Difference between revisions of "Timeline of Pinterest"

{{Attribute English Wikipedia|original-exists=no}}

This is a '''timeline of [[Pinterest]]''', an Internet service that serves as a "visual discovery tool", as well as the eponymous company.

| August 2008 – December 2009 || Conception || The product is conceived by [[Ben Silbermann]], [[Evan Sharp]], and [[Paul Sciarra]] as part of Cold Brew Labs.

| January 2010 – early 2012 || Product build-out, userbase growth, policy tuning || Pinterest grows steadily, raises a few rounds of money, releases mobile apps, and makes policy changes to better accommodate concerns surrounding copyright, opt-out and not reusing user content.

| June 2015 onward || In-app commerce || Pinterest partners with [[Shopify]] and retailers to launch Buyable Pins, special types of pins that people can use to make purchases within Pinterest itself. Although Buyable Pins do not cost the seller money, Pinterest clarifies that sellers may choose to promote Buyable Pins just as they can promote other pins.

| 2008 || August || Company || Paul Sciarra quits his job at New York venture capital firm [[Radius Capital]], and Ben Silbermann quits his job at [[Google]], and the two together found Cold Brew Labs.<ref name=overnight/><ref name=founding-story>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/pinterest-founding-story-2012-4?op=1|title = Pinterest CEO: Here's How We Became The Web's Next Big Thing [DECK]|last = Carlson|first = Nicholas|date = April 24, 2012|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[Business Insider]]''}}</ref>

| 2009 || early year || Product || Cold Brew Labs receives institutional funding from [[FirstMark Capital]] for Tote, an app in the [[iPhone]] app store that they would eventually abandon in favor of developing Pinterest.<ref name=overnight/>

| 2009 || November, December || Product || Pinterest is conceptualized by co-founders [[Ben Silbermann]], Evan Sharp, and Paul Sciarra.<ref name=overnight/><ref name=founding-story/>

| 2010 || (date unclear, reported in some sources as January 1) || Funding || Pinterest completes an angel round of funding, with investors FirstMark Capital, Jeremy Stoppelman, Jack Abraham, Michael Birch, Scott Belsky, Shana Fisher, Kevin Hartz, Brian Cohen, Hank Vigil, Fritz Lanman, William Lohse.<ref name=overnight/><ref name=crunchbase-angel>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchbase.com/funding-round/1a1ea5eacf5093a83ddcd8cf3d58fbd9#|title = Funding Round Overview, Angel Round, Pinterest|publisher = [[CrunchBase]]}}</ref>

| 2010 || early year || Potential acquisition || The company's investors and co-founder [[Ben Silbermann]] try to encourage a New York-based magazine publishing company to buy Pinterest but the publisher declines to meet with the founders.<ref name="overnight">{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/inside-pinterest-an-overnight-success-four-years-in-the-making-2012-4?op=1 |title=Inside Pinterest: An Overnight Success Four Years In The Making|first=Nicholas |last=Carlson |date=May 1, 2011 |publisher=Business Insider |accessdate=May 7, 2011}}</ref>

| 2010 || May 24–26 || Publicity || Pinterest participates in the TechCrunch Disrupt conference in [[New York City]]. According to a history of the company in ''[[Business Insider]]'', the company is "nowhere near the main stage startup competition. It didn't even get the booth on its own merits; FirstMark Capital was a Disrupt sponsor, and it had to pull strings."<ref name=overnight/>

| 2011 || March || Product || Pinterest releases an [[iPhone]] app that brings in more than the expected number of downloads.<ref name=overnight/>

| 2011 || May 7 || Funding || Series A: The company secures a $10 million USD [[Series A round|Series A]] financing led by Jeremy Levine and Sarah Tavel of [[Bessemer Venture Partners]]. Other investors include angel investor FirstMark Capital, Jack Abraham, Kevin Hartz, and Michael Birch from the angel round. as well as [[super angel]] [[Ron Conway]].<ref name=overnight/><ref name=crunchbase-series-a>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchbase.com/funding-round/2478b0af9305549cdb5466114e902f93#|title = Pinterest, May 7, 2011 - Funding Round - Series A|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = [[CrunchBase]]}}</ref><ref name=techcrunch-series-a>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/15/sources-pinterest-has-already-pinned-down-10m-at-a-40m-valuation/|title = Pinterest Has Already Pinned Down $10M At A $40M Valuation|last = Tsotsis|first = Alexia|authorlink = Alexia Tsotsis|date = September 15, 2011|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2011 || August 16 || Publicity || [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] lists Pinterest in its "50 Best Websites of 2011" article.<ref name="50 best">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2087815_2088159_2088155,00.html |title=The 50 Best Websites of 2011|first=Harry |last=McCracken |date=August 16, 2011 |publisher=Time |accessdate=August 21, 2011}}</ref>

| 2011 || October 7 || Funding || Series B: After an introduction from Kevin Hartz and Jeremy Stoppelman, the company secures $27 million USD in funding from [[Andreessen Horowitz]], which values the company at $200 million USD. Earlier investors FirstMark Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners also invest.<ref name=crunchbase-series-b>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchbase.com/funding-round/7bdc008a018a708b9816d651bf3150f5|title = Pinterest, October 7, 2011 - Funding Round - Series B|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = [[CrunchBase]]}}</ref><ref name=techcrunch-series-b>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/07/confirmed-pinterest-raises-27-million-round-led-by-andreessen-horowitz/|title = Confirmed: Pinterest Raises $27 Million Round Led By Andreessen Horowitz|last = Kincaid|first = Jason|date = October 7, 2011|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2012 || February 20 || Product, copyright || Pinterest releases a "nopin" HTML meta tag that allowed websites to opt out of allowing their content to be pinned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/limyunghui/2012/02/21/pinterest-introduces-nopin-to-counter-copyright-concerns/|title = Pinterest Introduces "NOPIN" to Counter Copyright Concerns|publisher = ''[[Forbes]]''|date = February 21, 2012|accessdate = August 14, 2014|last = Yung-Hui|first = Lim}}</ref> Soon (February 24), [[Flickr]] implements the code to allow users to opt out of allowing their photos to be pinned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://marketingland.com/flickr-uses-nopin-meta-tag-to-keep-some-images-off-pinterest-6811|title = Flickr Uses "Nopin" Meta Tag To Keep Some Images Off Pinterest|last = McGee|first = Matt|date = February 25, 2012|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = Marketing Land}}</ref>

| 2012 || March || Product, copyright || Pinterest releases a statement that it believes its use of photos and content in pins is protected by the [[Digital Millennium Copyright Act]]'s safe harbor provisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/pinterest-addresses-copyright-concerns/2012/03/15/gIQAijAFES_story.html|title = Pinterest addresses copyright concerns|last = Tsukayama|first = Helen|date = March 15, 2012|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[Washington Post]]''}}</ref>

| 2012 || March 13 || Product, publicity || Pinterest co-founder Ben Silbermann appears on stage at the [[South by Southwest]] conference, and announces that revamped profile pages and other product improvements are on their way.<ref name="iPad soon">{{cite news |title=Pinterest: Revamped profile pages, iPad app coming soon |author= Brandon Griggs |url= http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/13/tech/web/pinterest-sxsw/index.html  |newspaper=CNN |date=14 March 2012 |accessdate=14 March 2012}}</ref>

| 2012 || March 23 || Product, copyright || Pinterest eliminates the policy that gives it the right to sell user content, with the change going into effect on April 6.<ref name="terms update">{{cite news|title=Pinterest Responds to Concerns, Changes Terms of Service|url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/252515/pinterest_responds_to_concerns_changes_terms_of_service.html|accessdate=24 March 2012|newspaper=[[PCWorld (magazine)|PC World]]|date=24 March 2012|author=Christina DesMarais|quote=Among other things, Pinterest says it never intended to sell user content and has removed from its terms of service wording that granted the company the right to do so.}}</ref><ref name="terms blog">{{cite news|title=Updated Pinterest Terms|url=http://blog.pinterest.com/post/19799177970/pinterest-updated-terms|accessdate=24 March 2012|newspaper=Pinterest Blog|date=23 March 2012|author=Pinterest}}</ref>

| 2012 || April 6 || Team || Co-founder Paul Sciarra leaves his position at Pinterest for a consulting job as [[entrepreneur in residence]] at [[Andreessen Horowitz]].<ref name="Sciarra leaves">{{cite news|title=Pinterest co-founder steps down|url=http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/03/technology/startups/pinterest-cofounder-steps-down/|accessdate=6 April 2012|newspaper=CNN Money|date=6 April 2012|author=Laurie Segal}}</ref>

| 2012 || February, June || Userbase || [[Ann Romney]], wife of [[United States presidential election, 2012|2012 US presidential election]] candidate [[Mitt Romney]], starts using Pinterest in February.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/post/ann-romney-joins-pinterest/2012/02/21/gIQAWupkRR_blog.html|title = Ann Romney joins Pinterest|last = Jennings|first = Natalie|date = February 21, 2012|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[Washington Post]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/21/ann-romney-pinterest_n_1291261.html|title = Ann Romney Joins Pinterest, Shares Family Photos|date = February 21, 2012|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[Huffington Post]]''}}</ref> [[Michelle Obama]], wife of incumbent president [[Barack Obama]], starts using Pinterest in June.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2012/06/13/michelle-obama-pinterest/|title = Michelle Obama Joins Pinterest|last = Fitzpatrick|first = Alex|date = June 13, 2012|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[Mashable]]''}}</ref>

| 2012 || May 1 || Product, copyright || Pinterest adds automatic [[attribution (copyright)|attribution]] of authors on images originating from [[Flickr]], [[Behance]], [[YouTube]], and [[Vimeo]]. Automatic attribution is also added for Pins from sites mirroring content on Flickr. At the same time Flickr added a Pin shortcut to its share option menu to users who have not opted out of sharing their images.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allthingsd.com/20120501/flickr-behance-vimeo-and-youtube-add-new-pinterest-atttribution-tool/|title = Flickr, Behance, Vimeo and YouTube Add New Pinterest Attribution Tool|last = Gannes|first = Liz|date = May 1, 2012|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[AllThingsD]]''}}</ref>

| 2012 || May 17 || Funding || Series C: Japanese electronic commerce company [[Rakuten]] announces it is leading a $100 million investment in Pinterest, alongside investors including [[Slow Ventures]], [[Andreessen Horowitz]], [[Bessemer Venture Partners]], and [[FirstMark Capital]], based on a [[Valuation (finance)|valuation]] of $1.5 billion.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pinterest Raises $100 Million With $1.5 Billion Valuation|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303448404577409212961081738.html|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="Confirmed: Pinterest Raises $100 Million to Fund International Expansion">{{cite news|title=Pinterest Raises $100 Million to Fund International Expansion|url=http://mashable.com/2012/05/17/pinterest-120-million/|accessdate=2012-05-18|date=18 May 2012|author=Lauren Indvik}}</ref><ref name=crunchbase-series-c>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchbase.com/funding-round/83be12d07fa0d616fbb2114153e1b43f|title = Pinterest, May 17, 2012 - Funding Round - Series C|publisher = [[CrunchBase]]|accessdate = August 14, 2014}}</ref>

   |publisher=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]

   |accessdate=2012-08-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/pinterest-open-to-public-_n_1759825.html |title=Pinterest Now Open To All |publisher=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=August 9, 2012 |accessdate=February 18, 2017 |author=Catharine Smith}}</ref>

| 2012 || August 14 || Product, userbase || Pinterest launches apps for [[Android OS|Android]] and [[iPad]].<ref>{{cite web

   |publisher=[[CNET]]

| 2012 || September 20 || Team || Pinterest announces the hiring of its new head of engineering, Jon Jenkins. Jenkins comes from [[Amazon.com|Amazon]], where he spent eight years as an engineering lead and was also a director of develop tools, platform analysis and website platform.<ref>{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Colleen |date=20 September 2012 |title=Pinterest Nabs Amazon Vet Jon Jenkins To Be Its New Head Of Engineering |url=http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/20/pinterest-nabs-amazon-vet-jon-jenkins-to-be-its-new-head-of-engineering/ |publisher=Tech Crunch}}</ref>

| 2013 || January 3 || Acquisitions by Pinterest || Pinterest acquires and announces plans to shut down recipe discovery site Punchfork.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/01/03/pinterest-acquires-punchfork/|title = Pinterest Acquires And Will Shut Down Recipe Discovery Site Punchfork|last = Constine|first = Josh|date = January 3, 2013|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2013 || February 20 || Funding || Series D: Pinterest raises $200 million at a $2.5 billion valuation from Bessemer Venture Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, FirstMark Capital, and [[Valiant Capital Partners]].<ref name=crunchbase-series-d>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchbase.com/funding-round/182b68e6f4b7eab398d4139f6470383f#|title = Pinterest, February 20, 2013 - Funding Round - Series D|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = [[CrunchBase]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/02/20/pinterest-confirms-massive-new-200-million-series-d-funding-round-and-2-5-billion-valuation/|title = Pinterest Confirms Massive New $200 Million Series D Funding Round And $2.5 Billion Valuation|last = Taylor|first = Colleen|date = February 20, 2013|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2013 || March 20 || Acquisitions by Pinterest || Pinterest acquires mobile startup Livestar at undisclosed terms.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://allthingsd.com/20130320/pinterest-acquires-mobile-startup-livestar/?refcat=news | title=Pinterest Acquires Mobile Startup Livestar | work=AllThingsD | date=March 20, 2013 | accessdate=March 21, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/20/pinterest-acquires-livestar-the-mobile-recommendation-startup-founded-by-fritz-lanman/|title = Pinterest Acquires Livestar, The Mobile Recommendations Startup Founded By Fritz Lanman|last = Taylor|first = Colleen|date = March 20, 2013|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2013 || October 23 || Funding || Series E: Pinterest receives a $225 million round of equity funding that valued the website at $3.8 billion. Investors include [[Fidelity Investments]] (new), as well as FirstMark Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Valiant Capital Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners (from Series D).<ref>{{cite web| title= Pinterest valued at $3.8 billion in hefty financing deal | author=Gerry Shih| publisher=Reuters| url= http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/23/us-pinterest-fundraise-idUSBRE99M1J520131023|  date=23 October 2013}}</ref><ref name=crunchbase-series-e>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchbase.com/funding-round/7292462dce7dcb2aae071e2c7a7fdcb7#|title = Pinterest, October 23, 2013 - Funding Round - Series E|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = [[CrunchBase]]}}</ref>

| 2014 || January 6 || Acquisitions by Pinterest || Pinterest acquires image recognition and visual search startup VisualGraph.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/06/pinterest-visualgraph/|title = Pinterest Acquires Image Recognition And Visual Search Startup VisualGraph|last = Constine|first = Josh|date = January 6, 2014|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2014 || April 24, June 11 || Product || April 24: Pinterest announces and releases Guided Search for its mobile apps, a new visual way to explore Pinterest’s more than 30 billion pins—links or images chosen by users and assigned by them to topical collections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://readwrite.com/2014/04/24/pinterest-guided-search-discovery-ben-silbermann#awesm=~oEmZZFtqTPHrck|title = In Challenge To Google, Pinterest Launches Guided Search. "Visual discovery" means searching for things when you don't know their name—and that's a game Google can't play.|last = Orsini|first = Lauren|date = April 24, 2014|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[ReadWrite]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.pinterest.com/post/83772264616/guided-search-a-new-way-to-find-what-youre-looking|title = Guided Search: a new way to find what you’re looking for|date = April 24, 2014|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = [[Pinterest]]}}</ref> June 11: Guided Search is released on the web version of the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.pinterest.com/post/88472890774/guided-search-hits-the-web|title = Guided Search hits the web!|date = June 11, 2014|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = [[Pinterest]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/11/pinterest-becomes-more-search-engine-like-with-the-launch-of-guided-search-on-the-web/|title = Pinterest Becomes More Search Engine-Like With The Launch Of Guided Search On The Web|last = Perez|first = Sarah|date = June 11, 2014|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2014 || May 12 || Product (advertising) || Pinterest launches "Promoted Pins" that would allow companies to sponsor results in its search results and category feeds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pando.com/2014/05/12/pinterest-emulates-google-with-new-promoted-pins/|title = Pinterest emulates Google with new promoted pins|date = May 12, 2014|accessdate = January 26, 2015|publisher = ''[[PandoDaily]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://pando.com/2014/05/12/with-the-launch-of-paid-pins-pinterests-reckoning-moment-has-arrived/|title = With the launch of paid pins, Pinterest’s reckoning moment has arrived|last = DeAicis|date = May 12, 2014|accessdate = January 26, 2015|publisher = ''[[PandoDaily]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/05/12/pinterest-launches-paid-ads-with-select-brands-in-form-of-promoted-pins/|title = Pinterest Launches Paid Ads With Select Brands In Form Of Promoted Pins|date = May 12, 2014|accessdate = January 26, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2014 || May 15 || Funding || Series F: Pinterest receives $200 million in funding at a $5 billion valuation. Investors include [[SV Angel]] (a new investor, though partner [[Ron Conway]] had personally invested in Pinterest earlier) as well as Series E investors  Valiant Capital Partners, FirstMark Capital, Fidelity Investments, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Andreessen Horowitz.<ref name=crunchbase-series-f>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchbase.com/funding-round/316ba090b7e1c4a5cfc785ed1a11e4db#|title = Pinterest, May 15, 2014 - Funding Round - Series F|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = [[CrunchBase]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gigaom.com/2014/05/15/pinterest-raises-220-million-series-e/|title = Pinterest raises $200 million in new funding to invest in discovery, monetization|last = Hockenson|first = Lauren|date = May 15, 2014|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[GigaOm]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://readwrite.com/2014/05/15/pinterest-funding-5-billion-valuation|title = Pinterest Raises A $200 Million Warchest To Do Battle With Google. Even though it has barely started selling ads, Pinterest's investors think the potential of the Visual Web makes it worth $5 billion.|last = Orsini|first = Lauren|date = May 15, 2014|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[ReadWrite]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/05/15/svangel-leads-pinterests-5-billion-round/|title = SV Angel Leads Pinterest Financing At A $5 Billion Valuation|date = May 15, 2014|accessdate = January 23, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''|last = Tsotsis|first = Alexia|authorlink = Alexia Tsotsis}}</ref>

| 2014 || July 30 || Acquisitions by Pinterest || Pinterest acquires Icebergs, described as a "Pinterest for creatives" by ''[[TechCrunch]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/30/pinterest-acquires-icebergs-the-pinterest-for-creatives/|title = Pinterest Acquires Icebergs, The Pinterest For Creatives|date = July 30, 2014|accessdate = August 14, 2014|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''|last = Perez|first = Sarah}}</ref>

| 2014 || August 26 || Product || Pinterest launches a new analytics dashboard for business users.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/26/pinterest-analytics/|title = Pinterest Launches A New Analytics Dashboard For Business Users|date = August 26, 2014|accessdate = January 26, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''|last = Perez|first = Sarah}}</ref>

| 2014 || October 6 || Product || Pinterest releases "Pin Picks" that are weekly curations of their own content.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/06/pinterest-curates-its-own-content-with-new-weekly-collections-called-pin-picks/|title = Pinterest Curates Its Own Content With New Weekly Collections Called "Pin Picks"|last = Perez|first = Sarah|date = October 6, 2014|accessdate = January 26, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2014 || December 28 || Product (advertising) || Pinterest opens up promoted pins to all advertisers, following what they perceive as success of their beta program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://business.pinterest.com/en/blog/big-year-ahead-promoted-pins|title = A big year ahead for Promoted Pins|last = Bradford|first = Joanne|date = December 28, 2014|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = [[Pinterest]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2014/12/28/pinterest-will-open-promoted-pins-to-all-advertisers-following-success-of-beta-program/|title = Pinterest Will Open Promoted Pins To All Advertisers Following Success Of Beta Program|last = Perez|first = Sarah|date = December 28, 2014|accessdate = January 26, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2015 || January 23 || Product || Pinterest debuts new search filters that give users more control over the pins they see. Commentators believe the aim of these is to go after the male demographic, which tends to be put off by the female-heavy pins on the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/23/pinterest-goes-after-the-male-demographic-with-debut-of-new-search-filters/|title = Pinterest Goes After The Male Demographic With Debut Of New Search Filters|last = Perez|first = Sarah|date = January 23, 2015|accessdate = January 26, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2015 || January 27 || Product (advertising) || Pinterest announces that it will begin showing Promoted Pins in users' home feeds, thereby expanding the reach of Promoted Pins considerably.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.pinterest.com/en/update-promoted-pins|title = An update on Promoted Pins|date = January 27, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = [[Pinterest]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/27/pinterest-brings-ads-to-users-home-feeds/|title = Pinterest Brings Ads To Users’ Home Feeds|last = Perez|first = Sarah|date = January 27, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015}}</ref>

| 2015 || February 11 || Product, partnerships || Pinterest announces a partnership with [[Apple Inc.]] whereby people using Pinterest's iOS app on [[iPhone]]s or [[iPad]]s can directly download iOS apps from within Pinterest itself, using special types of pins called app Pins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.pinterest.com/en/install-best-new-iphone-and-ipad-apps-pinterest|title = Install the best new iPhone and iPad apps from Pinterest|last = Black|first = Julie|date = February 11, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/02/11/app-pins-pinterest/|title = iPhone And iPad Users Can Now Download iOS Apps From Pinterest|date = February 11, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''|last = Russell|first = Jon}}</ref>

| 2015 || March 16, May 8 || Funding || Series G: Pinterest raises a total of $553 million at a $11 billion valuation, and allows employees to sell part of their vested stock in secondary markets. It is initially reported (as of March 16) that the company has raised $367 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://recode.net/2015/03/17/pinterest-funding-367-million/|title = Pinterest Valuation Hits $11 Billion With Massive New Funding|last = Wagner|first = Kurt|date = March 17, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[Re/code]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/16/pinterest-raises-367-million-pushing-it-past-1-billion-raised-in-all/|title = Pinterest Raises $367 Million, Pushing It Past $1 Billion Mark|last = Kumparak|first = Greg|date = March 16, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref> On May 8, the raising of an additional $186 million is announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://recode.net/2015/05/08/pinterest-adds-186-million-to-series-g-round-lets-employees-sell-shares/|title = Pinterest Adds $186 Million to Series G Round, Lets Employees Sell Shares|date = May 8, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[Re/code]]''|last = DeAmicis|first = Carmel}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/05/09/pinterest-186m-series-g-plus-secondary-sale/|title = Pinterest Adds $186M To Series G Funding Round, Offers Secondary Sale To Employees|date = May 9, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''|last = Lawler|first = Ryan}}</ref>

| 2015 || April 2 || Product || Pinterest debuts a new "Pin It" button that requires fewer steps to bookmark a Pin, and that, according to tests, increases the number of pinning actions by 3%. The new button is developed by the team from Icebergs, a company acquired by Pinterest the previous year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/02/pinterest-debuts-a-new-pin-it-button-designed-to-speed-up-bookmarking/|title = Pinterest Debuts A New "Pin It" Button Designed To Speed Up Bookmarking|last = Perez|first = Sarah|date = April 2, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

Pinterest Acquires Team From Hike Labs, Including Google Reader, Blogger Veteran Jason Shellen|date = April 3, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''|last = Perez|first = Sarah}}</ref>

| 2015 || April 27 || Product || Pinterest announces the launch of Marketing Developer Partners (MDP), its program to help marketers use Pinterest more effectively, by helping them schedule pins and incorporate performance feedback to post better pins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://business.pinterest.com/en/blog/introducing-pinterests-marketing-developer-partners-mdp|title = Introducing Pinterest's Marketing Developer Partners (MDP)|last = Kidwell|first = Jyri|date = April 27, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = [[Pinterest]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/pinterest-launches-marketing-developer-partners-program/619444|title = Pinterest Launches Marketing Developer Partners Program|last = Lafferty|first = Justin|publisher = Social Times, [[Adweek]]|date = April 27, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/27/pinterest-adds-tools-for-marketers-to-post-better-pins/|title = Pinterest Adds Tools For Marketers To Post Better Pins|last = Lynley|first = Matthew|date = April 27, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2015 || May 4 || Product, platform || Pinterest launches the beta version of its developer platform, that allows developers to use data about Pinterest users who connect their accounts to external applications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://engineering.pinterest.com/post/118108695799/introducing-the-pinterest-developers-platform|title = Introducing the Pinterest Developers Platform|last = Inkenbrandt|first = Josh|date = May 4, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = [[Pinterest]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/05/04/at-long-last-pinterest-is-opening-up-to-developers/|title = At Long Last, Pinterest Is Opening Up To Developers|date = May 4, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015}}</ref> Interested developers can sign up to have their names added to a white list that will be given this access.

| 2015 || May 18 || Product, advertising || Pinterest introduces a new video ad format called Cinematic Pins, where the video plays only either while the user is scrolling or if the user taps on the pin. This is in contrast with existing autoplay videos used by [[Facebook]] and other companies for their feeds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://business.pinterest.com/en/blog/new-promoted-pin-options-help-you-reach-your-goals|title = New Promoted Pin options to help you reach your goals|last = Kendall|first = Tim|date = May 18, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = [[Pinterest]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/05/19/pinterest-unveils-a-suite-of-new-advertiser-tools/|title = Pinterest Unveils Its First Video-Like Ad And New Ad Pricing Models|last = Lynley|first = Matthew|date = May 19, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/cinematic-pins-from-pinterest-news/|title = Cinematic Pins from Pinterest: This Week in Social Media|last = King|first = Cindy|publisher = Social Media Examiner|date = May 23, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/pinterest-puts-its-own-spin-video-ads-these-cinematic-pins-164854|title = Pinterest Puts Its Own Spin on Video Ads With These Cinematic Pins And gives brands a way to target based on interests|last = Sloane|first = Garett|date = May 19, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = [[Adweek]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/05/19/pinterest-bolsters-ads-with-cinematic-pins/|title = Pinterest Bolsters Ads With ‘Cinematic Pins’ |last = Koh|first = Yoree|date = May 19, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[Wall Street Journal]]''}}</ref>

| 2015 || June 2 || Product || Pinterest announces the launch of Buyable Pins, a special type of pin that can be used to make purchases within Pinterest itself. When users select a Buyable Pin, they have the option of choosing the item they wish to buy (for instance, choosing between different dress sizes and colors), and they can then make the purchase within the app using a variety of payment methods, including [[Apple Pay]]. Launch partners include [[Shopify]] and Demandware. The buyable pins are free to use, and Pinterest does not take a cut of the purchases made. However, Pinterest intends to allow sellers to promote buyable pins just as they can promote other pins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.pinterest.com/en/buyable-pins|title = Coming soon: Buyable Pins!|date = June 2, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = [[Pinterest]]|last = Wang|first = Chao}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/02/pinterest-unveils-buyable-pins-a-way-to-purchase-things-directly-from-pinterest/|title = Pinterest Unveils Buyable Pins, A Way To Purchase Things Directly Within Pinterest|last = Lynley|first = Matthew|date = June 2, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://time.com/3905904/pinterest-shopping-buyable-pins/|title = Pinterest Wants You to Go Shopping with New ‘Buyable Pins’|last = Rao|first = Leena|publisher = ''[[Time Magazine]]''|date = June 2, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://venturebeat.com/2015/06/02/pinterests-new-buyable-pins-let-you-purchase-items-directly-in-the-app/|title = Pinterest’s new Buyable Pins let you purchase items directly in the app|last = Novet|first = Jordan|date = June 2, 2015|accessdate = June 6, 2015|publisher = ''[[VentureBeat]]''}}</ref>

| 2015 || June 30 || Product || Pinterest begins rolling out Buyable Pins on [[iPhone]] and [[iPad]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/06/30/pinterest-has-started-rolling-out-buyable-pins-on-the-iphone-and-ipad/|title = Pinterest Has Started Rolling Out Buyable Pins On The iPhone And iPad|last = Lynley|first = Matthew|date = June 30, 2015|accessdate = October 18, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref>

| 2015 || July 8 || Product, platform || Pinterest rolls out the first integrations on its developer platform (first announced on May 4). These include integrations from [[IFTTT]] and [[Polyvore]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/07/08/pinterest-rolls-out-its-first-development-platform-integrations/|title = Pinterest Rolls Out Its First Development Platform Integrations|date = July 8, 2015|accessdate = October 18, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''|last = Lynley|first = Matthew}}</ref>

| 2015 || October 5 || Product || Pinterest announces the expansion of Buyable Pins to new partners in addition to its original partner list of [[Shopify]] and Demandware. The new partners include [[Bigcommerce]], [[Magento]], and [[IBM Commerce]]. Pinterest also notes that there are now 60 million Buyable Pins on the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://business.pinterest.com/en/blog/new-merchants-and-platforms-buyable-pins|title = New merchants and platforms for Buyable Pins|last = Yamartino|first = Michael|date = October 5, 2015|accessdate = October 18, 2015|publisher = [[Pinterest]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcrunch.com/2015/10/05/pinterest-expands-buyable-pins-to-more-e-commerce-platforms-reaching-thousands-of-merchants/|title = Pinterest Expands Buyable Pins To More E-Commerce Platforms, Reaching Thousands Of Merchants|last = Perez|first = Sarah|date = October 5, 2015|accessdate = October 18, 2015|publisher = ''[[TechCrunch]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.bigcommerce.com/introducing-pinterest-buyable-pins-for-bigcommerce-retailers/|title = Introducing Pinterest Buyable Pins for Bigcommerce Retailers|last = Wallace|first = Tracey|date = October 5, 2015|accessdate = October 18, 2015}}</ref>

| 2015 || November 8 || Product || Pinterest begins rolling out a visual search tool that allows users to select part of an image and find similar Pins.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.pinterest.com/en/our-crazy-fun-new-visual-search-tool |website=Pinterest Blog |publisher=Pinterest |title=Our crazy-fun new visual search tool |date=November 24, 2015 |accessdate=February 18, 2017 |author=Kevin Jing}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/11983561/Pinterest-adds-visual-search-tool-for-when-youre-unable-to-say-what-youre-looking-for.html |title=Pinterest adds 'visual search' tool for when you're unable to say what you're looking for |date=November 9, 2015 |publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] |author=Rhiannon Williams |accessdate=February 18, 2017}}</ref>

| 2016 || June 15 || Acquisition || [[Fleksy]] announces that it was purchased by [[Pinterest]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fleksy.com/fleksy-acquired-by-pinterest|title=Fleksy Acquired by Pinterest – Fleksy|website=fleksy.com|access-date=2016-06-15}}</ref> Half of the team moved to Pinterest's product engineering team. The Fleksy application itself was open sourced.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/15/pinterest-acquires-the-team-behind-fleksy-a-custom-ios-and-android-keyboard/ |date=June 15, 2016 |publisher=TechCrunch |title=Pinterest acquires the team behind Fleksy, a custom iOS and Android keyboard |author=Matthew Lynley |accessdate=February 18, 2017}}</ref>

| 2016 || July || Acquisition || Pinterest acquires Math Camp, the team that built [[Highlight (application)|Highlight]], Roll, and Shorts. Most of the Math Camp team would join Pinterest. Math Camp's products are not part of the deal, so these would [[Server sunset|shut down]] and the source code is planned to be open sourced.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/07/14/pinterest-acquires-the-team-behind-highlight-and-shorts/ |date=July 14, 2016 |publisher=TechCrunch |title=Pinterest acquires the team behind Highlight and Shorts |author=Matthew Lynley |accessdate=February 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://venturebeat.com/2016/07/14/pinterest-acquires-the-team-behind-mobile-apps-highlight-and-shorts/ |publisher=VentureBeat |title=Pinterest acquires the team behind mobile apps Highlight and Shorts |accessdate=February 18, 2017 |date=July 14, 2016 |author=Ken Yeung}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://medium.com/@pdavison/math-camp-is-joining-pinterest-8dcb7da4d1ad |title=Math Camp is joining Pinterest! |author=Paul Davison |date=July 14, 2016 |publisher=Medium |accessdate=February 18, 2017}}</ref>

| 2016 || August 9 || Company || Pinterest announces that it would open its first engineering office outside the Bay Area in Seattle. The office would temporarily be located in the [[WeWork]] building in downtown Seattle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2016/08/pinterest-choses-seattle-for-itsfirst-engineering.html |date=August 9, 2016 |title=Pinterest chooses Seattle for its first engineering office outside the Bay Area |publisher=Puget Sound Business Journal |accessdate=February 18, 2017 |first1=Casey |last1= Coombs |first2= Ashley|last2= Stewart}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geekwire.com/2016/pinterest-opens-engineering-office-seattle-plans-hire-30-people-within-one-year/ |title=Pinterest opens engineering office in Seattle, plans to hire 30 people within one year |publisher=GeekWire |date=August 9, 2016 |accessdate=February 18, 2017 |author=Taylor Soper}}</ref>

| 2016 || August 17 || Product (advertising) || Pinterest launches video advertising to a limited number of partners. The feature is known as "Promoted Video Pins", and allows advertisers to place video ads.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/aug/17/pinterest-video-ads-us-uk-promoted-video-pins |author=Mark Sweney |date=August 17, 2016 |title=Pinterest launches video ads in US and UK |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |accessdate=February 18, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/17/pinterest-video-ads/ |date=August 17, 2016 |publisher=TechCrunch |title=Pinterest starts rolling out native video ads |author=Matthew Lynley |accessdate=February 18, 2017}}</ref>

| 2016 || August 23 || Acquisition || Pinterest announces that it would be acquiring the team behind [[Instapaper]], which will continue operating as a separate app. The Instapaper team will both work on the core Pinterest experience and updating Instapaper.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/23/pinterest-acquires-instapaper-which-will-live-on-as-a-separate-app/ |title=Pinterest acquires Instapaper, which will live on as a separate app |author=Matthew Lynley  | publisher=TechCrunch|date=23 August 2016| access-date=23 August 2016}}</ref>

| 2017 || February 1 || Product (advertising) || Pinterest begins rolling out search advertising for a limited group of partners. These marketers will be able to run search ad campaigns through their [[Kenshoo]] dashboards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/02/01/pinterest-begins-rolling-out-search-ads-for-keywords-and-shopping-campaigns/ |date=February 1, 2017 |publisher=TechCrunch |title=Pinterest begins rolling out search ads for keywords and shopping campaigns |author=Matthew Lynley |accessdate=February 17, 2017}}</ref>

* [[Timeline of social media]]

[[Category:Technology company timelines|Pinterest]]

[[Category:Pinterest]]