Reid Hoffman
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Contents
Summary
Reid Hoffman is one of the most influential individuals in the development of modern-day connections via internet-based platforms.
- Reid Before Tech
- Paypal
Paypal
Before founding Linkedin, Hoffman joined an internet startup that focused on sending money electronically from person to person. This was a revolutionary idea, as credit cards were the most novel "electronic currency" at the time. However, Paypal began to grow, and Hoffman remained alongside Paypal until its eventual sale to Ebay for $1.5 billion. The group of people that were part of Paypal include some of the most impactful entrepreneurs, investors, and technologists of the 21st century, including Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Steven Chen, and Chad Hurley. These individuals were deemed the "Paypal Mafia", as they all went on to develop major followings and influence in their respective fields of work.
Overview of the site
Linkedin has become the primary source of job-seeking individuals. On both the recruiter side and the job-seeker side, Linkedin is a one-stop-shop for employment needs.
Hoffman's Impact
Linkedin is perhaps Hoffman's greatest legacy, as he is the founder of the company. Hoffman had always wanted to create a company based around connecting individuals. In 1997, he was compelled to create a website called SocialNet. This was and internet-based platform on which people could meet for anything from tennis partners to dates. Many say that his ideas were just a few years too early, as the emergence of Facebook, online dating sites, and other connectivity platforms largely started to emerge in the mid-2000s.
How Linkedin changed the Professional World
To get things straight, Linkedin was intended to be a platform for professionals to connect and maintain a relationship via the internet. Hoffman's
