Bessemer Venture Partners

LinkedIn

LinkedIn operates the world’s largest professional network on the Internet with more than 135 million members in over 200 countries and territories. LinkedIn started out in the living room of co-founder Reid Hoffman in 2002. The site officially launched on May 5, 2003. At the end of the first month in operation, LinkedIn had a total of 4,500 members in the network. As of September 30, 2011 (the end of the third quarter), professionals are signing up to join LinkedIn at a rate that is faster than two new members per second. The company went public in May 2011 (NYSE: LNKD) and has a diversified business model with revenues coming from hiring solutions, marketing solutions and premium subscriptions.