David Karp is an influential American entrepreneur, renowned for founding the microblogging platform Tumblr in 2007. His professional journey began at a young age when he interned at Frederator Studios, where he developed the studio’s first blogging platform and launched Channel Frederator, an innovative internet video network. This early experience laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in the tech industry.

After his time at Frederator, Karp worked at UrbanBaby, an online parenting forum, where he quickly rose to the position of head of product. His success there led to the establishment of his own software consulting firm, Davidville. It was during a brief hiatus between contracts in 2006 that Karp, alongside software engineer Marco Arment, conceptualized and developed Tumblr, which launched in February 2007 and rapidly gained popularity, amassing 75,000 users within two weeks.

Under Karp’s leadership, Tumblr flourished, becoming a cultural phenomenon and hosting over 375 million blogs by 2017. His innovative approach to microblogging earned him accolades, including being named Best Young Tech Entrepreneur by BusinessWeek in 2009 and one of MIT Technology Review’s top 35 innovators under 35 in 2010. In 2013, Karp successfully negotiated the sale of Tumblr to Yahoo! for $1.1 billion, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the tech landscape.

After stepping down as CEO in 2017, Karp continued to influence the tech industry through personal investments in various startups and by joining the Planned Parenthood Board of Directors. His commitment to innovation and social causes reflects his dedication to leveraging technology for positive change, making him a respected leader in the entrepreneurial community.