YELP

Yelp is an American online platform that enables users to discover local businesses through reviews, ratings, and photos. Founded in 2004 by Jeremy Stoppelman and Russel Simmons, it is headquartered in San Francisco and operates localized sites around the world. Users can search for restaurants, shops, services, and more, read existing reviews, write their own, upload photos, and save favorites.

Businesses can claim and manage their Yelp profiles, update basic information, respond to reviews, and access advertising and analytics tools to attract customers. The site supports features such as business profiles, category and location filters, and various consumer engagement tools. Yelp also incorporates check-ins, photos, and tips contributed by users, and it moderates content to address questions of review authenticity and policy compliance.

Yelp has expanded beyond user reviews to include services such as reservations and delivery through integrations and acquisitions. In 2012, Yelp went public on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol YELP. The company has pursued international expansion, including the acquisition of European review site Qype in 2012, and it previously owned Eat24, a food-delivery service acquired in 2015 and later shut down in 2017.

Reception and impact have been mixed, with Yelp widely used by consumers and businesses as a marketing and discovery tool while facing ongoing scrutiny over review authenticity and moderation. The platform continues to serve as a prominent local review site, balancing user-generated content with business-facing tools and advertising options.