Yelp Inc. YELP

Company Overview

Yelp Inc. is a U.S.-based technology company that operates a digital platform focused on local business discovery, consumer reviews, advertising, and related local commerce services. The company primarily serves consumers seeking information about restaurants, home services providers, health and wellness businesses, retail establishments, and other local merchants. Yelp operates within the online local search, digital advertising, and consumer internet industries, generating most of its revenue through advertising products sold to small and medium-sized businesses.

Yelp’s core business lines include performance advertising, business listing enhancements, and transaction-related services that connect consumers with local service providers. Its platform combines user-generated reviews, ratings, photos, and business information with advertising and request-for-quote tools. Over time, Yelp expanded beyond restaurant reviews into home and professional services categories, which became a significant strategic focus. Founded in 2004 by Jeremy Stoppelman and Russel Simmons, Yelp evolved from a local review website into a broader local commerce platform with integrated lead-generation and customer engagement tools for service professionals.