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Sze: Bonding with Reid Hoffman in China led to LinkedIn investment

David Sze · 20VC: Greylock's David Sze on His Biggest Lessons Working with Mark Zuckerberg and Reid Hoffman, The Rise of Pre-Emptive Rounds, How To Think Through Price Discipline Today and How Truly Strong Venture Partnerships Function · Apr 19, 2021 · at 38:18

David Sze, General Partner at Greylock, recounts how connecting with Reid Hoffman on a venture trip to China resulted in Greylock's LinkedIn deal and Hoffman joining the firm.

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“We sat at the back of the bus each time on every stop on this tour through China, and we just mind melded. It was great. We got along so well. We were fast friends, and that led to the investment in LinkedIn and me inviting him to come to Greylock”

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