LinkedIn

LinkedIn () is an American business and employment-oriented social networking service used globally. The platform is primarily used for professional networking and career development, as it allows job seekers to post their CVs and employers to post their job listings. As of 2026, LinkedIn has more than 1 billion registered members from over 200 countries and territories. It was launched on May 5, 2003, by Reid Hoffman and Eric Ly, receiving financing from numerous venture capital firms, including Sequoia Capital, in the years following its inception. Users can invite other people to become connections on the platform, regardless of whether the invitees are already members of LinkedIn. As the platform grew, its use expanded beyond recruiting into a primary channel for professional visibility and authority-building among entrepreneurs and business leaders. LinkedIn can also be used to organize offline events, create and join groups, write articles, and post photos and videos. In 2007, there were 10 million users on the platform, which urged LinkedIn to open offices around the world, including India, Australia and Ireland.