Slack is one of the most popular communication tools in the world. It’s used by millions of people every day at work. But have you ever wondered, “Who owns Slack?” Today, we’re diving into that exact question. And don’t worry—we’ll keep it fun and easy to understand!
What Is Slack, Anyway?
Before we talk ownership, let’s first talk about what Slack even is. Slack is a messaging platform built for teams. You can send messages, share files, create channels—you name it.
It’s like texting meets email meets teamwork magic. People love it because it helps them work better together without drowning in emails.
Where Did It All Begin?
Slack wasn’t always Slack. It started as part of a company that was doing something totally different. Let’s go back in time!
The Game That Gave Us Slack
Back in 2009, a team led by Stewart Butterfield was working on an online game called Glitch. The game didn’t last long, but something amazing came out of it.
While building the game, the team created a tool to chat and share updates. That tool became what we now know as Slack!
Slack Is Born
In 2013, Stewart and his team realized they had something special. They shifted focus from the game to the chat tool. They launched Slack in August 2013.
And it took off—fast. Teams around the world started using Slack to communicate. It grew super quickly and became a tech darling.
Who Originally Owned Slack?
Slack was created by a startup called Tiny Speck. This company was founded by Stewart Butterfield, the same guy who co-founded Flickr (the photo-sharing site).
So, when Slack first came out, it was owned by Tiny Speck. But as it grew and started raising money, more investors got involved.
Early Investors
Slack raised money from big venture capital firms. Some of these included:
- Andreessen Horowitz
- Accel
- GV (Google Ventures)
- SoftBank
These investors got a piece of the company in return for funding. But Stewart Butterfield remained the CEO and a major owner.
Going Public: Slack’s IPO
In June 2019, Slack went public. That means people could buy shares of Slack stock on the open market. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “WORK”.
Going public gave people a chance to own a small part of the company. It also meant even more big players could invest in Slack.
So, Who Owns Slack Now?
Here’s the twist—Slack is no longer an independent company!
In 2021, Slack was bought by a much bigger tech company. Ready to find out who? Drumroll, please…
Salesforce Buys Slack
In July 2021, Salesforce officially bought Slack for a whopping $27.7 billion. That’s one of the biggest tech deals of all time!
So yes, Slack is now owned by Salesforce.
Salesforce is a cloud-based software company. It’s most famous for its customer relationship management (CRM) tools. They wanted Slack to improve teamwork and communication in the workplace.
Why Did Salesforce Buy Slack?
Great question! Here’s why:
- To compete with Microsoft Teams
- To strengthen its business software offerings
- To create a unified platform for work communication
Slack fits perfectly with Salesforce’s vision of being the digital HQ for businesses.
Who Owns Salesforce?
Since Salesforce owns Slack, let’s talk about Salesforce for a second.
Salesforce is a public company. That means it’s owned by lots of shareholders—people and institutions who own stock.
The company was co-founded by Marc Benioff, who is also its CEO. He’s one of the biggest individual shareholders. Other owners include investment firms like:
- The Vanguard Group
- BlackRock
- Fidelity Investments
So, technically, if you own Salesforce stock, you also own a small piece of Slack!
What Happened After the Deal?
After the acquisition, Slack became part of Salesforce’s ecosystem. But don’t worry—Slack didn’t disappear or change too much.
It’s still called Slack. It still looks and works the way users love.
But now it’s more connected to Salesforce tools like Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, and more.
Leadership Changes
Stewart Butterfield stayed on for a while after the sale, but in December 2022, he announced he’d be stepping down. A new leader from Salesforce took over to guide Slack’s future.
What Does This Mean for Users?
So, you might be thinking, “Does it matter that Salesforce owns Slack?” Well, sort of.
Here’s what’s different:
- Slack is now part of a bigger system of tools
- Salesforce may add extra features and integrations
- The pricing structure may change over time
But here’s what hasn’t changed:
- Slack still works great on its own
- You don’t have to use Salesforce to use Slack
- Slack continues to improve and grow
Interesting Facts About Slack
Here are some fun tidbits you might not know:
- “Slack” stands for Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge
- Slack was used by over 12 million people daily before the acquisition
- The first version of Slack was built in just 6 weeks
Why Is Slack So Popular?
Slack made workplace chat fun and easy. It felt different from boring old email. People could:
- Create channels for projects
- Use emojis and GIFs
- Work in real time
- Integrate with tools like Google Drive and Zoom
It became a go-to choice for startups, tech companies, and even big enterprises.
Conclusion: Who Owns Slack Today?
Alright, let’s wrap it all up in a quick summary:
- Slack was created by Stewart Butterfield in 2013
- It started as a tool inside a gaming company
- Slack went public in 2019
- Salesforce bought Slack in 2021 for $27.7 billion
- Today, Slack is part of the Salesforce family
So, who owns Slack? Salesforce does. And through them, thousands of investors—and maybe even you—own a little piece of this amazing tool.
Even though ownership has changed, one thing remains the same: Slack is still one of the best ways to work with your team.
Now that you know all about Slack’s journey, go ahead and impress your coworkers with your newfound Slack knowledge!