Reid Hoffman built a career bridging the gap between professional networking and artificial intelligence venture capital. Born in 1967 at Stanford, California, he spent his early professional years working at Chaosium before joining PayPal. As an entrepreneur and investor, he later co-founded LinkedIn, which helped define the digital infrastructure of modern professional life and professional connectivity.
Academic Background
Hoffman attended The Putney School in Vermont. He graduated from Stanford University in 1990, where he focused on symbolic systems and cognitive science. Subsequently, he received a Marshall Scholarship, which allowed him to attend the University of Oxford. In 1993, he earned a Master of Studies in philosophy from Wolfson College.
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His initial experience in the technology sector included a position at Apple Computer in 1994, where he contributed to the eWorld project. Following a stint at Fujitsu, he co-founded his first company, SocialNet.com, in 1997, which focused on online dating and interest-based matching. In 2000, he joined PayPal, where he held the position of Senior Vice President of Business Development following a corporate reorganization.
Founding LinkedIn
In December 2002, Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn with former colleagues from SocialNet and Fujitsu. The platform officially launched on May 5, 2003, as one of the first services dedicated to professional social networking. Peter Thiel provided early investment in the venture. By the time of the company's initial public offering on May 19, 2011, Hoffman held a significant stake in the business. Microsoft eventually acquired LinkedIn in 2016 for $26.2 billion, and Hoffman joined the Microsoft board of directors in 2017.
Artificial Intelligence Initiatives
Hoffman has directed substantial capital toward artificial intelligence research. He was an early donor to OpenAI in 2016 and served on its board of directors until his resignation in March 2023. In 2022, he co-founded Inflection AI alongside Mustafa Suleyman. He also launched Manas AI, a drug discovery startup, with Siddhartha Mukherjee in 2025. By May 2023, he and Greylock Partners had invested in at least 37 artificial intelligence companies, including JusticeText and Tome.
Fast facts
- Born: 1967
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: Stanford University, Wolfson College
- Key Ventures: PayPal, LinkedIn, Inflection AI, Manas AI
- Awards: Marshall Scholarship, Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Professional Membership: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of Manas AI?
Manas AI is a startup focused on artificial intelligence-enabled drug discovery.
Why did Reid Hoffman leave the OpenAI board?
He resigned in March 2023 to avoid conflicts of interest between his board seat, his role at Inflection AI, and his investments through Greylock Partners.
Achievements
- Affiliated with PayPal, Chaosium and LinkedIn Corporation
- Educated at Stanford University, Wolfson College and The Putney School
- Worked as entrepreneur, investor and writer