Meet Zach
I’m Zach Tirrell, the SVP and General Manager of StellarWP at Liquid Web. I’ve been in the WordPress space since 2005, starting in higher education and transitioning to building WordPress plugin products in 2015. Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about helping people achieve amazing things with their websites.
Can you give us an overview of StellarWP and its mission in the WordPress ecosystem?
StellarWP is focused on helping small to mid-sized businesses with the technology they need for a successful WordPress-powered website. We believe deeply in the flexibility the WordPress plugin ecosystem provides, empowering websites that drive meaningful outcomes for businesses. Our mission is to deliver innovative, reliable, and easy-to-use solutions that enhance the WordPress experience.
To achieve this, we’ve brought together leading products in key areas such as e-commerce, online learning, events, security, and performance. By creating a cohesive portfolio of plugins, we aim to simplify WordPress for users while enabling them to achieve their online goals with confidence.
What inspired the creation of such a diverse portfolio of plugins and solutions under StellarWP?
Liquid Web initially found success with plugins focused on security, backups, and memberships. Building on that foundation, it became clear there was an opportunity to expand into other critical areas that many businesses rely on for success. We identified key needs such as online learning, fundraising, events, and commerce, which are essential for small to mid-sized businesses and organizations.
Through a series of strategic acquisitions, we’ve compiled a portfolio of leading solutions in these areas, serving millions of websites worldwide. This approach allows StellarWP to address a broad range of challenges faced by businesses, all while staying true to the core flexibility and power of WordPress.
What sets StellarWP apart from other WordPress plugin providers in the market?
StellarWP stands out for its commitment to creating solutions that address real-world challenges with reliability and ease of use. Each of our plugins is built to provide exceptional value on its own, with a strong focus on usability, performance, and support.
Another key differentiator is the longevity and trustworthiness of our products. Some of our plugins have been helping WordPress users for over a decade, a testament to their reliability, continuous innovation, and the dedicated communities behind them. Paired with our focus on customer success—through resources, documentation, and support—we strive to build long-term relationships with users, empowering them to grow and succeed.
How do you ensure that all your plugins maintain the same high standards of usability and performance?
We’ve built a strong culture around continuous improvement and actively listening to customer feedback. Our dedicated quality assurance team meticulously reviews and signs off on every release before it ships, while our design team pays close attention to every detail to ensure an intuitive and polished user experience.
Our development teams adhere to rigorous testing protocols, prioritizing performance, usability, and accessibility at every step. By releasing regular updates and staying ahead of industry trends, we ensure that our plugins not only meet today’s standards but also continue to deliver exceptional value as the WordPress ecosystem evolves.
What trends in the WordPress or SaaS industry are influencing StellarWP’s future direction?
The WordPress and SaaS landscapes are evolving rapidly. Trends like the rise of headless CMS, no-code solutions, and advanced performance optimization are shaping how we think about plugin development. At StellarWP, we’re closely monitoring these trends and positioning ourselves to innovate in ways that add real value to users.
How do you think AI is influencing the SaaS and WordPress industries?
AI is already transforming how users interact with software, and WordPress is no exception. From content generation and design automation to intelligent site optimization, AI has the potential to make WordPress both more accessible and more efficient.
At StellarWP, we’re actively exploring ways AI can enhance our plugins and improve user experiences. Last year, we introduced Kadence AI, our innovative approach to transforming website creation with AI assistance. Kadence AI helps new site creators overcome the intimidation of a blank page, allowing them to quickly focus on the details that matter most to their projects. This is just the beginning of how AI can empower creators and simplify the process of building successful websites.
What advice would you give to new SaaS companies entering the WordPress space?
My advice would be to focus on solving specific problems for your audience. WordPress users value simplicity, reliability, and scalability, so prioritize those in your offerings. Build relationships within the WordPress community, and don’t underestimate the power of listening to user feedback—it’s your most valuable resource.
What role do you see StellarWP playing in the future of WordPress and SaaS?
I see StellarWP continuing to lead in innovation, delivering solutions that not only address the current needs of WordPress users but also anticipate future challenges. By staying deeply connected to the community and embracing new technologies, we aim to remain at the forefront of the WordPress and SaaS industries.
As we work to bring our portfolio of products closer together, we see a significant opportunity to create more turnkey solutions that solve complete problems for customers. A great example of this is LearnDash Cloud, where we combined LearnDash, Solid, Kadence, and hosting to deliver an integrated solution that empowers users to start building their online courses faster than ever on WordPress. Solutions like this streamline the process and deliver value quickly, which we believe is the future for many customers.
Did you enjoy our interview? Do you have anything to say to our community?
I’ve really enjoyed this interview—thank you for the opportunity to share our vision. To your community, I’d say: keep building, keep experimenting, and keep engaging with WordPress. It’s an incredible platform with endless possibilities, and we’re excited to be part of your journey.
