LinkedIn professional networking platform

LinkedIn is the world's largest professional networking platform, originally launched in 2003. Founded in Mountain View, California, by Reid Hoffman and founding team members from PayPal and Socialnet.com, the platform was designed to help professionals connect and manage their careers.

In December 2016, the company underwent a major shift in ownership when it was acquired by Microsoft Corporation. Today, LinkedIn operates as a subsidiary of Microsoft, maintaining its headquarters in Sunnyvale, California. While the digital infrastructure is global, the core development and corporate direction remain rooted in the United States.