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Reid Hoffman
Reid Garrett Hoffman (born August 5, 1967) is an American internet entrepreneur, venture capitalist, author, and podcast host. He is best known as the co-founder of LinkedIn, the world's largest professional networking platform. Hoffman has also played influential roles as an executive at PayPal, a partner at Greylock Partners, and as an investor in some of the most successful technology companies of the 21st century. In addition to his business accomplishments, he is an author of several books and the host of the popular podcast Masters of Scale.
Early Life and Education
Reid Hoffman was born in Stanford, California, and raised in Berkeley, California. He is the son of Deanna Ruth (Rutter) and William Parker Hoffman Jr. From an early age, he showed intellectual curiosity and a passion for understanding systems and human behavior.
He attended The Putney School, a progressive boarding school in Vermont, where he was active in farming and woodworking. Hoffman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Symbolic Systems and Cognitive Science from Stanford University in 1990. While at Stanford, he was awarded a Marshall Scholarship, which enabled him to pursue postgraduate studies at Oxford University, where he earned a Master of Studies (M.St.) in Philosophy from Wolfson College.
Initially intending to become an academic, Hoffman later decided to pursue a career in entrepreneurship, believing that technology would be a more effective means of impacting society.
Career
Early Career
Hoffman's early career in technology began at Apple Computer, where he worked on eWorld, an early online service that was eventually acquired by America Online (AOL). He later worked at Fujitsu, and in 1997, he co-founded his first startup, SocialNet.com, a platform focused on online dating and professional networking. Although SocialNet was not commercially successful, it provided valuable experience in social networking concepts and online community dynamics.
PayPal
In 2000, Hoffman joined PayPal, then a startup focused on digital payments, as Chief Operating Officer (COO). At PayPal, he was responsible for all external relationships, including those with eBay, Visa, and Wells Fargo, as well as overseeing governmental and regulatory matters. He also helped scale the company through its IPO and eventual acquisition by eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion. Hoffman was often referred to as the "firefighter-in-chief" due to his ability to handle complex and urgent business challenges.
The group of early PayPal employees, including Hoffman, Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and others, became known as the "PayPal Mafia", a cohort that went on to launch or invest in numerous prominent tech ventures.
In December 2002, Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn alongside Allen Blue, Eric Ly, and Jean-Luc Vaillant, with the platform officially launching on May 5, 2003. LinkedIn was designed as a professional networking site, aimed at helping individuals connect, find jobs, and share career insights.
Initially slow to gain traction, LinkedIn eventually experienced exponential growth. Under Hoffman’s leadership as CEO (2003–2007) and later Chairman, LinkedIn became the leading platform for professional networking, with hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
LinkedIn went public in May 2011 on the New York Stock Exchange and was later acquired by Microsoft in June 2016 for $26.2 billion. Following the acquisition, Hoffman joined Microsoft's Board of Directors.
Venture Capital and Investments
In 2009, Hoffman became a partner at Greylock Partners, a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley. He focused on early-stage consumer and enterprise companies and played a pivotal role in funding and advising numerous successful startups.
Some of his most notable investments include:
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Facebook – one of its first outside investors
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Airbnb
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Flickr
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Zynga
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Convoy
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Coda
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Edmodo
Hoffman is widely respected in the venture capital community for his deep understanding of network effects, scalability, and entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Authorship
Reid Hoffman is a New York Times bestselling author. His books focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership:
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The Startup of You (2012, with Ben Casnocha) – Encourages professionals to think of their careers like startups.
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The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age (2014, with Ben Casnocha and Chris Yeh) – Proposes a new framework for employee-employer relationships.
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Blitzscaling (2018, with Chris Yeh) – Explains how companies scale rapidly by prioritizing speed over efficiency.
He has contributed essays and articles to major publications and is considered a thought leader in Silicon Valley.
Podcasting and Media
Hoffman is the creator and host of the award-winning podcast Masters of Scale, which features interviews with successful entrepreneurs and innovators including Mark Zuckerberg, Reed Hastings, and Sara Blakely. The podcast explores how businesses grow from startup to scale and examines leadership, culture, and decision-making at scale.
Philanthropy and Public Engagement
Reid Hoffman is actively involved in philanthropy and civic causes. He is a supporter of organizations working on ethics in artificial intelligence, democracy reform, and education. He has donated to educational institutions, political causes, and non-profits focused on future technologies and social impact.
He is a member of several think tanks and advisory boards focused on the future of technology, ethics, and governance.
Personal Life
Hoffman is married to Michelle Yee, and they reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. He maintains a strong interest in philosophy, education, games, and social systems. Despite his public success, Hoffman is known for his thoughtful, low-key demeanor and behind-the-scenes influence.
Honors and Recognition
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Time 100: Named to Time magazine's list of the most influential people in the world (2015)
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American Academy of Arts and Sciences: Elected fellow in 2019
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Honorary Degrees from institutions such as Babson College
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Consistently ranked among top tech thinkers and global influencers in innovation and entrepreneurship
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