How Long Has Pinterest Been Around?
A Brief History of Pinterest
Pinterest, the popular visual discovery and planning website, has been around for over a decade. Founded in December 2009 by Ben Silbermann, Evan Sharp, and Paul Sciarra, Pinterest has evolved from a small startup to a global giant with over 320 million active users.
The Early Days
Silbermann, a former Yahoo! employee, had the idea for Pinterest while planning a trip to Rome with his wife. He realized that the process of planning a trip was frustrating and time-consuming, and he wanted to create a platform that would make it easier for people to discover and save ideas for future use. With the help of his co-founders, Silbermann launched Pinterest in December 2009.
Initially, Pinterest was a small team of developers working out of Silbermann’s apartment in Palo Alto, California. The platform was called "Tote" and was designed to be a virtual pinboard where users could collect and share images. The early days of Pinterest were marked by rapid growth, with the platform reaching 1 million users within the first year.
Key Milestones
Here are some significant milestones in Pinterest’s history:
- December 2009: Pinterest is launched as "Tote" by Ben Silbermann, Evan Sharp, and Paul Sciarra.
- 2010: Pinterest reaches 1 million users and changes its name to Pinterest.
- 2011: Pinterest secures $10 million in funding from investors, including Firstmark Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners.
- 2012: Pinterest reaches 10 million users and secures an additional $100 million in funding.
- 2013: Pinterest goes mobile with the launch of its iOS app.
- 2014: Pinterest reaches 70 million users and secures an additional $500 million in funding.
- 2015: Pinterest reaches 100 million users and launches its Android app.
- 2017: Pinterest goes public with an initial public offering (IPO) of stock.
- 2019: Pinterest reaches 320 million active users and secures an additional $1.4 billion in funding.
What Makes Pinterest Unique
Pinterest’s unique features have contributed to its rapid growth and success. Here are some key factors that set Pinterest apart:
- Visual Discovery: Pinterest is a visual platform, where users can discover and save images and videos. This makes it easy for users to find and share ideas and inspiration.
- Pinboard: Pinterest’s pinboard feature allows users to create virtual boards and categorize their saved content. This makes it easy to organize and find content later.
- Shopping Integration: Pinterest has integrated shopping capabilities, allowing users to purchase products directly from the platform.
- Community: Pinterest has a strong community of users who share and interact with each other’s content.
Impact of Pinterest
Pinterest has had a significant impact on the way people discover and interact with content. Here are some key statistics:
- 70% of Pinterest users use the platform to plan their purchases.
- 55% of Pinterest users use the platform to research products.
- 45% of Pinterest users use the platform to discover new brands.
- 40% of Pinterest users use the platform to plan their next vacation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pinterest has been around for over a decade and has evolved from a small startup to a global giant. With its unique features and community-driven approach, Pinterest has become a go-to platform for people to discover and share ideas and inspiration. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, Pinterest is an important platform to consider for your online marketing strategy.
Table: Pinterest’s Growth Over the Years
| Year | Users | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 million | $10 million |
| 2012 | 10 million | $100 million |
| 2014 | 70 million | $500 million |
| 2015 | 100 million | – |
| 2017 | 200 million | – |
| 2019 | 320 million | $1.4 billion |
References:
- "A Brief History of Pinterest" by TechCrunch
- "Pinterest’s Journey to Becoming a Public Company" by Forbes
- "Pinterest’s Impact on the Digital Landscape" by AdWeek