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Automattic
We are passionate about making the web a better place. 20 years of history: explore the Automattic timeline. WordPress.com Your blog or websitehas a (free!)...
Automattic
We are passionate about making the web a better place. 20 years of history: explore the Automattic timeline. WordPress.com Your blog or websitehas a (free!) home on the web.Your story, your way. Beeper Tower of Babelfragmented messaging woesyou need a Beeper. Tumblr Where your interestsconnect you to your people,one post at a time. Day One Capture private…
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2005
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
San Francisco, New York, United States
Additional offices
New York, United States
Principals
Matt Mullenweg
Founder
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Automattic generate revenue if WordPress is open source?
Automattic sells hosting, commerce tools, and enterprise services on top of its open-source core. WordPress.com operates on a freemium subscription model; WooCommerce takes a cut of transactions; and WP VIP provides paid enterprise hosting to clients like Meta, Salesforce, and Slack. The firm publicly states it earns roughly half a billion dollars in annual revenue.
Who controls Automattic and how are investment decisions made?
Founder Matt Mullenweg retains majority voting control and leads both strategy and product direction. There is no indication of an outside investment committee or institutional limited partners steering allocation. The firm has raised growth equity from firms like Tiger Global and Insight Partners, but Mullenweg remains the central decision-maker.
Does Automattic acquire companies or build products internally?
It does both, but high-profile acquisitions define its expansion posture. Notable purchases include Tumblr from Verizon in 2019, Pocket Casts in 2021, Day One, and Beeper. These acquisitions join internally developed products like WooCommerce and Jetpack, creating a hybrid build-and-buy open-source portfolio.
Are Automattic and the WordPress Foundation the same entity?
No. Automattic is the for-profit company founded by Matt Mullenweg. The WordPress Foundation is a separate nonprofit that owns the WordPress trademark and oversees the open-source WordPress.org project. Mullenweg serves as a director of the Foundation, creating close ties but separate governance.
How is Automattic's ownership structured, and can outside investors influence it?
Automattic is a privately held Delaware corporation with a dual-class stock structure that gives Matt Mullenweg voting control. Outside investors, including Tiger Global and Insight Partners, hold minority non-controlling stakes. This governance architecture insulates portfolio decisions from limited-partner pressure.
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