Internet History Podcast 20. (Ch 4.2) How Yahoo Became The Web's First Great Company
31 snips
Jun 9, 2014 The podcast dives into Yahoo's evolution from a simple research project to the web's first powerhouse. It highlights how Yahoo revolutionized advertising, leading to significant revenue growth in the 90s. The 'portal wars' are discussed, showcasing the fierce competition between Yahoo and other search engines like Excite and AltaVista. Moreover, it explores Yahoo's incredible IPO success and its eventual struggles against emerging rivals like Google, emphasizing the ever-changing landscape of the internet.
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Sequoia's Investment
- Sequoia invested $1 million in Yahoo for a 25% stake, a bet that paid off enormously.
- By 1999, their investment was worth an estimated $8 billion.
The Need for Speed
- Yahoo's rapid growth was driven by competition and the need to establish market dominance.
- Their directory was easily replicable, so they needed a competitive edge.
First-Mover Advantage
- Yahoo's first-mover advantage and user loyalty were key assets.
- They cultivated this by being the default search tool on Netscape Navigator.
