Matt Mullenweg is the visionary co-founder of WordPress, the open-source platform that powers over 43% of the web, and the founder and CEO of Automattic, the company behind major digital products like WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and Jetpack. His central mission in life is to democratize publishing, commerce, and messaging by building tools that make the web a better and more accessible place for everyone.
Mullenweg is also a pioneer of the distributed work model, having built Automattic into an entirely distributed company with over 1,900 employees working across more than 90 countries without a physical headquarters. This commitment to location-independence is a major component of his professional philosophy. His insights on this future of work are shared on his podcast and website, Distributed.blog.
Beyond his role at Automattic, Mullenweg advises and invests in startups through his company, Audrey Capital. His goals transcend mere technological innovation; he writes code, poetry, prose, and music, often in support of his mission but also to make the world a more beautiful place. This blend of engineering, entrepreneurship, and creativity has earned him recognition from publications including Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Vanity Fair.
As a speaker, Mullenweg brings a unique perspective on the power of open-source software and the future of the web. He delivers his annual "State of the Word" address to the WordPress community, celebrating the project's 20-year history. His presentations are deeply informed by his extensive global travel and his commitment to non-profits focused on digital rights, basic survival issues, and technology access, making him a compelling voice on the future of work and technology.
