How did Google start with finance?

Google was found by two students and it is a well-known fact that students usually don’t have much money available. In the very beginning no financing was required. Larry’s dorm room became Google’s first data center and Sergey started the office and tried to contact potential partners. Larry and Sergey actually didn’t want to start a company, but just earning money by licensing the unique search algorithm they developed. When they searched for a buyer there was almost no interest at all in a good new search function. In their search they came across David Filo (founder of Yahoo! and personal friend) which suggested them to start there own company and to grow first.

Larry and Sergey decided to give it a try. The only thing they needed was a little bit of financing to move out of the dorm. They wrote a business plan and tried to find an investor. Andy Bechtolsheim (one of the founders of Sun Microsystems) saw the potential and while Larry and Sergey where showing him there product he said: ‘Instead of us discussing all the details, why don't I just write you a check?’. He wrote a check for $100.000,- and left to go to another appointment. The check was written out to Google, Inc. But at that time there was no legal Google, Inc. company. Larry and Sergey started there company and had enough financing for the first phase and there first office; the garage.