The origins of Matrix

Frustrated by a fragmented landscape of siloed communications tools, and an increasingly centralized Web, Matthew Hodgson and Amandine Le Pape had a vision to create the missing communications layer of the open web.

In 2014 they started an open source project - Matrix - to create a decentralized open standard for interoperable real time communication.

Learning from the creation of the Web and the ensuing browser wars, Matthew and Amandine created Element as a for-profit company that could simultaneously cover the salaries of the Matrix founding team, fund Matrix development and showcase the protocol.

Element has developed more than 95% of the Matrix protocol, and continues to drive Matrix development through Element’s open source implementations.

The Matrix.org open source project has remained deliberately independent, initially protected by a set of Guardians and now strengthened by the creation of The Matrix Foundation and its own managing director. The Matrix Foundation guides Matrix development and ensures it remains a neutral open standard for the benefit of all.