Thread by @nealtaparia

This guy made $1B building an internet browser in Norway.

It just hit record growth of 300M users – and this 1 feature could cost Google billions...

Here's the wild comeback story of a "forgotten" browser:

It's 1995. Tech giants are fighting over the internet's future.

Then comes a visionary in Norway with a revolutionary idea:

A browser for ANY device.

What does this mean? Software to bring the web to your phone, TV, or even a calculator...

Enter Opera Browser:

Remember the agonizing wait for web pages to load in the 90s?

Opera had the perfect solution – server-side compression. In simple terms:

Opera shrunk web pages 90% before sending them to your device, making them faster to load.

But they were just getting started...

Here's what Opera did WAY earlier than anyone else:

• 1996: Tabs before they were cool (aka. Multiple document interface)
• 2000: Full-page zoom
• 2001: Mouse gestures for navigation
• 2003: Pop-up blocking

Each feature was eventually adopted by competitors. And in 2005?

Opera had another game-changing idea:

A mobile-specific browser when smartphones were in their infancy.

Opera Mini used extreme compression, making web browsing possible on basic phones.

Result? Opera became the top browser in mobile-first markets like Africa & Southeast Asia.

But Opera's real genius? Adapting to user needs.

In 2016, they integrated a free, unlimited VPN directly into the browser.

No add-ons, no subscriptions. Just built-in privacy.

It was a bold move attracting millions of privacy-conscious users overnight.

They didn't stop there:

Opera GX came in 2019: the world's first "gaming browser."

Features include:
• Twitch and Discord integration
• A customizable interface with sound effects
• CPU, RAM, and network limiters for smoother play

It's niche, but that's the point. Opera targets underserved markets.

2023 brought Aria, Opera's AI assistant.

Unlike standalone chatbots, Aria understands your entire browsing context.

It can summarize articles, explain complex topics, or even help with online shopping.

All without leaving your browser window.

Opera's not just another browser.

It's a direct threat to Google's dominance:

• Built-in ad blocker could cost Google millions in revenue
• AI assistant competes with Google's search monopoly
• Free VPN challenges Google's data collection

Just look at the numbers:

• 300M+ active users globally
• Listed on NASDAQ since 2018
• Market leader in Africa with 53% share
• $331M revenue in 2022, up 32% from 2021

Not bad. The browser wars aren't over:

They've evolved.

Opera's strategy? Innovation, specialization, and targeting neglected markets.

As the internet changes, Opera adapts.

The question is: how long will you still be using Chrome?

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this:

1. Follow me @tapneal to learn how to be a work-less, do-more entrepreneur
2. Repost this thread if you found it helpful