How Reid Hoffman built LinkedIn and reshaped professional networking forever

Reid Hoffman, born on August 5, 1967, is best known as the co-founder of LinkedIn, the world's largest professional networking site. Before his business career took off, he had originally planned to become a public intellectual and academic. Instead, he turned his focus to entrepreneurship and venture capital, shaping the tech industry in lasting ways.

Hoffman launched LinkedIn on December 28, 2002, in Mountain View, California. He teamed up with former colleagues from SocialNet.com and PayPal—Allen Blue, Konstantin Guericke, Eric Ly, and Jean-Luc Vaillant—to build a platform focused solely on professional connections. The company grew steadily, attracting millions of users within its first few years.

Before LinkedIn, Hoffman had already made a name for himself in Silicon Valley. After PayPal was acquired, he shifted to angel investing, backing early-stage startups like Airbnb and Flickr. His success in this field led him to join Greylock Partners, a prominent venture capital firm, where he continued to invest in and mentor emerging companies.

Despite his business commitments, Hoffman never fully left his intellectual pursuits. He co-authored books such as The Alliance, Masters of Scale, and Blitzscaling, which explore strategies for rapid business growth. He also remains an active speaker, delivering talks at TED conferences and lecturing at top universities.

Hoffman's career spans entrepreneurship, investing, and thought leadership. His work with LinkedIn transformed professional networking, while his investments and writings continue to influence the tech world. Though he once considered academia, his impact as a businessman and investor has proven far-reaching.