Slack is a widely used business communication platform. Known for its channels and seamless integration, it has transformed workplace collaboration. But many users still wonder: who owns Slack? This article explores Slack’s ownership, key shareholders, net worth, leadership, and its affiliated companies.
Slack Profile
Slack is a cloud-based messaging platform designed for teams and organizations. It offers real-time messaging, file sharing, searchable archives, and integration with numerous third-party applications. The platform is known for its user-friendly interface and its ability to replace internal emails with structured communication. It supports direct messages, group conversations, and dedicated “channels” for specific topics, teams, or projects.
Originally, Slack was developed as an internal communication tool by a company building an online game. Its usefulness outshone the game itself, leading the founders to pivot fully to the messaging tool. Today, Slack is widely used by companies of all sizes—from startups to Fortune 500 firms.
Founding and Early Development
Slack was founded in 2009 by Stewart Butterfield, Eric Costello, Cal Henderson, and Serguei Mourachov. They were initially building a game called Glitch under a company named Tiny Speck. The game didn’t succeed, but the communication tool they used internally showed strong potential.
The founders shut down the game and launched Slack as a standalone product in August 2013. Within 24 hours of launch, over 8,000 companies signed up to try the platform.
Major Milestones
- 2013: Slack launched publicly. Early adoption surged through word of mouth and user referrals.
- 2014: Raised $42.75 million in Series C funding, bringing total funding to over $120 million. Slack was valued at over $1 billion, becoming a “unicorn.”
- 2016: Microsoft introduced Teams as a competing product. Slack responded with a full-page ad welcoming the competition and reaffirming its focus on user experience.
- 2019: Slack went public through a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “WORK.”
- 2020: Announced acquisition by Salesforce in a deal worth $27.7 billion.
- 2021: Salesforce completed the acquisition, and Slack became a wholly owned subsidiary.
- 2022–2025: Slack continued to evolve under Salesforce, integrating more deeply with products like Salesforce CRM, Tableau, and MuleSoft.
Company Details
- Founded: 2009 (Slack product launched in 2013)
- Founders: Stewart Butterfield, Cal Henderson, Eric Costello, Serguei Mourachov
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, United States
- Industry: Business Communication and Collaboration Software
- Parent Company: Salesforce, Inc.
- Employees: Estimated over 2,000 (as part of Salesforce’s workforce)
- Core Services: Messaging, Channels, Slack Connect (external collaboration), Workflow Builder, App integrations
- Supported Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux.
Who Owns Slack in 2025?
Slack is no longer an independent company. It is now fully owned by Salesforce, Inc., a global leader in customer relationship management (CRM) software. The platform, once traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WORK, was acquired by Salesforce in a massive deal finalized in 2021.
Parent Company: Salesforce, Inc.
Salesforce is a cloud-based software company founded by Marc Benioff in 1999. It offers a suite of tools focused on customer service, sales automation, analytics, and more. Headquartered in San Francisco, Salesforce is one of the most valuable software companies in the world.
Slack became a part of Salesforce’s Customer 360 platform—an initiative aimed at providing integrated business services. Through Slack, Salesforce enhanced its collaboration tools, connecting internal teams and external partners within its ecosystem.
Acquisition Insights: How and Why Slack Was Acquired
Salesforce announced its intention to acquire Slack on December 1, 2020. The deal was structured as a $27.7 billion cash-and-stock transaction—one of the largest in the history of the software industry. Salesforce completed the acquisition on July 21, 2021.
Slack shareholders received $26.79 in cash and 0.0776 shares of Salesforce common stock for each Slack share they held. After the deal closed, Slack’s shares were delisted from the NYSE, and it ceased to operate as a publicly traded company.
Why Salesforce Acquired Slack
Salesforce acquired Slack to strengthen its position in the competitive market of enterprise software and collaboration tools. It wanted to directly compete with Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace. Slack provided Salesforce with a communication layer that could connect teams, apps, and workflows in one place.
Marc Benioff described the acquisition as “a match made in heaven,” calling Slack the “central nervous system for the new way to work.”
Changes in Ownership and Structure
After the acquisition:
- Slack became a business unit within Salesforce, not a standalone public company.
- Stewart Butterfield, Slack’s co-founder and CEO, stayed on for a while but later left the company in late 2022.
- Slack began to integrate more tightly with Salesforce products like Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Tableau, and MuleSoft.
While Slack retains its branding and product identity, its strategic direction is now controlled by Salesforce leadership.
Institutional Ownership (Post-Acquisition)
Since Slack is part of Salesforce, its indirect ownership reflects Salesforce’s shareholder base. These are the largest institutional holders of Salesforce shares, and by extension, have an indirect stake in Slack:
- Vanguard Group – Holds approximately 8% of Salesforce shares.
- BlackRock – Owns around 7%.
- Fidelity, State Street, T. Rowe Price – Other major investors with significant holdings.
- Marc Benioff, Salesforce’s co-founder and CEO, also holds personal shares and wields considerable influence over company strategy.
Operational Control
Operational control of Slack lies with Salesforce’s senior management. While Slack has its own leadership and engineering teams, major decisions—such as funding, integrations, product strategy, and long-term roadmap—are aligned with Salesforce’s corporate objectives. Slack’s CEO currently reports to Salesforce’s top leadership.
Slack continues to operate under its own brand and domain, but it is considered a strategic product within the larger Salesforce suite.
Who is the CEO of Slack?
As of 2025, Denise Dresser serves as the CEO of Slack Technologies. She assumed the role in November 2023, succeeding Lidiane Jones, who departed to become CEO of Bumble Inc. Dresser, a seasoned executive with over a decade at Salesforce, brings extensive experience in enterprise sales and industry leadership to her position at Slack.
Leadership Background
Denise Dresser began her tenure at Salesforce in 2011 as a regional vice president of its enterprise business unit. Over the years, she held several key positions, including Executive Vice President of Enterprise Sales and President of Accelerated Industries. In these roles, she was instrumental in driving customer success and innovation across various sectors.
Before joining Salesforce, Dresser held leadership roles at Oracle and Hyperion Solutions and worked at Arthur Andersen. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business/management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Vision and Strategic Focus
Under Dresser’s leadership, Slack is focusing on integrating generative AI to enhance user experience. She has emphasized the potential of AI-powered features, such as summarization of threads and channels, to streamline workflows and reduce information overload for users.
Dresser is also addressing the challenge of balancing Slack’s identity as a standalone brand while ensuring seamless integration within the Salesforce ecosystem. This includes attracting non-Salesforce customers and providing enhanced value to existing Salesforce users.
Leadership Transition
Dresser’s appointment followed a period of executive turnover at Slack. She succeeded Lidiane Jones, who served as CEO for less than a year before leaving to lead Bumble Inc. Prior to Jones, Slack was led by its co-founder Stewart Butterfield, who stepped down in late 2022.
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff expressed strong support for Dresser’s leadership, highlighting her commitment to customer success and innovation. He described her as a collaborative technology leader who brings teams together and is deeply committed to Salesforce’s values.
As CEO, Denise Dresser is steering Slack through a critical phase, focusing on innovation, integration, and growth within the competitive landscape of enterprise communication platforms.
Slack Net Worth
As of May 2025, Slack’s estimated net worth is approximately $26.5 billion, positioning it as a significant player in the global communication tools market. This valuation reflects Slack’s substantial growth and its strategic integration into Salesforce’s suite of enterprise solutions.
Revenue Growth
Slack’s revenue has seen remarkable growth over the years. In 2019, the company generated approximately $630 million. By 2023, this figure had surged to around $5.97 billion, and projections estimate that Slack will generate about $4.22 billion in revenue by the end of 2025. This growth underscores Slack’s increasing adoption across various industries and its expanding user base.
User Base Expansion
Slack’s user base has expanded significantly, with over 200,000 organizations utilizing the platform globally. The number of daily active users is projected to reach 47.2 million by the end of 2025, up from 32.3 million in 2023. This growth highlights Slack’s role in facilitating communication and collaboration in the modern workplace.
Strategic Integration with Salesforce
Since its acquisition by Salesforce in 2021 for $27.7 billion, Slack has been strategically integrated into Salesforce’s ecosystem, enhancing its value proposition. This integration has allowed Slack to leverage Salesforce’s resources and customer base, further driving its growth and market presence.
Here’s an overview of the net worth of Slack from 2015-25:
| Year | Estimated Net Worth / Valuation | Key Context or Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $2.8 billion | Slack raises Series E funding, early growth stage |
| 2016 | $3.8 billion | Slack continues scaling with enterprise adoption |
| 2017 | $5.1 billion | Expansion into global markets |
| 2018 | $7.1 billion | Strong traction in enterprise segment |
| 2019 | $13 billion | Direct public listing on NYSE under ticker “WORK” |
| 2020 | $17 billion | Usage spikes during COVID-19 remote work boom |
| 2021 | $27.7 billion | Acquired by Salesforce in cash-and-stock deal |
| 2022 | $25.9 billion (internal est.) | Slack integrates further into Salesforce ecosystem |
| 2023 | $25.3 billion | Focus on workflow automation and AI previews |
| 2024 | $26.1 billion | Continued enterprise adoption, new product launches |
| 2025 | $26.5 billion | Expanding AI features, 47.2 million users projected |
Brands Owned by Slack
As of 2025, Slack Technologies has strategically acquired and integrated several companies to enhance its platform’s capabilities. These acquisitions primarily focus on improving communication, collaboration, and productivity features within Slack.
Below is a detailed overview of the companies and brands owned and operated by Slack Technologies:
| Company/Brand | Year Acquired | Focus Area | Integration / Impact on Slack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screenhero | 2015 | Screen sharing & voice chat | Enabled real-time voice/video chat in Slack |
| Spaces | 2014 | Collaborative document editing | Supported real-time document collaboration |
| Missions | 2018 | Workflow automation | Allowed users to automate tasks inside Slack |
| HipChat | 2018 | Team messaging | User migration consolidated Slack’s market position |
| Stride | 2018 | Team collaboration | Technology retired; users transitioned to Slack |
| Astro Technology | 2018 | Email and calendar integration | Added email/calendar management features to Slack |
| Rimeto | 2020 | Employee directories & profiles | Became “Slack Atlas” to enhance organizational insights |
| Woven Software | 2021 | Smart calendar and scheduling | Improved Slack’s native calendar coordination tools |
Screenhero
Acquired in January 2015, Screenhero was a desktop collaboration tool that enabled simultaneous screen sharing and voice chats. Slack integrated Screenhero’s functionalities, such as voice and video chat, directly into its platform, enhancing real-time collaboration features.
Spaces
In September 2014, Slack acquired Spaces, a collaborative document editing platform. This acquisition allowed Slack to incorporate real-time document collaboration capabilities, streamlining workflows within the app.
Missions (by Robots & Pencils)
Slack acquired Missions in July 2018, an application that enabled users to automate routine tasks and build workflows within Slack. This acquisition bolstered Slack’s automation features, allowing teams to create custom workflows without coding.
HipChat and Stride
In July 2018, Slack acquired the intellectual property of HipChat and Stride from Atlassian. Both were enterprise communication tools. Slack planned to shut down these services and migrate its users to its own platform, consolidating its position in the team collaboration market.
Astro Technology
Acquired in September 2018, Astro Technology was an AI-powered email and calendar integration platform. Slack integrated Astro’s features to allow users to manage emails and calendars directly within Slack, aiming to centralize workplace communications.
Rimeto
In July 2020, Slack acquired Rimeto, a startup specializing in employee directories and profiles. Rimeto’s technology was integrated into Slack as “Slack Atlas,” providing users with detailed employee profiles and organizational information to enhance internal communication.
Woven Software
Slack acquired Woven in April 2021, a smart calendar application that helped professionals manage and schedule meetings efficiently. The integration aimed to enhance Slack’s calendar functionalities, allowing users to coordinate meetings without leaving the platform.
Final Thoughts
So, who owns Slack? The answer is Salesforce. Once a rising startup in the tech world, Slack is now a major part of Salesforce’s digital ecosystem. While it no longer trades independently, its role in the workplace continues to grow. The ownership structure has changed, but Slack’s mission to improve team communication remains strong.
FAQs
Is Slack owned by Microsoft?
No, Slack is not owned by Microsoft. Slack Technologies is a subsidiary of Salesforce, which acquired the company in 2021 for $27.7 billion. Microsoft is actually one of Slack’s biggest competitors with its own collaboration platform, Microsoft Teams.
Who is the founder of Slack?
Slack was co-founded by Stewart Butterfield, Eric Costello, Cal Henderson, and Serguei Mourachov. Stewart Butterfield also served as the company’s CEO until 2022.
Is Slack a Chinese company?
No, Slack is not a Chinese company. It was founded and is headquartered in San Francisco, California, United States. It operates as an American software company.
Who is Slack’s biggest competitor?
Slack’s biggest competitor is Microsoft Teams. Other major competitors include Zoom, Google Chat, Discord (in some sectors), and Asana (in terms of workflow and project management features).
Is Slack made by Google?
No, Slack is not made by Google. It was developed independently by Slack Technologies. Google offers a competing product called Google Chat, which is part of Google Workspace.
Is Slack part of Microsoft Teams?
No, Slack and Microsoft Teams are separate platforms developed by different companies. Slack is owned by Salesforce, while Microsoft Teams is developed and owned by Microsoft.
Is Slack owned by Apple?
No, Slack is not owned by Apple. It is a Salesforce-owned company. Apple does not have any known ownership stake in Slack.
Who owns Slack data?
Slack’s customers own their data. However, Slack stores and processes the data under strict security and compliance standards. According to Slack’s terms of service, customers are responsible for managing and controlling access to their workspace data.
Who owned Slack before Salesforce?
Before its acquisition by Salesforce, Slack was an independent publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “WORK.” It went public through a direct listing in 2019.
Is Slack still an independent company?
No. Slack is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Salesforce and no longer operates as an independent company.
When did Salesforce acquire Slack?
Salesforce announced the acquisition in December 2020 and completed it in July 2021.
How much was Slack sold for?
Slack was acquired by Salesforce for $27.7 billion in a cash and stock deal.