GoDaddy Inc. is a leading web hosting and domain name registration company. It was founded in 1997 by Bob Parsons in Baltimore, Maryland, and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Parsons started the company under the name "Jomax Technologies" and later changed the name to GoDaddy Group Inc. in 1999. GoDaddy was initially focused on selling domain names but has since expanded its services to include website hosting, website builder tools, email hosting, and online marketing tools.
GoDaddy went public in April 2015, with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $460 million, making it one of the largest technology IPOs of that year. The stock debuted on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "GDDY" and has since been listed on the NASDAQ. In 2019, GoDaddy was added to the S&P 500 index, which includes the largest publicly traded companies in the United States.
GoDaddy's mission is to empower everyday entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed online. They offer a variety of services to help small business owners build and grow their online presence, including website hosting, website builder tools, online marketing tools, and domain name registration. GoDaddy has millions of customers worldwide, ranging from individuals to small businesses to large corporations.
GoDaddy is also known for its controversial marketing campaigns that use provocative advertising to attract customers. Some of their ads have been criticized for being sexist or promoting objectification of women. In recent years, the company has made efforts to move away from these types of ads and focus more on promoting their products and services.
Despite the controversies, GoDaddy remains a popular choice for individuals and small businesses looking to establish a web presence. The company has continued to expand its offerings and invest in new technology to better serve its customers. In 2020, GoDaddy announced that it was acquiring SkyVerge, a leading e-commerce platform for WordPress, to further enhance its offerings for online merchants.