Hustler Words – Automattic, the powerhouse behind WordPress.com, continues its acquisition spree, snapping up relationship management app Clay. Following the acquisitions of Beeper and Texts.com, this strategic move adds a powerful identity layer to Automattic’s growing communication ecosystem. While financial details remain undisclosed, Clay, which had secured over $9 million in venture funding from prominent investors like General Catalyst and Forerunner Ventures, will retain its independent operation while gradually integrating with Automattic’s existing products, notably Beeper.
Launched in 2021, Clay functions as a sophisticated address book and personal CRM, intelligently aggregating data from various sources including LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp, X, and personal calendars. Users can effortlessly track key life events of their contacts—job changes, relocations, social media updates—and add personalized notes, creating a comprehensive and dynamic network profile. The app’s AI-powered Nexus feature further enhances functionality, enabling users to query their network for specific individuals or connections, streamlining professional networking and daily workflow.
The acquisition, finalized last week, includes the integration of Clay’s talented team, including co-founders Zachary Hamed and Matthew Achariam, into Automattic. Achariam emphasizes the company’s commitment to fostering relationships and promoting mindful networking, a mission perfectly aligned with Automattic’s broader vision. Hamed highlights the long-term vision for Clay’s development within Automattic, emphasizing a commitment to its continued growth and evolution, unlike many similar startups that are often absorbed and subsequently shut down.
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Automattic’s decision to acquire Clay stems from its potential to seamlessly integrate into its existing platform, particularly Beeper, the unified messaging app. The long-term strategy involves transforming Clay into a robust identity layer for a wide range of Automattic tools. While specifics regarding timelines and pricing adjustments remain undisclosed, Clay currently operates on a freemium model, with paid plans starting at $10 per month for individual users and $40 per seat per month for teams.
The acquisition reflects a shared ethos between Clay and Automattic, particularly their mutual appreciation for open-source technologies. Achariam notes the alignment of values, emphasizing their shared belief in the transformative power of open-source development. Clay’s team is actively exploring integration with other open technologies like ActivityPub (used by Mastodon) and AT Protocol (used by Bluesky). While user numbers remain undisclosed, Clay boasts an impressive management of over 150 million relationships, accessible across macOS, Windows, iOS, and web platforms. This acquisition positions Automattic to further solidify its dominance in the communication and collaboration space.
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