The Stevie® Awards today announced that Reid Hoffman, Executive Chairman of LinkedIn Corporation and a Partner at Greylock Partners, will be honored with its 2012 Difference Maker award at The 10th Annual American Business Awards new product and tech awards banquet on September 17 at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco. “Reid Hoffman embodies the entrepreneurial spirit in America,” said Stevie Awards President Michael Gallagher. “In addition to being an influential entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Reid devotes his energies to philanthropic and educational initiatives that work to inspire a new generation of startups in the U.S.A. and worldwide. We’re honored to be able to recognize his achievements with an honorary Stevie Award.”
In 2003, Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking service, in his living room. LinkedIn has more than 175 million members in 200 countries and territories around the world. He led LinkedIn through its first four years and to profitability as CEO and Chairman.
Hoffman joined Greylock Partners in 2009 and currently serves on the boards of Airbnb, Edmodo, Mozilla (Firefox), Shopkick, Swipely, Wrapp, and Zynga and has co-led investments in Coupons.com, Groupon, and Viki. He also leads the Greylock Discovery Fund, which invests in seed stage entrepreneurs and companies.
He believes strongly in the ability for entrepreneurship and technology to improve the world. Hoffman serves on the boards of Kiva.org, Endeavor.org, DoSomething.org, and StartupAmericaPartnership.org. He also co-authored the best-selling book The Startup of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career.