Joost De Valk
Joost de Valk is the founder of Yoast, the world leading WordPress SEO plugin used by over 13 million websites. A digital strategist and investor, he co leads Emilia Capital, backing startups that champion open source, sustainability and diversity. Formerly Head of WordPress Strategy at Newfold Digital, Joost has worked on high impact SEO projects including The Guardian’s site migration. He continues to advise founders, serve on startup boards and shape the future of the open web through his ventures and mentorship.Biography
Joost de Valk is a pioneering internet entrepreneur, digital strategist and investor whose work has shaped the way millions of websites approach SEO and online growth. As the founder of Yoast, the globally recognised WordPress SEO plugin, Joost helped revolutionise how content creators, publishers and businesses optimise for search. His vision for accessible, user friendly SEO tools led to the creation of a platform that now powers more than 13 million websites around the world.
Before launching Yoast in 2010, Joost had already made a name for himself as a digital marketing consultant, advising some of the world’s largest publishers on SEO strategy. His notable projects include guiding The Guardian through one of the most significant domain migrations in news media, from theguardian.co.uk to theguardian.com. His ability to navigate complex technical challenges and translate them into measurable growth became a hallmark of his early career.
Following the success of Yoast, Joost transitioned into the role of Head of WordPress Strategy at Newfold Digital after Yoast’s acquisition in 2021. In that role, he worked to align WordPress based offerings across the company’s global portfolio with emerging market needs, further deepening his impact on the open web.
Alongside his wife and business partner, Marieke, Joost co founded Emilia Capital, an investment firm focused on supporting startups in open source, sustainability and female led entrepreneurship. Through Emilia Capital, Joost currently serves on the board of companies such as Atarim and PatchStack, and remains actively involved in mentoring founders and guiding product development. Recent initiatives also include launching Progress Planner, a tool built to support focused personal growth and productivity.
Joost’s commitment to the values of the open web and digital accessibility extends beyond his business ventures. He is a vocal supporter of sustainable technology and inclusive leadership, and continues to champion women in tech through both investment and advocacy. Based in Wijchen, the Netherlands, Joost balances his professional life with family, coaching youth football at his local club and enjoying time in the Tuscan countryside.
With over a decade of leadership in WordPress, SEO, and digital product strategy, Joost de Valk remains one of the most trusted and forward thinking voices in the digital space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Joost de Valk founded Yoast, the world’s most popular SEO plugin for WordPress. Through Emilia Capital, he is also actively involved with companies like PatchStack, Atarim and Equalize Digital. He continues to mentor startups and guide product direction. Joost de Valk founded Yoast, the world’s most popular SEO plugin for WordPress. Through Emilia Capital, he is also actively involved with companies like PatchStack, Atarim and Equalize Digital. He continues to mentor startups and guide product direction.
Joost de Valk speaks on a wide range of subjects including SEO, WordPress strategy, open source development, digital product growth, sustainable technology, and startup investment. He also covers the future of the open web, and how businesses can better align their digital strategies with market needs.
Joost de Valk’s insights are ideal for product teams, digital marketers, startup founders, WordPress developers, and executives looking to grow digital businesses. Whether the audience is technical or strategic, he brings clarity and actionable direction to both.
Joost de Valk is passionate about the open web, sustainability, and promoting female leadership in tech. These principles guide his investments, mentorship and speaking topics, making his talks especially relevant for audiences focused on ethical innovation and inclusive digital growth.