work as you check your team chat, task planner, or email. Additionally, all of your online tools will be organized in a single glass pane, separate from any distractions that a browser provides.

    Why did you build Hubblu?

    Hubblu was built to solve so many problems that developers and entrepreneurs face. Efficiency is the key to a productive workday.

    How can Hubblu help me?

    By managing all your work apps on a single platform, you get straight to work without any distractions. It increases your productivity on a day to day basis.

    What is integration? How many integrations does Hubblu offer?

    The idea of Hubblu revolves around provident its users with everyday tools instead of replacing them. Each online app you use like Gmail, Slack, Trello, or Flock are integrations and Hubblu works with all of them. It offers more than 50 integrations.

    What is the Task Schedule feature?

    Never miss a meeting or an appointment with a task scheduler that reminds you of your appointments and opens your apps at a particular time. All you need to do is input what time and day your appointments are once