Fundraising Fox
Sunnyvale, US · Founded 2003 · 23,039 employees on LinkedIn · 12 known investors
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Acquired by Microsoft December 2016 · $26.2B ($196.00 per share, all cash) · source ↗
LinkedIn is the professional network — profiles, connections, job listings and a feed built around work rather than friendship. Reid Hoffman started it in his living room in late 2002 with four co-founders drawn from PayPal and his earlier company SocialNet, and the site launched in May 2003. It went public on the NYSE in 2011 and Microsoft bought it in 2016 for $26.2 billion in cash, still among the largest software acquisitions ever made; it now runs as a Microsoft subsidiary with more than a billion registered members.
Founders & leadership
Investors · 12
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Sapphire Ventures's portfolio page · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$119.6M disclosed across 1 round · 2014
▶$119.6MraisedMar 2014 · 25 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Michael MortizDirector
- Reid HoffmanDirector
- David L. SzeDirector
- Michael GamsonExecutive Officer
- A. George BattleDirector
- Erika RottenbergExecutive Officer
- Dipchand NisharExecutive Officer
- Steven J. SordelloExecutive Officer
- James Kevin ScottExecutive Officer
- Leslie J. KilgoreDirector
- Stanley MeresmanDirector
- Jeffrey WeinerExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $119.6M
- Amount sold
- $119.6M
- First sale
- Feb 2014
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Founder mafia
The LinkedIn mafia →195 people who came through LinkedIn went on to found or lead other companies.
Non-dilutive funding · 7 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation | Phase II | 2023 | $996.8K |
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase I | 2023 | $150K |
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase ISTTR | 2023 | $75K |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Phase I | 2022 | $150K |
| National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health | Phase I | 2021 | $381.8K |
| National Science Foundation | Phase I | 2021 | $255.2K |
| U.S. NavyNavy | Phase I | 2014 | $150K |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
In the news
Frequently asked questions
- What does LinkedIn do?
- LinkedIn is the professional network — profiles, connections, job listings and a feed built around work rather than friendship. Reid Hoffman started it in his living room in late 2002 with four co-founders drawn from PayPal and his earlier company SocialNet, and the site launched in May 2003. It went public on the NYSE in 2011 and Microsoft bought it in 2016 for $26.2 billion in cash, still among the largest software acquisitions ever made; it now runs as a Microsoft subsidiary with more than a billion registered members.
- Who founded LinkedIn?
- LinkedIn was founded by Reid Hoffman, Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, Jean-Luc Vaillant, Lee Hower in 2003.
- Who are LinkedIn's investors?
- LinkedIn's investors include DG Ventures, Inc., Greylock Partners, Sapphire Ventures, Accel, Bessemer Venture Partners, Crosslink Capital, Freestyle Capital, Frontline Ventures and 4 more.
- How much funding has LinkedIn raised?
- LinkedIn has disclosed $119.6M raised across 1 round.
- Who acquired LinkedIn?
- LinkedIn was acquired by Microsoft.
- Where is LinkedIn headquartered?
- LinkedIn is headquartered in Sunnyvale, US.