Who Owns Automattic and Its Impact

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has a unique ownership structure. Matt Mullenweg is the co-founder and CEO of Automattic. He has been instrumental in shaping the company's vision and direction.

Matt Mullenweg is also the co-founder of WordPress, which was initially created as a blogging platform in 2003. WordPress has since grown to become one of the most popular content management systems in the world.

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Automattic's ownership structure is a unique blend of private funding and employee ownership. The company's founder, Matt Mullenweg, made every employee a co-owner on October 7, 2024, a move that fosters a strong sense of shared responsibility.

Matt Mullenweg holds a significant ownership stake in Automattic. He is the driving force behind the company's strategic vision and long-term goals. This is evident in the company's evolution, which has primarily relied on private funding rounds to fuel its growth.

A pivotal moment in Automattic's history occurred in May 2014, when it secured $160 million in a Series C funding round, valuing the company at nearly $1.6 billion. This was followed by a Series D funding round in September 2019, which brought in $300 million from Salesforce Ventures and boosted the company's valuation to $3 billion.

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Here's a brief overview of the key events that have shaped Automattic's ownership landscape:

Investment firms like BlackRock also hold minority stakes in Automattic. However, it's worth noting that BlackRock's valuation of its shares has decreased from $85 per share in 2021 to $31.03 per share as of March 31, 2025. Despite this, Mullenweg has stated that BlackRock holds a small ownership stake (between 0.6% and 0.8%) and has no voting rights.

Automattic's Structure is a unique aspect of the company, thanks in part to CEO Matt Mullenweg's decision to make every employee a co-owner.

This shift in ownership structure occurred on October 7, 2024, allowing employees to share in the company's destiny.

The company's structure is now more decentralized, with employees having a vested interest in the company's success.

This approach fosters a strong sense of shared responsibility among employees, which can lead to increased motivation and productivity.

Matt Mullenweg's vision for the company's structure is centered around creating a more collaborative and inclusive environment.

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Matt Mullenweg is the founder of Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Tumblr.

At just 19 years old, Mullenweg initiated WordPress as a fork of b2 in January 2003 while a freshman at the University of Houston.

Mullenweg's contributions to WordPress have made online content creation accessible to all, significantly raising the bar in the tech industry.

Today, Automattic holds a valuation exceeding one billion dollars, a testament to Mullenweg's vision and leadership.

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Automattic's ownership landscape has undergone significant changes over the years. A pivotal moment occurred in May 2014 when the company secured $160 million in a Series C funding round, valuing it at nearly $1.6 billion.

Automattic's founder, Matt Mullenweg, holds a significant ownership stake and influences the company's strategic direction. He has noted that BlackRock holds a small ownership stake (between 0.6% and 0.8%) and has no voting rights.

The company's employee ownership model, which includes stock options and recent A12 share grants, ensures employees have a direct stake in the company's success. In October 2024, CEO Matt Mullenweg announced that all employees would receive A12 shares, making them co-owners.

A share buyback valued at $250 million was executed in February 2021, followed by a primary funding round of $288 million. These funding rounds and strategic financial decisions have shaped the current ownership landscape of Automattic.

Here's a summary of the key events that have shaped Automattic's ownership landscape:

Automattic's valuation has continued to grow, with a recent valuation of $7.5 billion in February 2021. The company's revenue has also increased, with approximately $710 million reported in 2024, an 11.2% increase from the previous year.

WordPress.org is a free platform that doesn't directly make money.

Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, generates revenue through its commercial activities.

WordPress.com offers hosting services, domain names, themes, plugins, and enterprise-level dedicated services.

Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder and lead developer of WordPress.org software, leads Automattic.

Automattic's commercial activities indirectly support WordPress.org as an open-source platform for development.