Joost de Valk

Board Member, Patchstack
Arnhem-Nijmegen Region,Netherlands
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Who Is Joost de Valk?

Total Experience51 years
CompanyPatchstack
CountryNetherlands

Joost de Valk is a renowned Dutch internet entrepreneur, SEO expert, and software developer, best known as the founder of Yoast, the company behind the ubiquitous Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress. He started his career in the early 2000s and quickly became a prominent figure in the SEO and WordPress communities. With Yoast SEO, he made search engine optimization accessible to millions of website owners worldwide, significantly impacting how websites approach online visibility. After Yoast's acquisition by Newfold Digital in 2021, Joost has transitioned into roles as an advisor, angel investor through his firm Emilia Capital, and continues to share his insights on SEO, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship through his blog and speaking engagements. He is passionate about open source and making the web a better, more accessible place for everyone.

How Did Joost de Valk's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

Joost de Valk's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

Patchstack - Board Member(2024 to Present)
sv AWC Wijchen - Board member Communications & digitization(2023 to Present)
Atarim - Board Member(2022 to Present)
Emilia Capital - Partner(2010 to Present)
WordProof - Advisor(2020 to Present)
Newfold Digital - Head of WordPress Strategy(2022 to 2023)
Yoast BV - Advisor(2022 to 2023)
Yoast.com - Founder & Chief Product Officer(2019 to 2022)
Quix - Founder & Lead Developer(2010 to 2020)
WordPress - Marketing & Communications Lead(2019 to 2019)
Student.com - Advisor(2015 to 2017)

What Are Joost de Valk's Key Achievements?

Founder of Yoast

Founded Yoast in 2010, growing it into a leading SEO software company globally recognized for its WordPress plugins, notably Yoast SEO.

Creator of Yoast SEO Plugin

Developed the Yoast SEO plugin, which has become an essential tool for millions of WordPress websites, democratizing SEO for a vast audience and helping them improve their search engine rankings.

Influential SEO Expert and Speaker

Widely recognized as a leading authority in SEO, regularly speaking at international conferences (like WordCamps, SMX, Pubcon) and sharing knowledge through influential blog posts and articles.

Successful Company Acquisition

Successfully led Yoast to its acquisition by Newfold Digital in 2021, marking a significant milestone in his entrepreneurial journey and a testament to the company's impact.

Angel Investor and Advisor (Emilia Capital)

Currently active as an angel investor and advisor through his investment firm Emilia Capital, supporting and mentoring new tech startups, particularly in the WordPress and SaaS ecosystems.

Contributor to WordPress Core

Has actively contributed to the WordPress open-source project, including roles like Marketing and Communications lead for WordPress 5.0.

What's Joost de Valk's Educational Background?

Theology

Radboud University - Year 2002

International Business an Management

HAN University of Applied Sciences - Year 2001

Theology

Radboud University Nijmegen - Year 2000

VWO, VWO

Stedelijk Gymnasium Nijmegen - Year 1994

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Notable news
Hiring actively
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Company Overview

Patchstack
Total employees41
HeadquartersTallinn
Founded2020

Patchstack is a cybersecurity company dedicated to securing WordPress websites. They focus on identifying and addressing vulnerabilities within WordPress plugins, themes, and core software. Patchstack provides a vulnerability database, early warnings for new threats, and virtual patching solutions to help website owners, developers, and hosting companies protect their sites from attacks, even before official fixes are released or applied.

Patchstack Funding Information
Unknown - Total Funding Raised
$1.4M - Most recent funding amount
2 - Number of funding rounds
2 Nov, 2021 - Latest funding round
Lead Investors:
Icebreaker.vc
Tera Ventures
Expedite Ventures
Presto Ventures

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