Matt Mullenweg

Matt Mullenweg
Mullenweg in 2019
Born
Matthew Charles Mullenweg

(1984-01-11) January 11, 1984 (age 40)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Houston
Occupations
  • Web developer
  • Entrepreneur
  • Angel investor
OrganizationAutomattic
Known forCo-founding WordPress
Title
Websitema.tt

Matthew Charles Mullenweg (born January 11, 1984) is an American web developer and entrepreneur. He is known as a co-founder of the free and open-source web publishing software WordPress and the founder of Automattic.

Early life and education

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Mullenweg was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in the Willowbend neighborhood.[4] His father, Chuck, was a computer programmer. Mullenweg was raised Catholic.[5] He attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts to play the saxophone,[6] although he was frequently absent due to chronic migraines. After graduating from high school, he studied economics, philosophy and political science at the University of Houston, eventually dropping out after his sophomore year in 2004.[7][8][9]

WordPress

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Mullenweg at WordCamp Germany 2009

Mullenweg became enamored with blogging and started contributing updates to b2—a popular open-source blogging software—in 2002. However, Michel Valdrighi—the sole maintainer—soon ceased activity, and Mullenweg discussed prospects of creating a fork with other contributors;[6] thus, in January 2003, Mullenweg created WordPress with Mike Little under the GPL v2-or-later open-source license[10] at the age of 19, and Valdrighi endorsed the project a few months later.[11][9]

In March 2003, he co-founded the Global Multimedia Protocols Group (GMPG) with Eric A. Meyer and Tantek Çelik. In April 2004, he helped launch Ping-O-Matic, a mechanism for notifying search engines about blog updates.[12]

In October 2004, he was hired by CNET who would allow him to develop WordPress part-time as part of his job. He dropped out of college and moved to San Francisco for the position.[13]

Automattic

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Main article: Automattic
Mullenweg at WordCamp Bulgaria 2011

Mullenweg left CNET in October 2005 to focus on WordPress full-time.[14] Soon after he announced Akismet, an initiative to reduce comment and trackback spam.[15] In December, he founded Automattic, with Akismet and managed web hosting service WordPress.com as its flagship products. In January 2006, Mullenweg recruited former Yahoo! executive Toni Schneider to join Automattic as CEO.[16]

Since 2006, he has delivered an annual "State of the Word" speech on the progress and future of the WordPress software, named after the State of the Union address.[17][18]

In 2011, Mullenweg purchased the WordPress news website WP Tavern.[19][20]

Mullenweg at WordCamp Europe 2013

In January 2014, Mullenweg became CEO of Automattic. Schneider moved to work on new projects at Automattic.[1] Mullenweg received the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment in 2016, for "helping to democratize online publishing".[21]

Mullenweg began a three-month sabbatical from his role as CEO at the beginning of February 2024.[22] Later that month, Mullenweg engaged in a public feud with a transgender Tumblr user who, frustrated with the site's failure to address transphobic harassment, posted that she wished Mullenweg would die in a comedic way. The user was subsequently banned. Responding to user uproar, Mullenweg addressed the ban in posts on his personal Tumblr blog, in which he characterized the post as a death threat, and shared private account information about the user. Mullenweg also responded to individual commenters on Tumblr in posts and direct messages, and went to Twitter to respond to the banned user's tweets about the situation.[23][24] A few days later, transgender employees of Tumblr and Automattic made a post on the official Tumblr staff blog characterizing his response as "unwarranted and harmful" and stating that he did not speak on their behalf. They also said that the user's post was not a realistic threat of violence and not the reason for her ban.[25]

Public disputes

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On several occasions, Mullenweg has publicly challenged competitors to WordPress and WordPress.com. He has stated that he prefers to settle disputes in the court of public opinion and described his approach as "brinksmanship", noting that the potential cost of legal action could put Automattic in a "tough spot".[6]

In 2008, shortly before WordPress 2.5's release, Six Apart's Movable Type published "A WordPress 2.5 Upgrade Guide"—a comparison of their CMS with their rival, WordPress—as a company blog article that Mullenweg characterized as "desperate and dirty".[26][27][28] In 2013, developers on the digital marketplace Envato were banned from speaking at WordPress events after he criticized the platform for selling WordPress themes with the graphics and CSS components under a proprietary license instead of the GPL.[29]

Mullenweg being interviewed at WordCamp 2017

In 2016, Mullenweg accused Wix.com, a competitor to WordPress.com, of reusing WordPress's mobile text editor code in Wix's own mobile app without adhering to the terms of the GPL. Despite the license's requirement to publish anything built with GPL code under the GPL, Wix's CEO claimed that the company open-sourced their forked version of the component and satisfied the license's terms[30][31] before the app switched to its own fork of the MIT-licensed text editor that the WordPress editor was based upon. The new fork added a clause to the MIT license that forbids redistribution under any other license.[32]

In 2022, Mullenweg criticized GoDaddy for not reinvesting in the WordPress project sufficiently.[33]

Mullenweg at the 2024 TechCrunch Disrupt

WP Engine dispute

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This section is an excerpt from WP Engine § WordPress dispute and lawsuit.[edit]

During the week preceding September 22, 2024, Matt Mullenweg—founder of WordPress.com—began speaking negatively about rival WP Engine. Mullenweg gave a speech at WordCamp US 2024 that argued that WP Engine had made meager contributions to WordPress compared to Automattic, criticized WP Engine's significant ties to private equity, and called for a boycott, sparking internet controversy.[34] In response, WP Engine issued a cease and desist against what it characterized as defamation and extortion, attributing his attacks to WP Engine's refusal to pay Automattic "a significant percentage of its gross revenues – tens of millions of dollars in fact – on an ongoing basis" for what it claimed were necessary trademark licensing fees (later clarified as 8% of all revenue, payable in gross or in salaries for its own employees working under WordPress.org's direction, combined with a clause that would've prohibited forking[35]) for the "WordPress" name.[36] Automattic responded by sending its own cease and desist the next day, citing the trademark issue.[37] On October 2, 2024, WP Engine sued Automattic and Mullenweg for extortion and abuse of power, which the defendants denied.[35]

As a result of the dispute, WordPress.org blocked WP Engine and affiliates from accessing its servers—which include security updates, the plugin and theme repository, and more—on September 25, 2024, a day after its trademark policy was updated[38] to ask against usage of WP "in a way that confuses people", listing WP Engine as an example.[39] Following backlash, access to WordPress.org was temporarily restored until October 1 to allow WP Engine to build its own mirror sites two days later,[40][41] which the company did.[39] On the 12th, WordPress.org replaced the listing of WP Engine's Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin on the WordPress.org plugin directory with a fork called "Secure Custom Fields" citing a guideline that empowers the foundation to "make changes to a plugin, without developer consent, in the interest of public safety".[42]

On October 7, 2024, to align the company's stance, Mullenweg announced that 159 employees—8.4% of Automattic—had quit in exchange for a severance package of $30,000 or six months of salary, whichever is higher, with the condition that the resigned would not be able to return.[43] The next week concluded another offer of nine months' salary to attempt to placate those who could not quit for financial reasons,[44] though with only four hours to respond and the added term of being excluded from the WordPress.org community.[39]

On December 10, 2024, a preliminary injunction was issued by judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín of the District Court for the Northern District of California stating that Automattic and Matt Mullenweg must cease to block, disable, and interfere with WP Engine and their associates's access to WordPress.org.[45]

Audrey Capital

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Mullenweg is a principal at angel investment firm Audrey Capital, which he co-founded in 2008 alongside Naveen Selvadurai and Audrey Kim.[46]

As of 2024, the company lists investments in companies such as CoinDesk, MakerBot, Sonos, SpaceX, Ring, as well as software companies including Calm, Chartbeat, DailyBurn, Memrise, Genius, Nord Security and Telegram. It has also funded startups that provide services to web developers including Creative Market, GitLab, NPM, SendGrid, Stripe and Typekit.[46] From 2017 to 2019, Mullenweg also served as a board member for GitLab.[47]

Mullenweg has employed a team of contributors to WordPress through Audrey Capital since 2010, who work separately from Automattic.[48][49]

On the 20th anniversary of WordPress' initial release, Mullenweg announced a scholarship program aimed at the children of significant contributors to open-source projects. To remain in the program, participants must commit annually to a set of principles.[50]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b A new CEO for Automattic Archived 2014-02-18 at the Wayback Machine. Toni.org. Retrieved on 2014-05-23.
  2. ^ "Projects". WordPress Foundation. 22 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  3. ^ Solomon, Benjamin (1 April 2014). "WordPress' Matt Mullenweg on Calm, Childish Gambino, and Giving Up His iPhone for Lent". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 30 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  4. ^ Hardigree, Matt (27 January 2006). "Matt Mullenweg, the Houstonian behind WordPress". Houstonist. Archived from the original on 5 July 2007. Matt grew up in Meyer Park/Willowbend
  5. ^ "Cardinal Blogging". Matt Mullenweg. 2006-10-03. Archived from the original on 2022-11-02. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
  6. ^ a b c Guy Raz (21 March 2022). "WordPress & Automattic: Matt Mullenweg". How I Built This (Podcast). Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Former UH Student Helps People Find Their Voice on the Web Frustration with blogging software led Matt Mullenweg to create WordPress | Give". University of Houston. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  8. ^ Drell, Lauren. "We Don't Need No Education: Meet the Millionaire Dropouts". AOL Small Business. Archived from the original on 2014-05-05. Retrieved 2012-03-13.
  9. ^ a b Matusow, Cathy (October 28, 2004). "The Blog Age". Houston Press. Archived from the original on April 10, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
  10. ^ "Evolution of b2, 180° from WordPress!". b2evolution.net. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  11. ^ Kaufmann, Zach (January 2009). "Do You Blog on WordPress? Thank Matt Mullenweg". Young Money. 7 (6): 2. ISSN 1098-8300. Archived from the original on 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  12. ^ "Spring Ping Thing". Photo Matt. 2004-04-19. Archived from the original on 2007-11-27.
  13. ^ Matt (2004-10-28). "Houston Press and CNET". Matt Mullenweg. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  14. ^ "Leaving CNET". Ma.tt. October 21, 2005. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  15. ^ "Akismet Stops Spam". Ma.tt. October 26, 2005. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  16. ^ "A new CEO for Automattic". Toni Schneider. January 13, 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  17. ^ Tim Ferriss (2 January 2024). "#713: Matt Mullenweg — The Art of Crafting a Sabbatical, Tips for Defending Against Hackers, Leveraging Open Source, Thriving in an AI World, and Tips for Life's Darkest Hours". The Tim Ferriss Show (Podcast). Archived from the original on 14 April 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  18. ^ "WordCamp 2006". WordPress Book. 22 November 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  19. ^ "About". WP Tavern. 11 January 2009. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024. It wasn't until May 20th, 2013 when everyone was informed as to who the new owner was. It was none other than Matt Mullenweg.
  20. ^ Michelle Frechette (9 February 2024). "Special Episode with Matt Mullenweg". WP Constellations (Podcast). StellarWP. Event occurs at 25:40. Archived from the original on 1 October 2024. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  21. ^ Mandak, Joe (14 September 2016). "'Trombone Shorty,' 4 others receive $250,000 Heinz Awards". The Washington Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 30 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  22. ^ Mullenweg, Matt (2024-02-02). "Samattical". Matt Mullenweg. Archived from the original on 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  23. ^ Silberling, Amanda (2024-02-23). "Tumblr CEO publicly spars with trans user over account ban, revealing private account names in the process". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  24. ^ de Luna, Elizabeth (2024-02-24). "Tumblr CEO's public 'meltdown' is mocked, memed by users". Mashable. Archived from the original on 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  25. ^ "A message from a few of the trans staff at Tumblr & Automattic". Tumblr. 2024-02-24. Archived from the original on 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  26. ^ Calore, Michael (13 March 2008). "Blog Fight! WordPress and Movable Type Square Off". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  27. ^ Arrington, Michael (2008-03-11). "Six Apart Takes Aim At Wordpress Users; Wordpress Pissed". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  28. ^ Dash, Anil (10 March 2008). "A WordPress 2.5 Upgrade Guide". Movable Type. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008.
  29. ^ Weber, Harrison (23 January 2013). "WordPress.org Bans Themeforest Members from WordCamp". TNW. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  30. ^ Gallagher, Sean (1 November 2016). "Wix gets caught "stealing" GPL code from WordPress". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 30 June 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  31. ^ Yeung, Ken (28 October 2016). "WordPress creator Matt Mullenweg slams Wix: 'Your app editor is built with stolen code'". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  32. ^ Gooding, Sarah (2017-01-21), "Wix Removes GPL-Licensed WordPress Code from Mobile App, Forks Original MIT Library", WP Tavern, retrieved 2024-10-03
  33. ^ Sawers, Paul (2024-09-22), "Matt Mullenweg calls WP Engine a 'cancer to WordPress' and urges community to switch providers", TechCrunch, archived from the original on 2024-10-01, retrieved 2024-09-24
  34. ^ Sawers, Paul (2024-09-22), "Matt Mullenweg calls WP Engine a 'cancer to WordPress' and urges community to switch providers", TechCrunch, archived from the original on 2024-10-01, retrieved 2024-09-24
  35. ^ a b Mehta, Ivan (2024-10-03), "WP Engine sues WordPress co-creator Mullenweg and Automattic, alleging abuse of power", TechCrunch, retrieved 2024-10-04
  36. ^ Mehta, Ivan (2024-09-24), "WP Engine sends cease-and-desist letter to Automattic over Mullenweg's comments", TechCrunch, archived from the original on 2024-09-24, retrieved 2024-09-24
  37. ^ Mehta, Ivan (2024-09-25), "Automattic sends WP Engine its own cease-and-desist over WordPress trademark infringement", TechCrunch, archived from the original on 2024-09-27, retrieved 2024-09-27
  38. ^ Mehta, Ivan (2024-09-26), "WordPress.org bans WP Engine, blocks it from accessing its resources", TechCrunch, archived from the original on 2024-09-26, retrieved 2024-09-26
  39. ^ a b c Mehta, Ivan (2024-09-26), "The WordPress vs. WP Engine drama, explained", TechCrunch, archived from the original on 2024-10-01, retrieved 2024-09-26
  40. ^ Mehta, Ivan (2024-09-28), "WordPress.org temporarily lifts its ban on WP Engine", TechCrunch, archived from the original on 2024-09-28, retrieved 2024-09-28
  41. ^ Mullenweg, Matt (2024-09-27), "WP Engine Reprieve", WordPress.org, archived from the original on 2024-09-27, retrieved 2024-09-28
  42. ^ Davis, Wes (2024-10-12). "WordPress.org's latest move involves taking control of a WP Engine plugin". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
  43. ^ Council, Stephen (October 7, 2024). "After weeks of drama, SF tech CEO gives workers $30,000 to quit".
  44. ^ Cole, Samantha (2024-10-17). "Employees Describe an Environment of Paranoia and Fear Inside Automattic Over WordPress Chaos". 404 Media. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  45. ^ Roth, Emma (2024-12-10). "WordPress parent company must stop blocking WP Engine, judge rules". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  46. ^ a b "Audrey Capital". Audrey.co. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  47. ^ "WordPress Founder Matt Mullenweg Joins the GitLab Board as Company Momentum Hits an All-Time High". GitLab, Inc. Archived from the original on 2019-08-30. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  48. ^ "The WordPress Foundation". WordPress Book. 2015-11-25. Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  49. ^ "EP484 – Whose WordPress is it anyway? – WPwatercooler". 2024-06-20. Archived from the original on 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
  50. ^ "Audrey Scholars". Audrey Capital. 2023-05-25. Archived from the original on 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
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