LinkExchange

LinkExchange was a popular internet advertising cooperative, similar in function to a webring, originally known as Internet Link Exchange or ILE.

It was founded in March 1996 by 23-year-old Harvard graduates Tony Hsieh and Sanjay Madan.^[1] Ali Partovi later joined them as a third partner.^{[citation needed]} In November 1996, when the company consisted of about 10 people, it moved from Hsieh's and Madan's living room to an office^[2] in San Francisco. In May 1997, the company received US$3 million in funding from Sequoia Capital.^[3]

At its peak, the LinkExchange Banner Network reached over half of Internet-enabled households every month, according to Media Metrix.^{[citation needed]}

In June 1998, LinkExchange acquired MerchantPlanet, an early shopping cart and credit card application.^[4] That same month it also acquired Submit It! Inc., developers of Submit It!, ClickTrade, and ListBot.^[5]

In November 1998, when LinkExchange had 100 employees, it was acquired by Microsoft^[6] for US$265 million.^[7]

See also

• DrinkExchange

References