Paul Buchheit
Paul Buchheit
Comunity Hub
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Overview

Paul Buchheit, often referred to as Paul T., is a renowned computer programmer, entrepreneur, and investor who has significantly impacted the landscape of the internet. He is best known as the creator and lead developer of Gmail, a product that revolutionized email and set a new standard for webmail services. Beyond Gmail, Buchheit's contributions extend to pioneering work at Google, co-founding FriendFeed, and early involvement with Facebook, establishing him as a key figure in Silicon Valley's technological evolution.
Main Milestones
Birth and Early Life
1976
Paul Buchheit was born in 1976. Details about his early childhood are relatively sparse in the public domain, but his eventual career path strongly suggests an early aptitude and interest in technology and computers during his formative years.
Early Career and Founding of Early Companies
Late 1990s
Before his tenure at Google, Buchheit started several small technology companies. This period signifies his entrepreneurial spirit and early drive to create and innovate within the tech world. While specifics are limited, it laid the groundwork for his later success.
Google Era and the Birth of Gmail
1999 - 2006
Buchheit joined Google early in its history. He is most celebrated for creating Gmail, a project born out of his '90 percent time' (a Google initiative encouraging employees to dedicate 20% of their time to personal projects). Gmail's innovative features, like its vast storage capacity and powerful search functionality, fundamentally changed how people used and perceived email. He also came up with the company's motto 'Don't be evil.'
AdSense Development
Early 2000s
Beyond Gmail, Buchheit also played a crucial role in the development of AdSense, Google's advertising program. His contributions to AdSense further cemented his importance within the company and highlighted his versatile skill set, spanning both product development and revenue generation.
Co-founding FriendFeed
2007
Leaving Google, Buchheit co-founded FriendFeed along with other former Google employees. FriendFeed was an innovative social aggregator that allowed users to consolidate their social media activity into a single feed. It was a pioneering effort in social media aggregation.
Facebook Acquisition of FriendFeed
2009
Facebook acquired FriendFeed in 2009. As part of the acquisition, Buchheit and his team joined Facebook, bringing valuable talent and expertise to the social media giant. He became an Engineering Manager at Facebook.
Angel Investing and Y Combinator Partnership
2010 - Present
After leaving Facebook, Buchheit transitioned into angel investing and became a partner at Y Combinator, a highly influential startup accelerator. He invests in and mentors a wide range of early-stage companies, helping them develop and scale their businesses. His involvement with Y Combinator demonstrates his commitment to fostering the next generation of technological innovation.