Patrick Baynes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Patrick Ryan Baynes October 11, 1984 |
| Education | Creighton University[1] |
| Alma mater | Alfred University, Bond University[2] |
| Employer(s) | PeopleLinx (Co-founder, Head of Partnerships)[3] |
| Known for | LinkedIn, PeopleLinx[2] |
| Parent | Father: Colonel (Ret.d) US Army |
| Relatives | 1x brother (Army Ranger) |
| Awards | Johnathon Allen Award for Leadership, Alfred University (May 2003) 40 Under 40, Philadelphia Business Journal (March 2014)[4] |
Patrick Baynes (born October 11, 1984) is an American entrepreneur and technologist. He is best known for his early work at LinkedIn and as co-founder of PeopleLinx.[2][5][1]
Born in Wausau, Wisconsin, his father was a Colonel in the US Army, resulting in the family moving around the United States, including Chicago and later Atlanta, Georgia.[6][7] After graduating from Alfred University,[2][7][8] Baynes watched Google News for a suitable internet start-up whilst working at a country club.[6]
Noticing that LinkedIn were opening offices close to the former PayPal operations in Omaha, Nebraska - close to his one of his extended family bases - in 2007 Baynes became company employee No.162.[6][3][7] At LinkedIn, Baynes became responsible for envisaging and delivering the company's customer operations and internal training, supporting the network’s now more that 250 million members.[2][6][7][8]
Whilst working at LinkedIn together, Baynes and Nathan Egan pitched the idea to LinkedIn's board of offering professional services.[9] After the proposal was turned down, in 2009 Baynes and Egan co-founded Philadelphia-based PeopleLinx.[3][1][5] With the aim to help large corporate organizations and their employees get the most out of social networks, during the first two years of operations the company offered LinkedIn-focused consulting and training programs.[9] But the mainly Fortune 500 corporate customers wanted something with scale that would offer continued engagement beyond the training, together with associated metrics of success.[9] The result was the SaaS-based PeopleLinx, the world's first engagement and analytics software for social media. Through enabling a company's employees to improve their social media influence,[10] the SaaS enables their employers brand to raise its profile, improve market and customer engagement and there by directly increase revenue and sales.[8][11][5][10] As Head of Partnerships, Baynes is responsible for all client facing services, partnerships and social business strategy.[3][11] Having founded and developed the company through financial bootstrapping,[12] in May 2012 state-funded economic-development organization the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania approved a $150,000 investment in the firm.[13] In March 2013, PeopleLinx raised $3.2 million in a series A funding round from both angel investors and investment firms, including: Bala Cynwyd-based Osage Venture Partners; New York-based Greycroft Partners; and Center City-based Mission Operators Group.[14][15][16]
Baynes also serves as: an advisor to several startups; consults with senior executives on business architecture and internet product strategy;[8] and is a noted speaker on internet business strategy, go-to-market strategy and strategic consulting;[6] as well as personal strategies for individuals to raise their profile and develop business using social networking.[11][17]