Ask Jeeves

01 / WHAT IT BUILT

What the company did

Ask Jeeves was an early web search engine founded in 1996 by Garrett Gruener and David Warthen, headquartered in Emeryville, California. Its signature feature was answering queries phrased in plain language ('Ask Jeeves'), with the tuxedoed butler mascot Jeeves embodying that promise. It went public in July 1999 during the dot-com boom, and in July 2005 was acquired by Barry Diller's IAC for about $1.85 billion, after which it was renamed Ask.com; the classic search interface was retired in 2010.

03 / EVENT HISTORY

Events in the structured record

1. 1996
   Company founded

   Ask Jeeves is founded in California by Garrett Gruener and David Warthen, offering a search engine that answers questions phrased in plain language.

2. 1999
   IPO

   In July 1999, Ask Jeeves goes public at the height of the dot-com boom, raising about $190 million as the stock surges from $14 to $165.

3. 2005
   Acquisition by IAC

   In July 2005, Barry Diller's IAC acquires Ask Jeeves for about $1.85 billion; the service is rebranded Ask.com. The classic search page is retired in 2010.