Tumblr debuted in February 2007 and rapidly reached 75,000 users within two weeks of its launch. Founded by David Karp, the microblogging platform eventually grew to host over 375.4 million blogs by November 2017. This achievement followed a career path that bypassed traditional secondary education in favor of technical internships and private software development projects in New York City.
Early Technical Interests
Born in New York City in 1986, Karp attended the Calhoun School through eighth grade before moving to the Bronx High School of Science. He withdrew from high school in 2001 and pursued homeschooling. His technical education began in 1997 when he started learning HTML and building websites. During this period, he studied Japanese and developed software designed to calculate winning strategies for poker and blackjack.
Professional Beginnings
Karp initiated his professional career in 2000 as an intern at Frederator Studios, working under Fred Seibert. He constructed the studio's initial blogging platform and managed the Channel Frederator internet video network. Following this, John Maloney hired him for the online parenting forum UrbanBaby. Karp served as head of product there until the platform was acquired by CNET in 2006.
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After the sale of UrbanBaby, Karp established a consultancy firm called Davidville. He collaborated with software engineer Marco Arment on various client projects. In 2006, the pair utilized a two-week period between contracts to develop their own microblogging service. This project evolved into Tumblr, which officially launched the following year. In October 2007, Karp closed the consultancy to focus exclusively on the platform, renaming the company Tumblr, Inc.
Corporate Acquisition and Departure
Yahoo! announced the acquisition of Tumblr on May 20, 2013, for a purchase price of $1.1 billion. Karp continued to serve as CEO following the transition. He maintained this role for several years until announcing his departure in November 2017, with his exit effective by the end of that year. Beyond his work at Tumblr, he has acted as an investor in companies including Superpedestrian, Inc., Sherpaa, Inc., and Splash.
Advocacy and Civic Engagement
Karp joined the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood in 2014. Politically, he publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton during the 2016 United States presidential election cycle.
Fast facts
- Born: 1986, New York City
- Tumblr launch date: February 2007
- Yahoo! acquisition value: $1.1 billion
- Education: Calhoun School, Bronx High School of Science
- Former consultancy: Davidville
- Planned Parenthood Board member: 2014
Questions readers ask
Did David Karp graduate from high school?
No. Karp withdrew from the Bronx High School of Science in 2001 to pursue homeschooling and did not earn a high school diploma.
What was David Karp's role at UrbanBaby?
He served as the head of product for the online parenting forum after successfully completing a technical project for the company in four hours.
Achievements
- Educated at Bronx High School of Science and Calhoun School
- Worked as entrepreneur, businessperson and programmer
