# WordPress & Automattic: Matt Mullenweg

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-03-21
- Length: 1h 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg

## Summary

Matt Mullenweg, founder of Automattic and co-creator of WordPress, explains how he transitioned from a hobbyist blogging platform to a $7 billion company. He details the early collaboration with Mike Little, the strategic decision to retain intellectual property at CNET, and the pivotal launch of WordPress.com. Mullenweg also discusses the accidental spam scandal, the rejection of a $200 million acquisition offer, and Automattic’s unique remote-first culture and open-source licensing strategy.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=0) Introduction: Matt Mullenweg and Automattic
- [4:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=257) Early Life: Music, Computers, and Open Source
- [10:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=642) Forking B2 and Creating WordPress
- [23:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=1389) Working at CNET and Retaining IP
- [32:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=1937) Pitching and Launching WordPress.com
- [40:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=2431) The Spam Scandal and Google Blacklist
- [44:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=2678) Akismet and Raising Seed Funding
- [52:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=3168) Rejecting the $200 Million Acquisition
- [59:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=3559) Building a Remote-First Culture
- [1:15:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg#t=4528) Acquisitions, Valuation, and Future Plans

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- WordPress (product)
- Automattic (company)
- CNET (company)
- Mike Little (other)
- B2/cafelog (product)
- Akismet (product)
- Tumblr (product)
- Wicks (company)

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- [Tool of the Week Segment | Episode 31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/built-2-scale/2025-12-04-tool-of-the-week-segment-episode-31) (Built 2 Scale)
- [Episode 182: Been trying to sell out for years](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-09-07-episode-182-been-trying-to-sell-out-for-years) (Making It)
- [S7E18 Aaron Moncur | Building Pipeline, the Being An Engineer Podcast, and Engineering Communities](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-04-24-s7e18-aaron-moncur-building-pipeline-the-being-an-engineer-podcast-and-engineeri) (Being an Engineer)
- [Ep. 23 | Arduino Co-founder Massimo Banzi on How Arduino Took the World by Storm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-04-29-ep-23-arduino-co-founder-massimo-banzi-on-how-arduino-took-the-world-by-storm) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

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