Equity Why Automattic spent $50M on Texts.com
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Dec 13, 2023 
Matt Mullenweg, CEO of Automattic and co-founder of WordPress, and Kishan Bagaria, founder of Texts.com, dive into Automattic's $50 million acquisition of Texts.com, exploring the evolving internet landscape. They discuss the importance of user control amid a shift to mobile platforms and the emotional journey of founders selling their companies. The conversation highlights the role of open-source technologies in enhancing digital freedom and privacy while considering the complexities of app distribution and community engagement.
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TechCrunch's Reliance on WordPress
- TechCrunch, a WordPress VIP customer, relies on the platform for its website.
- The site rarely goes down, and when it does, it's usually TechCrunch's fault, not WordPress's.
The Internet's Shift Towards Closed Systems
- The internet has become more siloed and closed off since the introduction of the iPhone.
- This is due to the substantial investments in closed mobile operating systems and social media platforms.
Texts.com's Origin
- Texts.com founder, Kishan Bagaria, initially created the platform as a personal project.
- It gained popularity among friends and then organically spread as users sought solutions for managing multiple inboxes.