Zuckerberg and Facebook

1. Zuckerberg and Facebook “Understanding people is not a waste of time.” -Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook

2. Mark Zuckerberg

3. Zuckerberg’s Early Life • Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born in 1984 in Dobbs Ferry, New York, into a well-educated family (father a dentist and mother a psychiatrist)

4. The Prodigy’s Interest in Computers • When Zuckerberg was about 12, he created a computer messaging program called “Zucknet” • Father used it in his dental office so his receptionist could inform him about a new patient without yelling across the room

5. The family used “Zucknet” to communicate within the house, & Mark created computer games w/ his friends for fun

6. Tutor: The Padawan Soon Becomes the Master • Mark’s parents eventually hired a private tutor for him named David Newman • Problem: the tutor had trouble keeping up with Zuckerberg! • Mark began taking graduate courses at a nearby college

7. On to Preparatory School • Zuckerberg later studied at the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire • Was captain of the school’s fencing team & also excelled in literature (he earned a diploma in classics) • A modern day Renaissance Man!

8. AOL and Microsoft: No Thanks • Mark remained most passionate about computers • While still in high school, he created an early version of the music software Pandora, which he called Synapse

9. AOL and Microsoft-No Thanks! • Several companies-including AOL and Microsoft-expressed an interest in buying the software and hiring the teenager before graduation (Mark declined)

10. On to Harvard • After graduating from high school in 2002, Zuckerberg enrolled at Harvard University • By his sophomore year, developed a reputation as the go-to software developer on campus

11. Harvard and CourseMatch • Built a program called CourseMatch, which helped students choose their classes based on course selections of other users

12. FaceMash • Zuckerberg also invented FaceMash • This compared the pictures of two students on campus and allowed users to vote on which one was more attractive

13. FaceMash • The program became extremely popular, but was later shut down by the school administration after it was deemed to be inappropriate

14. Recruiting Zuckerberg • Based on his reputation, 3 of his fellow students-Divya Narenda, and twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss-sought him out to work on an idea for a social networking site: • they called it Harvard Connection

15. Harvard Connection • HC was designed to use info from Harvard’s student networks to create a dating site for the Harvard elite

16. “The Facebook” • Zuckerberg agreed to help with the project, but soon dropped out to work on his own social networking site with friends Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes, and Eduardo Saverin

17. “The Facebook” • Zuckerberg and his friends created a site that allowed users to create their own profiles, upload photos, and communicate with other users

18. “The Facebook” • The group ran the site-first called “The Facebook”-out of a dorm room at Harvard until June 2004 • After his sophomore year at Harvard, Zuckerberg dropped out of college to devote himself to Facebook full time

19. “The Facebook” • Zuckerberg eventually moved the company to Palo Alto, California • By the end of 2004, FB had 1 million users

20. The Rise of Facebook • In 2005, Zuckerberg’s enterprise received a huge financial boost from the venture capital firm Accel Partners • Accel invested over $12 million into the network, which at the time was only open to Ivy League students

21. The Rise of Facebook • This allowed FB to gain access to other colleges, high schools, & international schools • By December of 2005, the membership of Facebook rose to more than 5.5 million users!

22. Yahoo! and MTV: No Thanks • Facebook began attracting the interest of other companies, who wanted to advertise on the popular social network • Not wanting to sell out, Zuckerberg turned down offers from companies such as Yahoo! and MTV Networks

23. Yahoo and MTV: No Thanks • Zuckerberg focused on expanding the site, adding more features, and opening up his project to outside developers

24. First Bump in the Road: Harvard Connection Creators Feel Betrayed • In 2006, the creators of Harvard Connection claimed that MZ stole their idea, and insisted that he needed to pay for their business losses • Zuckerberg argued that the ideas were based on two very different types of social networks

25. The Apology • After lawyers searched MZ’s records, incriminating instant messages revealed that Zuckerberg may have intentionally stolen the intellectual property of Harvard Connection

26. The Apology • Zuckerberg later apologized for the incriminating messages, and said he regretted them

27. The Settlement • An initial settlement of $65 million was reached between the two parties; dispute continued through 2011

28. The Accidental Billionaires • The 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires, written by Ben Mezrich, caused another personal challenge for MZ • BM heavily criticized for his re-telling of Zuckerberg’s story, which used invented scenes & fictional characters

29. The Result: The Social Network • Regardless of how true-to-life the story was, Mezrich sold the rights of the book to screenwriter Aaron Sorkin • The popular film The Social Network received eight Academy Award nominations

30. Similarities between Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs • Both innovators who founded their iconic companies in their early twenties • Both very competitive (Apple & FB=rivals) • Zuckerberg message on his Facebook profile after Jobs passed away: “Steve, thank you for being a mentor and a friend. Thanks for showing what you build can change the world. I will miss you.”