Facebook: From Harvard dorm to IPO launch

As Facebook files to raise $5 billion in an initial public offering, here're the highlights of the social networking giants' meteoric rise from its launch in 2003 to its journey till NASDAQ in 2012.

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As Facebook files to raise $5 billion in an initial public offering, here're the highlights of the social networking giants' meteoric rise from its launch in 2003 to its journey till NASDAQ in 2012.

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1/16 As Facebook files to raise $5 billion in an initial public offering, here're the highlights of the social networking giants' meteoric rise from its launch in 2003 to its journey till NASDAQ in 2012.

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April 7, 2008 - Facebook settles with the founders of 'ConnectU', the Winklevoss twins and Divya Narendra, for a purported $65 million, according to promotional material later published by ConnectU's lawyers.

2/16 April 7, 2008 - Facebook settles with the founders of 'ConnectU', the Winklevoss twins and Divya Narendra, for a purported $65 million, according to promotional material later published by ConnectU's lawyers.

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October 24, 2007 - Microsoft Corp announces that it purchased a 1.6 percent share of Facebook for $240 million, giving the company a total implied value of around $15 billion.

3/16 October 24, 2007 - Microsoft Corp announces that it purchased a 1.6 percent share of Facebook for $240 million, giving the company a total implied value of around $15 billion.

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May 26, 2005 - Accel Partners, the venture capital firm headed by investor Jim Breyer, invests $12.7 million in Facebook, valuing the company at roughly $100 million.

4/16 May 26, 2005 - Accel Partners, the venture capital firm headed by investor Jim Breyer, invests $12.7 million in Facebook, valuing the company at roughly $100 million.

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June 2004 - Peter Thiel, PayPal co-founder and venture capitalist, invests $500,000 in Facebook.

5/16 June 2004 - Peter Thiel, PayPal co-founder and venture capitalist, invests $500,000 in Facebook.

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February 10 2004 - Harvard students Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narenya send Zuckerberg a cease-and-desist letter, accusing Zuckerberg of independently developing thefacebook.com while he was hired to work on their social networking project, HarvardConnection.

6/16 February 10 2004 - Harvard students Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narenya send Zuckerberg a cease-and-desist letter, accusing Zuckerberg of independently developing thefacebook.com while he was hired to work on their social networking project, HarvardConnection.

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February 4 2004 - Zuckerberg launches Thefacebook.com, a social network that allows users to create basic profiles including personal information and photos.

7/16 February 4 2004 - Zuckerberg launches Thefacebook.com, a social network that allows users to create basic profiles including personal information and photos.

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October 28 2003 - Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard psychology sophomore, writes 'Facemash,' a website that asked users to judge students' attractiveness based on their dorm-directory photos.

8/16 October 28 2003 - Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard psychology sophomore, writes 'Facemash,' a website that asked users to judge students' attractiveness based on their dorm-directory photos.

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February 1, 2012 - Facebook files its Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking to raise $5 billion in a highly anticipated IPO.

9/16 February 1, 2012 - Facebook files its Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking to raise $5 billion in a highly anticipated IPO.

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January 25, 2012 - Trading of Facebook shares is halted on the secondary market as rumors of an impending IPO gain steam.

10/16 January 25, 2012 - Trading of Facebook shares is halted on the secondary market as rumors of an impending IPO gain steam.

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November 29, 2011 - Facebook agrees to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceived users on what information it would keep private.

11/16 November 29, 2011 - Facebook agrees to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it deceived users on what information it would keep private.

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January 2, 2011 - Facebook raises $500 million from Goldman Sachs and Digital Sky Technologies in a deal that valued the company at $50 billion.

12/16 January 2, 2011 - Facebook raises $500 million from Goldman Sachs and Digital Sky Technologies in a deal that valued the company at $50 billion.

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October 10, 2010 - Columbia Pictures releases The Social Network, a film about Facebook's beginning, directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin.

13/16 October 10, 2010 - Columbia Pictures releases The Social Network, a film about Facebook's beginning, directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin.

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June 30, 2010 - In one of the more bizarre twists in Facebook's history, New York businessman Paul D. Ceglia files suit against Zuckerberg, claiming he had struck a deal with the founder in 2003 for half of Facebook's revenue and rightfully owned 84 percent of the company.

14/16 June 30, 2010 - In one of the more bizarre twists in Facebook's history, New York businessman Paul D. Ceglia files suit against Zuckerberg, claiming he had struck a deal with the founder in 2003 for half of Facebook's revenue and rightfully owned 84 percent of the company.

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June 3, 2010 - Zuckerberg sweats profusely as he takes questions about Facebook's privacy policy while onstage at the All Things Digital conference.

15/16 June 3, 2010 - Zuckerberg sweats profusely as he takes questions about Facebook's privacy policy while onstage at the All Things Digital conference.

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Russian investor Yuri Milner's Digital Sky Technologies invests $200 million for a 1.96 percent stake, bringing Facebook's value down to $10 billion.

16/16 Russian investor Yuri Milner's Digital Sky Technologies invests $200 million for a 1.96 percent stake, bringing Facebook's value down to $10 billion.