Yahoo has had a tumultuous past 20 years. From being one of the world’s most popular websites to losing its search traffic to Google, Yahoo has had its ups and downs. In recent times, however, the company seems to have found a new lease on life with new CEO Marissa Mayer at the helm. From their $1 billion acquisition of Tumblr in 2013 to investing in start-ups like Hot Potato (which was rebranded as Yahoo Food) and Stendig (which became Yahoo Answers), we’ve seen a new vibrancy from Yahoo in recent years. Here’s the history of this technology giant and what it means for its future.
1999-2007: The Rise and Fall of Yahoo!
The year 1999 could be called the year that changed the lives of many. The dot-com boom was at its peak and many anticipated high returns from investments in Internet stocks. It was also the year that saw the formation of Yahoo Inc., which would rise to become one of the most visited Internet destinations for online users. Yahoo was founded by Jerry Yang and David Filo, who met at Stanford Graduate School of Business. The company was first incorporated in California in March 1995 under the name “Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web.” The name was later changed to “Yahoo!”, which was supposed to sound like “Yes!”, a play on the fact that the site was for day-to-day users. The site’s initial growth was phenomenal. By late 1996, the site was receiving millions of visitors a week, and its popularity was surging.
2008-2013: The Dark Days
In 2008, Yahoo’s fall began when Google began to outpace them in the search engine market. Yahoo’s stock price was at its lowest in 2016. The company’s revenue was continually decreasing, and it saw a loss of $4.52 billion in 2013. Yahoo needed to take drastic measures to turn things around. As a result, they had to lay off employees and close offices. They also let go of several high-level executives as well as their CEO, Jerry Yang. The company’s value also plummeted, and in July 2016, Verizon made an offer to buy Yahoo’s core business for $4.83 billion. This offer was a fraction of the $125 billion that Yahoo was worth at the height of the dot-com boom.
2014-2015: Yahoo! Reboots
Yahoo’s stock price was at its lowest in 2016. The company’s revenue was continually decreasing, and it saw a loss of $4.52 billion in 2013. Yahoo needed to take drastic measures to turn things around. As a result, they had to lay off employees and close offices. They also let go of several high-level executives as well as their CEO, Jerry Yang. The company’s value also plummeted, and in July 2016, Verizon made an offer to buy Yahoo’s core business for $4.83 billion. This offer was a fraction of the $125 billion that Yahoo was worth at the height of the dot-com boom. This was a critical moment for the Internet behemoth, and they needed to act fast if they wanted to remain relevant in the online world. Fortunately, a new CEO came to the rescue at this time – former Google executive, Marissa Mayer. The new CEO was tasked with reviving the old company.
2016 and beyond: What does the future hold for Yahoo?
It is difficult to predict what the future holds for Yahoo. The company has shown great potential, and it has also witnessed failure in the past. If we look at the history of the company, it is clear that they’ve had its ups and their downs. It is important to note that the company has come a long way since the 1990s. The new CEO has been very vocal about the company’s plans, and they’ve made significant progress in recent years. From their $1 billion acquisition of Tumblr in 2013 to investing in start-ups like Hot Potato (which was rebranded as Yahoo Food) and Standing (which became Yahoo Answers), we’ve seen a new vibrancy from Yahoo in recent years. It seems that the company is ready to reclaim its position in the world of technology. Whether or not they will succeed remains to be seen.
Lessons Learned from 20 years of Yahoo!
Yahoo was once one of the most popular websites in the world, and many people have fond memories of their early days. To gain an understanding of where the company came from, it is important to take a look at its history. From the early days of being one of the first search engines to losing its position in the market, the company has had a rollercoaster ride so far. Their partnership with Verizon may be the key to revitalizing the brand and regaining its lost luster. It is important to note that though they’ve had their ups and downs, the company will continue to be relevant in the ever-changing world of technology.
