Former Google employees — its alumni network, or “mafia” — have founded 1,200+ companies across a wide range of industries over the past 5 years.
These businesses, the majority of which have been backed by VCs like a16z and Sequoia Capital, have collectively raised $20B+ in equity funding.
Many members of the Google Mafia have founded just 1 business in their post-Google era. However, others have launched multiple, with the most prolific establishing 6 or more.
We analyzed CB Insights Key People data to identify the ex-Googlers who founded the most businesses after leaving the tech giant.
Ricky Jacob
Ricky Jacob was a team lead at Google, focusing on geo content operations for 2 years.
After leaving Google, Jacob launched location-based service provider GeoSpice (products included runner tracking platform Odikyo and event tech developer Eventsito). He also established CommonTrip, which functioned as a sustainability-focused ridesharing platform.
Jacob pivoted to fintech when he established open banking platform Kred (formerly Huepay), banking API platform Paysack, and robo-investing platform TRDR.
Most recently, the ex-Googler founded Certify Social, a platform that enables organizations to issue non-fungible token (NFT) rewards.
Robert Spiro
Robert Spiro co-founded social search engine Aardvark, which was acquired by Google in 2010. Following the acquisition, Spiro started as a product manager for Google’s social network: Google+.
After departing, Spiro’s founder journey picked up again with Good Eggs, an ethical food delivery startup where he also served as CEO for 4 years.
Following his time at Good Eggs, Spiro maintained a strong focus on the broader impact of his endeavors. For example, in 2017, he co-founded Imagination Machine, which helps create and support companies that have a positive social or environmental impact. That same year, he launched JHO, which serves as a subscription platform for women’s hygiene products.
In the years that followed, he co-founded educational magazine publisher and eco-friendly toy maker Les Mini Mondes and home solar kit provider Beem Energy. In the enterprise tech space, Spiro co-founded a professional training and coaching platform known as UpTogether.
Most recently, he helped create corporate social responsibility startup Good Steps.
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