[1] Rubin also helped found Essential Products in 2015, a mobile phone start-up that closed in 2020 without finding a buyer.

[15] On October 31, 2014, he left Google after nine years at the company to start a venture capital firm for technology startups.

[20] Rubin strongly disputed these reports and denied wrongdoing, stating, "these false allegations are part of a smear campaign to disparage me during a divorce and custody battle".

[22] After being forced out of Google, Rubin founded Playground Global in 2015 along with Peter Barrett, Matt Hershenson and Bruce Leak.

[23] The company is a venture capital firm and studio for technology start-ups, providing funding, resources, and mentorship.

In 2015, Playground Global raised a $300 million fund from investors including Google, HP, Foxconn, Redpoint Ventures, Seagate Technology and Tencent, among others.