Bizo was a technology company that built a B2B digital advertising platform, specializing in targeting business professionals through display ads, social media advertising, and lead generation based on demographic data like industry, job function, seniority, and company size.[1][2] It served marketers and brands such as AMEX, Mercedes Benz, Salesforce.com, Microsoft, and UPS, solving the problem of reaching over 100 million professionals worldwide, including 80% of the U.S. business population, to enable precise advertising campaigns.[1][2] Founded in 2008 in San Francisco, Bizo raised $28.5M in funding before being acquired by LinkedIn in July 2014 for approximately $175M, after which its technology integrated into LinkedIn's Marketing Solutions, powering tools like Matched Audiences.[1][2]
Bizo was founded in 2008 by CEO Russell Glass and Yonatan Stern in San Francisco, California, focusing on proprietary demographic data to connect marketers with business professionals.[1][2] The idea emerged in the growing ad-tech space, leveraging data analytics for B2B targeting amid rising demand for professional audience reach.[2] Early traction came from securing customers like major brands and raising funding, including a $10M Series B led by Crosslink Capital with Bessemer Venture Partners and Venrock, which fueled sales, marketing expansion, and platform development; this round added Crosslink's David Silverman to the board.[1]
Bizo rode the early 2010s wave of ad-tech innovation and big data, capitalizing on the shift from broad consumer advertising to precise B2B professional targeting amid social media's rise.[1][2] Its timing aligned with LinkedIn's growth as a professional network, making the 2014 acquisition strategic to bolster LinkedIn's marketing tools against rivals in display and social ads.[2] Market forces like increasing digital ad spend and demand for demographic precision favored Bizo, influencing the ecosystem by advancing B2B data platforms now embedded in LinkedIn's global operations.[1][2]
Post-acquisition, Bizo's legacy endures within LinkedIn's (now part of Microsoft) Marketing Solutions, evolving with AI-driven targeting and privacy changes like cookie deprecation.[2] Trends like first-party data and performance marketing will shape its integrated tools, potentially expanding into generative AI for personalized B2B campaigns. Its influence may grow through Microsoft's ecosystem, reinforcing Bizo's foundational role in professional advertising precision.[1][2]
Bizo has raised $16.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Bizo's investors include Bessemer Venture Partners, Brighton Park Capital, Crosslink Capital, ff Venture Capital, Meritech Capital Partners, Venrock, Neil Sadaranganey.
Bizo has raised $16.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series B in April 2012.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2012 | $10.0M Series B | Bessemer Venture Partners, Brighton Park Capital, Crosslink Capital, ff Venture Capital, Meritech Capital Partners, Venrock, Neil Sadaranganey | |
| Nov 1, 2009 | $6.0M Series A | Bessemer Venture Partners, Brighton Park Capital, ff Venture Capital, Meritech Capital Partners, Venrock, Neil Sadaranganey |
