Comments on: LinkedIn may — and should — use its new funding to go after the business software market http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/06/linkedin-may-and-should-use-its-new-funding-to-go-after-the-business-software-market/ News About Tech, Money and Innovation Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:08:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Confirmed: LinkedIn raises funding, plans to buy smaller companies before going public. » VentureBeat http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/06/linkedin-may-and-should-use-its-new-funding-to-go-after-the-business-software-market/comment-page-1/#comment-817202 Confirmed: LinkedIn raises funding, plans to buy smaller companies before going public. » VentureBeat Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:57:50 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/?p=91974#comment-817202 [...] at first it wasn’t clear if the company had made a decision then about selling or not. Then, a couple tipsters told us that the company was instead raising a large round, a move subsequently confirmed by other [...] [...] at first it wasn’t clear if the company had made a decision then about selling or not. Then, a couple tipsters told us that the company was instead raising a large round, a move subsequently confirmed by other [...]

]]> By: The LinkedIn Story Continues - Covering All That's Social On the Web http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/06/linkedin-may-and-should-use-its-new-funding-to-go-after-the-business-software-market/comment-page-1/#comment-811655 The LinkedIn Story Continues - Covering All That's Social On the Web Wed, 07 May 2008 13:02:41 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/?p=91974#comment-811655 [...] money would be used for though. Eric Eldon is reporting that LinkedIn may use the money to try and enter the enterprise software space, extending beyond their existing social networking [...] [...] money would be used for though. Eric Eldon is reporting that LinkedIn may use the money to try and enter the enterprise software space, extending beyond their existing social networking [...]

]]> By: Ian Hendry http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/06/linkedin-may-and-should-use-its-new-funding-to-go-after-the-business-software-market/comment-page-1/#comment-858202 Ian Hendry Wed, 07 May 2008 10:52:53 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/?p=91974#comment-858202 LinkedIn is not worth $1bn. Arguably, no company in a recessive market with total revenues of only $100m is worth $1bn. Add the context of its European rival Xing having a market cap of $300m on total revenues of $44m from just 4m members (1/5 the size) and it looks even more overpriced.<br><br>Ultimately though, both are just job sites rather than marketplaces for B2B. The only companies that place a value on LinkedIn are recruitment firms - there are thousands of those in good times, but they disappear with the jobs when times get tough. It the demographic of LinkedIn offered so much potential, why has it not been realised in the 5 years they have been going?<br><br>I am quite sure Allen & Co will find someone to buy in, but they’ll be dumb for passing up a much cheaper alternative with Xing and its multi-language support.<br><br>Ian Hendry<br>WeCanDo.BIZ<br><a href="http://www.wecando.biz" rel="nofollow">http://www.wecando.biz</a> LinkedIn is not worth $1bn. Arguably, no company in a recessive market with total revenues of only $100m is worth $1bn. Add the context of its European rival Xing having a market cap of $300m on total revenues of $44m from just 4m members (1/5 the size) and it looks even more overpriced.

Ultimately though, both are just job sites rather than marketplaces for B2B. The only companies that place a value on LinkedIn are recruitment firms – there are thousands of those in good times, but they disappear with the jobs when times get tough. It the demographic of LinkedIn offered so much potential, why has it not been realised in the 5 years they have been going?

I am quite sure Allen & Co will find someone to buy in, but they’ll be dumb for passing up a much cheaper alternative with Xing and its multi-language support.

Ian Hendry
WeCanDo.BIZ
http://www.wecando.biz

]]> By: Between the Lines mobile edition http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/06/linkedin-may-and-should-use-its-new-funding-to-go-after-the-business-software-market/comment-page-1/#comment-811628 Between the Lines mobile edition Wed, 07 May 2008 10:43:36 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/?p=91974#comment-811628 [...] VentureBeat: LinkedIn may — and should — use its new funding to go after the business software market [...] [...] VentureBeat: LinkedIn may — and should — use its new funding to go after the business software market [...]

]]> By: Chris http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/06/linkedin-may-and-should-use-its-new-funding-to-go-after-the-business-software-market/comment-page-1/#comment-858201 Chris Wed, 07 May 2008 03:30:05 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/?p=91974#comment-858201 Dave, as the EVP of Marketing at WrapMail, are you looking to be bought? Dave, as the EVP of Marketing at WrapMail, are you looking to be bought?

]]> By: Dave Kustin http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/06/linkedin-may-and-should-use-its-new-funding-to-go-after-the-business-software-market/comment-page-1/#comment-858200 Dave Kustin Wed, 07 May 2008 01:44:07 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/?p=91974#comment-858200 Linkedin should take a look at WrapMail - which is an ideal software for service product that any business can use to promote and track with every external email from every user/employee. There is nothing to install on any desktop and nothing to learn and they are the only company currently operating in the person-to-person email marketing space. Linkedin should take a look at WrapMail – which is an ideal software for service product that any business can use to promote and track with every external email from every user/employee. There is nothing to install on any desktop and nothing to learn and they are the only company currently operating in the person-to-person email marketing space.

]]> By: Kris http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/06/linkedin-may-and-should-use-its-new-funding-to-go-after-the-business-software-market/comment-page-1/#comment-858199 Kris Wed, 07 May 2008 00:39:35 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/?p=91974#comment-858199 $100 Million in revenues is still paltry sum considering these "social networks" were supposed to be valued at billions of dollars. If you take a close look at MOST linkedin users their connections/networks range less than 30 people. Companies are not using, and numbers on usage are completely inflated. Finally, why would anyone need Linkedin or Facebook's calender tool, when Google's is already far advanced and has a single platform for all of this? $100 Million in revenues is still paltry sum considering these “social networks” were supposed to be valued at billions of dollars. If you take a close look at MOST linkedin users their connections/networks range less than 30 people. Companies are not using, and numbers on usage are completely inflated. Finally, why would anyone need Linkedin or Facebook's calender tool, when Google's is already far advanced and has a single platform for all of this?

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