A number of emails have inquired about the specifics of Linden Research ("Linden Lab", "LL"). I've compiled this fact sheet, for those interested. This information is reasonably accurate, but some of it is a tad bit dated. I'm not sure how much more I'll write on the subject, given that it seems the honeymoon is quickly drawing to a close on Second Life.
All of this information is publicly available from various sources. I do not guarantee the accuracy or provide warranty for anything that appears hereafter. I have attempted to double check what I could. Feel free to comment if you have any corrections or additional relevant info (excluding confidential information protected under any NDA or Confidentiality Agreement).
Public Description:
Linden Lab is a privately held company established to develop an extraordinary new form of shared 3D entertainment. Through its first product, Second Life, Linden Lab offers a truly collaborative, immersive and open-ended entertainment experience. Linden Lab was founded in 1999 by Philip Rosedale to create a revolutionary new form of shared 3D entertainment. The former CTO of RealNetworks, Rosedale pioneered the development of many of today's streaming media technologies, including RealVideo.
Industry: Computer Entertainment / Multiplayer Online Games / Internet Media Communications
Founded: 1999
Location: San Francisco, California
Company Web Site: http://lindenlab.com/about
Status: Privately Held
Rounds of Funding: 4
Most Recent Round: USD$19m total capital; 3/06
Prior Round: USD$11m total capital; 10/04
Current Syndicate: 6 Investors
Reserved for Stock Options: Unknown
Burn Rate: Unknown
Sources of Revenue (Known): Account subscriptions (premium only), usage and service fees, transaction commission fees, game currency sales revenues, game presence auctions, sales and special agreements.
Financial Risks (Known Idiosyncratic): Subscriber growth (trend), subscriber churn, "first-mover vulnerability" to competitors, challenges from larger established near-competitors.
Legal Risks (Known, Including Product Subscriber Activities): Gambling laws enforcement, federal and state banking regulations, property rights claims, financial rights claims, pedophilia and child protection related challenges, other criminal activity enforcement risks.
Regulatory Risks (Known): Taxation status, child protection regulations, subscriber financial activity reporting requirements.
Investors of Note:
Founded: 1999
Location: San Francisco, California
Company Web Site: http://lindenlab.com/about
Status: Privately Held
Rounds of Funding: 4
Most Recent Round: USD$19m total capital; 3/06
Prior Round: USD$11m total capital; 10/04
Current Syndicate: 6 Investors
Reserved for Stock Options: Unknown
Burn Rate: Unknown
Sources of Revenue (Known): Account subscriptions (premium only), usage and service fees, transaction commission fees, game currency sales revenues, game presence auctions, sales and special agreements.
Financial Risks (Known Idiosyncratic): Subscriber growth (trend), subscriber churn, "first-mover vulnerability" to competitors, challenges from larger established near-competitors.
Legal Risks (Known, Including Product Subscriber Activities): Gambling laws enforcement, federal and state banking regulations, property rights claims, financial rights claims, pedophilia and child protection related challenges, other criminal activity enforcement risks.
Regulatory Risks (Known): Taxation status, child protection regulations, subscriber financial activity reporting requirements.
Investors of Note:
- Venture Capital: Benchmark Capital; Globespan Capital Partners; Catamount Ventrues
- Individuals: Jeff Bezos; Mitch Kapor
- Corporate: Omidyar Network
- Known Other Equity Holders: Rosedale Phillip, Harper Robin, Miller Joe, Zdanowski John, Yoon Ginsu, Ondrejka Cory, Fleck David, Currier James, Jacobsen Bruce, Yi Gideon, Smith Jed, Laskey Mitch, Lanier Jaron, Traeger Don, Gurley Bill
- Bill Gurley (Benchmark)
- Jed Smith (Catamount Ventures)
- Mitch Kapor
- Mitch Laskey
- James Currier
- Gideon Yu (Yahoo!)
- Jaron Lanier (VPL Research)
- Bruce Jacobsen (RealNetworks)
- Don Traeger
- Kurt Akeley (SGI)
- Thomas Davidoff (UC Berkeley)
- Company Website Reference (relevant management below)
- CEO/Founder: Phillip Rosedale
- Formerly with Accel Partners - Executive in Residence
- Formerly with RealNetworks - Product Marketing (titled CTO)
- Formerly with FreeVue - Founder
- Degree from UC San Diego
- CFO: John Zdanowski
- Formerly with HouseValues - CFO
- Formerly with Affinity Internet - COO
- Formerly with PRTM (Management Consultancy)
- Formerly with GE - Engineer
- Degree from Harvard Business School (MBA)
- Degree from Syracuse University (MSEE)
- Degree from Clarkson University
- General Operations: Robin Harper
- Formerly with Mondo Media - SVP of Marketing
- Formerly with Maxis - VP of Marketing
- Foote, Cone & Belding (Ad Agency)
- Degree from University of Chicago (MBA)
- Technology: Joe Miller; Cory Ondrejka
- (Ondrejka) Formerly with Pacific Coast Power and Light
- (Ondrejka) Formerly with Acclaim
- (Ondrejka) Formerly with National Security Agency (NSA)
- (Ondrejka) Degree from US Naval Academy
- (Miller) [Numerous Positions] notably Atari, SEGA
- Sales/Marketing: David Fleck
- Formerly with Intransa - VP of Marketing
- Formerly with Macromedia
- Formerly with Openwave
- Formerly with Novell
- General Counsel: Ginsu Yoon
- Formerly with Airespace (acquired by CSCO) - General Counsel
- Formerly with Venture Law Group/Heller Ehrman
- Formerly with KTB Ventures - Principal
- Formerly with Kirkland & Ellis - General Counsel
- Degree from NYU (Law)
- Degree from Princeton University
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