Yelp is a company.
Yelp has raised $16.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Key people at Yelp.
Yelp has raised $16.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Yelp has raised $16.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Yelp's investors include Benchmark, Almaz Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Allan Kaplan, AllegisCyber Capital, First Round Capital, Founders Fund, Greylock, SciFi VC, Douglas Carlisle.
Key people at Yelp.
Yelp Inc. (NYSE: YELP) is a leading online platform that connects consumers with local businesses through user-generated reviews, ratings, photos, and detailed information on services like restaurants, retail, and repair shops.[1][3][4] It serves millions of users—averaging 26 million unique app users and 58 million website visitors monthly in 2024—while helping businesses gain visibility and customer interactions, generating $1.41 billion in net revenue that year.[1][4] Yelp solves the problem of discovering trustworthy local options by crowdsourcing authentic experiences, fostering trust and informed decisions for high-income households (over 50% above $100,000 annually).[3]
The platform's growth momentum remains strong, with approximately 308 million reviews contributed by December 31, 2024, and over 76 million unique desktop/mobile visitors, solidifying its role as a go-to resource amid evolving digital discovery trends.[1][3][4]
Yelp was founded in 2004 in San Francisco by former PayPal employees Jeremy Stoppelman and Russel Simmons at MRL Ventures incubator.[1][3] The idea emerged when Stoppelman struggled to find a doctor recommendation during the flu, prompting an initial email-based referral network among friends.[1][3]
Pivotal moments included a 2005 redesign with the distinctive Burst logo that boosted popularity, $1 million angel funding from PayPal alum Max Levchin, $5 million Series A from Bessemer Venture Partners, and $10 million from Benchmark Capital in 2006.[1][3] By 2007, facing traction challenges, Yelp shifted to a public review platform, sparking community-driven growth; it hit profitability in 2014 after a 2012 IPO, expanded internationally (2009–2012), and amassed 4.5 million reviews by 2010 with $30 million revenue.[1][2][3]
Yelp rides the wave of user-generated content and local search trends, evolving from an email tool to a cornerstone of digital discovery in a post-Yellow Pages era.[2][3] Timing was key: launching in 2004 amid rising internet adoption, it capitalized on mobile growth and review culture, rejecting a 2009 Google acquisition to maintain independence.[3]
Market forces like consumer demand for transparency and businesses' need for affordable advertising favor Yelp, influencing the ecosystem by setting standards for crowd-sourced platforms and enabling small businesses to compete digitally.[1][2][4] Its global expansion and cultural focus amplify local economies, shaping how tech bridges online-offline experiences.
Yelp's pivot to refined strategies amid competition positions it for sustained relevance, potentially expanding AI-enhanced recommendations, international markets, and business tools like advanced analytics.[1][4] Trends like mobile-first discovery, rising e-commerce integration, and privacy-focused reviews will shape its path, evolving its influence from review pioneer to essential local commerce hub. As the original community connector, Yelp remains primed to thrive in an increasingly localized digital world.[2][3]
Yelp has raised $16.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $10.0M Series C in September 2006.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2006 | $10.0M Series C | Benchmark | |
| Sep 1, 2005 | $5.0M Series B | Almaz Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Allan Kaplan | |
| Jun 1, 2004 | $1.0M Series A | AllegisCyber Capital, First Round Capital, Founders Fund, Greylock, SciFi VC, Douglas Carlisle |
