After acquiring messaging apps Beeper and Texts.com, the owner of WordPress.com, Automattic, has expanded its portfolio with the relationship-management app, Clay. Although the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, Clay has previously secured over $9 million in venture funding from notable investors.
Launched in 2021, Clay functions as an advanced address book or personal CRM, helping users maintain connections by gathering data from platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp, and calendars. This allows users to stay informed about contacts’ job changes, relocations, social updates, and more. The app lets users add personal notes, track interactions, and see a timeline of engagements, making connection management more intuitive.
Clay has also incorporated AI with a feature named Nexus, which answers questions about your network, like identifying contacts within specific companies or suggesting connections in a particular city. Nexus aims to seamlessly integrate into your daily workflow.
With the acquisition finalized, Clay’s team, including co-founders Zachary Hamed and Matthew Achariam, is joining Automattic’s Other Bets Division, which also houses Beeper and Gravatar. Achariam emphasized the shared mission with Automattic of enhancing relationship management, ensuring their features remain user-focused.
Automattic saw the potential for Clay to integrate into its broader ecosystem, especially with universal chat app Beeper. The founders are optimistic about the app’s future and its enduring presence post-acquisition, contrasting with the typical fate of smart address book startups.
Hamed expressed excitement about the long-term vision, aiming for Clay to eventually serve as an identity layer for various tools. Although no concrete timelines or pricing changes have been disclosed, Clay currently offers a freemium model with paid plans starting at $10 monthly.
Both companies align on values, particularly the significance of open source, which was pivotal to the acquisition. Clay’s team is eager to explore integrations with open technologies like ActivityPub and AT Protocol.
While user numbers weren’t shared, Clay manages over 150 million relationships and is accessible across macOS, Windows, iOS, and the web.
