LinkedIn Killer? Zerply Makes Professional Networking More Social, Attracts 18K Beta Users

WHAT: Professional networking based on not just people you already know but those you find by skills, location and more. Connect with Facebook or Twitter and import your professional data from LinkedIn. Zerply  [ @zerply ] gives you multiple designs for your profile page.

LAUNCHERS: Christofer Karltorp, CEO [ @ckarltorp ]. Taaniel Jakobs, CTO. [ @t_jakobs ].

INSPIRATION: "That it was extremely hard to discover new people on LinkedIn and other professional networks," Christofer told LAUNCH by email. "They were also way too corporate for us, and very sucky."

BUSINESS MODEL: Freemium with premium themes and custom domains.

COMPETITION: LinkedIn.

CUSTOMERS/GROWTH: Christofer puts the number at a "bit over 18,000 users in beta" with  "some good traction in Silicon Valley and Europe."

INVESTORS: Dave McClure, Ullas Naik and Pedro Torres Picón.

RAISING: $700K

SCREEN SHOT

The profile page gives all the social networking links you include up top and divides your profile into four sections: information, activity, contacts and endorsements.