3 ms·

Google X aka the moonshot factory has existed for longer than the original Apollo program. Has it launched any successful products for Alphabet?

• mdonahoe 7y ago
  The Apollo program didn’t exactly reach product-market fit either. It too got shutdown by price-conscious Congress. Moonshots are inspirational, but sadly do not seem sustainable. On the other hand, I wonder how many successful startups ex-X employees will have launched.
  • jacquesm 7y ago
    They worked just fine, they delivered the product that was required: a PR victory over the USSR which had stolen America's thunder in the space race.
    • mdonahoe 7y ago
      So taking that analogy backward: who was Google's USSR that motivated them to start X? Facebook?
      • jacquesm 7y ago
        No, more that they don't want to be seen as 'just' a monopolistic search/advertising company, plus diversification if done successfully can lead to risk reduction.