US-based online publishing and e-commerce group Automattic raised $300m in series D funding yesterday from Salesforce Ventures, enterprise software producer Salesforce’s corporate venturing arm, at a reported $3bn valuation.
Automattic is best known for its blogging and content management platform WordPress but also oversees WordPress-affiliated offerings such as open-source e-commerce tool WooCommerce and cybersecurity and site management product Jetpack.
Salesforce’s investment will be used to strengthen the overall ecosystem for WordPress, which Automattic claims powers more than 34% of all websites. The companies will also explore opportunities to work with each other, an Automattic spokesperson told VentureBeat.
Matt Mullenweg, the Automattic CEO who is also co-founder of WordPress, said: “The investment and partnership with Salesforce represents a tremendous vote of confidence in Automattic’s business and the future of the open web.”
The deal comes in the wake of $160m in series C funding from Insight Partners, True Ventures, Tiger Global Management, Iconiq Capital and Chris Sacca in 2014 at a $1.16bn valuation.
Media company New York Times participated in the company’s $29.5m series B round in 2008 together with True Ventures, Polaris Partners and Radar Partners.
Automattic had already raised $1.1m in a 2005 series A round featuring CNet, a digital media company since acquired by broadcaster CBS, as well as Polaris Partners, Blacksmith Capital and Radar Partners. This week however, it only listed Insight Partners, Tiger Global and True Ventures as its other investors.
