WebNewser today posted a video interview with Google VP of consumer products Marissa Mayer, in which she discusses the search giant’s failed acquisition offer for Groupon. She also comments on some startup sentiment that Google is an unappealing parent, due to an inability to successfully integrate acquired companies:
“I think that we have both a good structure for companies that get integrated into Google… We also have a new construct called an autonomous unit where we basically will buy a company and leave it very independent. This is very similar to what we did with YouTube. We’re also doing this with a company we bought called Slide.”
No mention of FTC issues related to Google’s (GOOG) proposed acquistion of ITA Software, and if such concerns were what caused troubles with Groupon (the other theory I’ve heard is that most of Google’s $6 billion offer for Groupon was based on earnouts, which didn’t sit well with Groupon management).
Here’s the clip:
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You can watch the entire video here, including Mayer’s admission that “Google hasn’t gotten social right yet.”