Google is pretty undefeatable.
Only the right entrepreneurs/leaders, with a good USP in their idea, can unbuckle the search engine giant from the top. And very certainly one can create another Google or search engine the way Larry Page did but the efforts will be huge!
At the time when Google was started, Yahoo was the biggest and well-established market player with a good chunk of capital in their pockets. Still, Larry Page and Sergey Brin eventually managed to topple down Yahoo and become an industry leader.
So, again, one can create a "new Google". I mean, Gabriel Weinberg is trying to do that that with his privacy-obsessed search engine DuckDuckGo.
But let’s understand the different dynamics of it.
When Google started, although the founders had to go head-to-head with a giant like Yahoo, competition from other sides was almost negligent. The idea was relatively new. But today, so many people are trying to create a new Google (and Microsoft and Apple). The high competition among mediocre players is beating each other. This has left Google to remain untouched.
Also, let's not forget the seamless resources available with Google. From the best minds in academia to billions and billions of dollars. So, it's hard for two graduates today to go one-on-one with this mammoth. They will never be able to level up with the resources of this search giant. To that, they would also feel the monopolistic pressure, which will further squash their dreams.
And comes the most important part…
Google isn’t just a search engine that can get replaced. With so many products under its belt and an ungodly amount of investment in their brand name. 'Google' is now an integral part of our lifestyle. It took them 20+ years to get into that position. It's virtually impossible to replace them in just few years.
So, it's difficult for graduates and PH.Ds today to create a new Google, just like Larry Page and Sergey Brin did back in 1998.
But again, this doesn’t mean it can’t be done. It will require a great product idea, unbeatable USP and a BIG investment in marketing.
The new search engine must work, of course, exceptionally. It must have a USP that Google doesn’t have. And then once the product is at its best, the makers need to market and brand that product.
Remember, just because you aren’t the first doesn’t mean you can’t be the best!
Google, even as the most valuable brand in the world, remains in a vulnerable situation all the time. The search engine isn't "perfect". If one can align a great product with exceptional marketing strategy, she/he can leverage on its vulnerability.
But all being said, it's VERY, VERY difficult to unseat Google from the top. Graduates can be like Larry Page and Sergey Brin in skills. But can they be a leader like them? That's the biggest question.
So, in my opinion, whoever is trying to create a new Google, instead of that, they should focus on some other product that the world needs. There's no need for a new search engine today. The existing ones are well-capable to match all our (known) needs.