Which job-matching company did LinkedIn acquire in February 2014?

LinkedIn acquired Bright.com, a job-matching company, in February 2014.

Bright was founded in San Francisco in 2011 and used algorithms to match job seekers with employment opportunities. Rather than relying only on keyword searches, its service analyzed data about candidates and job descriptions to estimate how well they fit one another. Bright Media also operated Bright Labs, which focused on employment-market data.

LinkedIn announced the acquisition on February 6, 2014. The transaction was valued at approximately $120 million, with about 73 percent in stock and 27 percent in cash. The purchase supported LinkedIn’s Talent Solutions business and its broader effort to connect employers with suitable candidates.

The key distinction is that Bright.com was a matching-technology acquisition, not a purchase of a general job board. ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and Indeed are well-known employment brands, but none is the answer to this particular LinkedIn acquisition question. Bright’s technology and team were folded into LinkedIn’s recruiting strategy.