The logo of Google is seen at the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 14, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 26 (Reuters) - More than 25 years ago, two students at Stanford University brainstormed in their dormitory and came up with an idea - to create an internet search engine that would organize web pages and also rank them. Initially called BackRub, the startup grew into one of the world's most valuable and influential companies, Google. Google's products, including Gmail and search, are now used by billions and its co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, rank among the richest people in the world. Here are some milestones in the history of the tech giant, whose parent is now known as Alphabet:Reporting by Chavi Mehta, Arsheeya Bajwa, Yuvraj Malik, Samrhitha Arunasalam and Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Chavi Mehta, Arsheeya Bajwa, Yuvraj Malik, Samrhitha, Jaspreet Singh, Pooja Desai Organizations: Google, Viva Technology, Porte de, REUTERS, Stanford University brainstormed, Gmail, Thomson Locations: Porte, Paris, France, Bengaluru