Reid Hoffman
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| Name | Reid Hoffman |
| Caption | Hoffman in 2019 |
| Birth date | 5 August 1967 |
| Birth place | Stanford, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Stanford University (BA), University of Oxford (MSt) |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, investor, author |
| Known for | Co-founding LinkedIn, partner at Greylock Partners, author |
| Spouse | Michelle Yee |
| Net worth | $2.4 billion (2024 est.) |
Reid Hoffman is an American technology entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author best known as the co-founder of the professional networking platform LinkedIn. A seminal figure in Silicon Valley, he has played a pivotal role as an early investor in numerous transformative technology companies and is a partner at the venture capital firm Greylock Partners. Hoffman is also a prolific author and a prominent advocate for the application of technology and entrepreneurship to address societal challenges, engaging actively in public policy debates and philanthropic initiatives.
Early life and education
Born in Stanford, California, he demonstrated an early interest in intellectual pursuits, editing his high school literary magazine. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Stanford University, graduating in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in Symbolic Systems, an interdisciplinary program combining computer science, linguistics, and philosophy. His academic journey continued at the University of Oxford, where he was a Marshall Scholar and earned a Master of Studies in philosophy, focusing on the intersection of cognitive science and artificial intelligence.
Career
His professional career began in the early 1990s at Apple, where he worked on eWorld, an early online service. He later joined Fujitsu before co-founding his first company, SocialNet, a pioneering online dating and social networking service, in 1997. After SocialNet, he served as an executive vice president at PayPal during its pivotal growth phase leading up to its acquisition by eBay. In 2002, he co-founded LinkedIn with former colleagues from SocialNet and PayPal, serving as its CEO initially and later as executive chairman, guiding it through its initial public offering in 2011 and its eventual acquisition by Microsoft in 2016. He joined the venture capital firm Greylock Partners in 2009.
Investments and philanthropy
As an investor, he has been an early backer of some of the most influential companies in the technology sector, including Facebook, Airbnb, Dropbox, and Shopify. Through Greylock Partners, he continues to fund and mentor startups. His philanthropic efforts are channeled through various initiatives, often with a focus on strengthening democratic institutions and civic engagement. He is a co-founder of the nonprofit Endeavor Global and has made significant contributions to organizations like Kiva and the MIT Media Lab. He also co-founded the Stanford Center for Ethics, Society, and Technology.
Public policy and advocacy
He is an active participant in discussions concerning technology's role in society, artificial intelligence ethics, and the future of work. He has served on the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Artificial Intelligence Advisory Committee and co-chaired the Partnership on AI. A prolific author, he has co-written several books, including The Start-up of You and Blitzscaling, which explore entrepreneurial strategy. He hosts the podcast Masters of Scale and has been involved with political advocacy groups like Alliance for Securing Democracy and FWD.us.
Personal life
He is married to Michelle Yee, and they reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. An avid reader and thinker, his personal interests often blend with his professional focus on networks, technology, and societal impact. He is a noted board game enthusiast, particularly of German-style board games, and has incorporated game theory concepts into his business philosophy.
Awards and recognition
His contributions to technology and entrepreneurship have been widely recognized. He was awarded the David Packard Medal and has been named to the Forbes Midas List of top tech investors multiple times. In 2020, he was inducted into the California Hall of Fame. He holds honorary doctorates from institutions like Babson College and has been featured on the covers of major publications such as Fortune and Wired.
Category:American technology company founders Category:American venture capitalists Category:American philanthropists