Alexandra Levit
Founder & CEO, Inspiration at Work | Wall Street Journal Columnist | Bestselling Author of Humanity Works & Deep Talent | Thinkers50 Radar
Matt Mullenweg
Co-Creator of WordPress | Founder & CEO, Automattic | Pioneer of Distributed Work & Open-Source Innovation
Co-creator of WordPress and CEO of Automattic, speaker Matt Mullenweg built the platform behind over 40 percent of all websites. A pioneer of distributed work who runs a global team across 90+ countries, he offers unmatched perspective on scaling open-source businesses. His keynotes equip leaders with strategies for remote teams, entrepreneurial growth, and digital innovation.
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Matt Mullenweg biography
Entrepreneurship speaker Matt Mullenweg is the co-creator of WordPress, the open-source platform that powers over 40 percent of all websites, and the founder and CEO of Automattic, one of the most influential technology companies in the world. His journey from teenage blogger to leader of a global software ecosystem has made him a compelling voice on entrepreneurship, open-source innovation, and the future of distributed work.
Mullenweg launched WordPress in 2003, at age nineteen, when the blogging platform he relied on was abandoned by its developer. What began as a community-driven fork has evolved into the dominant content management system on the internet, trusted by organizations ranging from The New York Times to the White House. He founded Automattic to develop WordPress.com alongside products including WooCommerce, the leading open-source eCommerce platform, and Jetpack, building a company with employees spanning more than 90 countries.
Pioneer of Distributed Work
Long before the remote-work revolution, Mullenweg built Automattic as a fully distributed company. He closed the company’s San Francisco headquarters in 2017 after realizing almost no one used it, making Automattic one of the largest fully remote companies in the world. His widely viewed TED talk on why working from home is good for business has helped shape how organizations worldwide approach flexibility, autonomy, and productivity. He has shared these insights through his Distributed blog and podcast, which have become essential resources for leaders navigating the shift to remote and hybrid models.
Through Audrey Capital, his investment firm, Mullenweg advises and invests in early-stage startups. He is an active philanthropist, supporting organizations including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Innocence Project. Named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and recognized by Bloomberg Businessweek as one of the most influential people on the web, Mullenweg continues to shape how we build, share, and collaborate online.
As a speaker, Matt Mullenweg delivers actionable insights on building entrepreneurial ventures at scale, leading distributed teams, and harnessing the power of open-source communities to drive innovation.
Matt Mullenweg Speaking Videos
Matt Mullenweg - Why Distributed Workplaces Are More Productive Than Offices
Matt Mullenweg - Why working from home is good for business
Matt Mullenweg Keynote Topics
Matt Mullenweg did not wait for a pandemic to prove that distributed work could succeed at scale. As the CEO of Automattic, he has led a fully remote workforce spanning more than 90 countries for over a decade. In this keynote, Mullenweg shares the frameworks, tools, and cultural principles that make distributed teams not just viable, but more productive and fulfilled than their office-bound counterparts. He addresses the real challenges — communication, trust, asynchronous collaboration, and maintaining culture — and provides practical strategies that leaders can implement immediately. Whether your organization is fully remote, hybrid, or exploring flexible models for the first time, this talk delivers a blueprint grounded in years of real-world experience.
At nineteen, Matt Mullenweg forked an abandoned blogging tool and turned it into the platform behind over 40 percent of all websites on the internet. In this keynote, he traces the entrepreneurial journey of WordPress and Automattic, revealing the strategic decisions, failures, and counterintuitive choices that turned an open-source project into a multi-billion-dollar ecosystem. Mullenweg explores the tensions between community and commerce, the power of giving your product away for free, and why the most resilient businesses are built on open platforms. This talk is essential for executives, founders, and innovation leaders who want to understand how open-source thinking can create durable competitive advantage.
The internet is evolving rapidly, and the platforms we build on will determine who benefits from that transformation. Matt Mullenweg offers a unique vantage point as the steward of WordPress, the infrastructure layer beneath a vast portion of the global web. In this forward-looking keynote, he examines the forces reshaping the digital landscape — from artificial intelligence and decentralized technologies to the growing tension between open and closed ecosystems. Mullenweg makes the case that open-source principles are not just good ethics but sound business strategy, and he challenges leaders to think critically about the platforms they depend on and the digital future they are building.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Matt Mullenweg
Why Matt Mullenweg?
Matt Mullenweg is not a theorist — he is the builder behind one of the most consequential technology platforms in history. WordPress powers over 40 percent of all websites, and as CEO of Automattic, Mullenweg leads one of the world's largest fully distributed companies. His keynotes combine the hard-won lessons of building a multi-billion-dollar open-source ecosystem with a practical, candid style that resonates with executives, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders alike. He is one of the few speakers who can speak with equal authority on entrepreneurship, distributed work, and the future of the internet. Book Matt Mullenweg through Aurum Speakers Bureau for a keynote that delivers strategic insight and actionable takeaways.
What is WordPress and why is it so influential?
WordPress is an open-source content management system that powers over 40 percent of all websites on the internet, from personal blogs to enterprise sites for organizations like The New York Times and the White House. Co-created by Matt Mullenweg in 2003, it has grown from a simple blogging tool into the dominant web publishing platform in the world. Its open-source model means anyone can use, modify, and extend the software for free, which has fostered an enormous global community of developers, designers, and businesses. WordPress and its ecosystem, including WooCommerce for online stores and Jetpack for site security and performance, form a significant portion of the internet's infrastructure.
How does Automattic operate as a fully distributed company?
Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, and Jetpack, operates with a fully distributed workforce spanning more than 90 countries — with no central office. Founded by Matt Mullenweg, the company closed its San Francisco headquarters in 2017 and has since become one of the most studied examples of distributed work at scale. Automattic relies on asynchronous communication, written documentation, and purpose-built collaboration tools to maintain productivity and culture across time zones. The model has proven that large, complex technology companies can thrive without traditional office environments.
What makes Matt Mullenweg a compelling keynote speaker?
Matt Mullenweg brings a rare combination of builder credibility and big-picture thinking to the stage. Having created one of the internet's foundational platforms and led a fully distributed global company for over a decade, he speaks from direct experience rather than theory. His talks are known for being candid, insight-rich, and immediately applicable, covering topics from entrepreneurship and open-source strategy to the future of work. He connects with audiences across industries because his lessons — on resilience, distributed leadership, and building for the long term — transcend technology. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring Matt Mullenweg to your next event.
How to book Matt Mullenweg as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Matt Mullenweg as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Matt Mullenweg's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Matt Mullenweg or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Matt Mullenweg speaking fee?
Matt Mullenweg speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Matt Mullenweg to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Matt Mullenweg.
How can I contact Matt Mullenweg?
We only work with Matt Mullenweg on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Matt Mullenweg and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Matt Mullenweg speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Matt Mullenweg for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Matt Mullenweg for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Matt Mullenweg is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Matt Mullenweg for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
