Yves Behar’s “Smart” Lock Startup August Raises $8 Million

Open sez-VCs.

News Byte

Tiger Global Invests Another $75M in Automattic, Buying Out VC Shares

Tiger Global has led a $75 million purchase of Automattic stock, mostly buying out the WordPress.com company’s venture capital investor Polaris Partners, said founder Matt Mullenweg. The Wall Street Journal reported that the deal valued the company at a 25 percent higher valuation than in May, when Tiger Global bought $50 million worth of stock from Automattic shareholders.

New Media

I think there is always a space for both. Whenever there’s a new form of media we always think it’s going to replace the old thing and it never does. We still have radio, however long after TV was introduced.

Matt Mullenweg, on old media being displaced by new media, from an interview with Martin Nisenholtz

Photomattic

It’s really hard not to be distracted by the things you think you should be doing, or that you see other businesses doing, and focus in on what actually matters to your chosen business day in and day out.

— WordPress founder Matt Mullenweg, during his Reddit AMA session, offering advice on running a startup

Tumblr Porn, Tim Cook and the Problem With Big Data — 10 Things You Need to See on AllThingsD This Week

The week in AllThingsD, in one convenient post. You’re welcome!

News Byte

Big Blog Bet, Round 2! Tiger Global Puts $50 Million Into WordPress.

It’s a big week for blogs: Tiger Global Management has invested $50 million in Automattic, the parent company of blogging platform WordPress.com. Automattic founder Matt Mullenweg said Tiger is buying the shares from early investors and employees, but said the sellers will hold on to “the vast majority” of their Automattic holdings. The announcement comes days after Yahoo’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Tumblr (CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that Tiger Global was associated with Tiger Management founder Julian Robertson).

WordPress’s Matt Mullenweg Talks About Future of Blogging in a SXSW Pedicab

Rolling through the analog streets of Austin on a digital day.

Automattic’s Matt Mullenweg on the Importance of Working Remotely

Strong words from the man behind WordPress on Marissa Mayer’s recent work-from-home mandate.

WordPress's Matt Mullenweg Speaks!