LinkedIn Disruption Opportunity

Brian Halligan and others discuss how LinkedIn's current state creates opportunities for disruption, particularly in the organizational structure and professional networking space.

• LinkedIn's Current Problems:

  • Platform has become "impossible to use"
  • Difficult to understand who is who inside companies
  • Based primarily on resume database model

• Emerging Alternative Approach:

  • Focus on organizational charts as the foundation
  • Crowdsource company hierarchies
  • People naturally want to share their position in hierarchies
  • Use org charts as basis for new professional networking

• Market Validation:

  • The Information (media company) has successful org chart feature
    • Brian: "it's very good, I refer to it often"
    • Company likely regrets not spinning it out as separate venture
  • The Org (startup):
    • Raised $20M from Founders Fund
    • Following similar org chart-first approach
  • Org Chart Hub:
    • Built on HubSpot platform
    • Became "wildly popular" with sales reps
    • Successfully expanded to multiple apps

• Key Insight:

  • Professional networking space is "ripe for disruption"
  • Org charts provide better foundation than resumes
  • Natural user behavior supports data collection
  • Multiple successful examples validate market need