Who Owns Semrush Company?

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Who Owns Semrush?

Semrush Holdings, Inc., a leading SaaS platform for online visibility management, became a publicly traded entity following its IPO on March 25, 2021, on the NYSE under the ticker SEMR. Founded in 2008, the company has grown into a significant player in the digital marketing tools space.

With a mission to democratize marketing, Semrush offers a comprehensive suite of tools for SEO, content marketing, and more. A Semrush PESTEL Analysis highlights the external factors influencing its operations.

As of December 31, 2024, Semrush served approximately 117,000 paying customers globally and employed around 1,600 individuals. Its market capitalization stood at approximately $1.12 billion as of August 15, 2025.

Semrush was co-founded in 2008 by childhood friends Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitri Melnikov. Their collaboration began earlier, in 2006, with the development of SEO tools. Shchegolev, with a background in SEO management and a prior co-founding role at efind.ru, and Melnikov, who focused on operational development, built the company from the ground up.

Founding Year

Semrush was officially established in 2008, building on prior development of SEO tools.

Co-Founders

The company was co-founded by Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitri Melnikov, who had a history of developing SEO tools together.

Initial Operations

Operations began with just two tools, initially serving a small group of friends as customers.

Early Funding

In April 2018, Semrush secured $40 million in a funding round led by Greycroft, E. ventures, and Siguler Guff.

Founder Backgrounds

Oleg Shchegolev is an alumnus of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, while Dmitri Melnikov attended SPBETU, LEEI.

Initial Tools

Before Semrush, the founders developed tools such as Seodigger and SEOquake.

The founders, Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitri Melnikov, maintained significant control over Semrush in its early stages. The company's initial growth was fueled by their shared vision and development efforts, starting with a limited product offering. The substantial $40 million funding round in April 2018, co-led by Greycroft, E. ventures, and Siguler Guff, was instrumental in enabling Semrush to scale its operations, diversify its product suite, and pursue broader market expansion. This investment marked a pivotal moment in the Semrush company history ownership, providing the capital necessary for its strategic growth trajectory. Understanding the Growth Strategy of Semrush highlights how this early backing supported their ambitious plans.

Key Aspects of Early Semrush Ownership

The initial ownership structure of Semrush was closely held by its founders, Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitri Melnikov. Their early development of SEO tools laid the groundwork for the company's inception.

• Founders: Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitri Melnikov.
• Company inception: 2008.
• Early product focus: SEO tools.
• Significant funding: $40 million in April 2018.
• Key early investors: Greycroft, E. ventures, Siguler Guff.

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Semrush Holdings, Inc. became a publicly traded company on March 25, 2021, through its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange. This event marked a significant shift in its ownership structure, transitioning from private to public hands.

The ownership evolution of Semrush is characterized by its transition to a public entity and the subsequent concentration of voting power. The company's dual-class share system, where Class B shares hold ten times the voting power of Class A shares, ensures that pre-IPO stakeholders, including directors and executive officers, maintain substantial control. As of December 31, 2024, these insiders collectively held 79% of the total voting power. This structure is a key factor in understanding who controls Semrush and its strategic direction.

Key Stakeholders in Semrush Ownership

Semrush's ownership is a blend of its founders, institutional investors, and other entities. Understanding these major shareholders is crucial for grasping the company's financial landscape.

• Founders: Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitry Melnikov remain significant shareholders, holding substantial direct and indirect stakes.
• Institutional Investors: A large number of institutional owners, including Vanguard Group Inc and BlackRock, Inc., collectively hold a significant portion of the company's shares.
• Voting Power Concentration: Due to a dual-class share system, pre-IPO stakeholders, including directors and executive officers, wield considerable voting power, influencing corporate decisions.
• Market Capitalization: As of August 15, 2025, Semrush's market capitalization stood at $1.12 billion, a decrease from its IPO valuation.
• Public Trading: Semrush is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SEMR, making its stock ownership accessible to a broader range of investors.

The Semrush founder, Oleg Shchegolev, held 37,236,753 shares as of May 20, 2025, with a value of approximately $282 million. Dmitry Melnikov, another key figure behind the Semrush software, held 26,320,021 shares as of August 11, 2025. Institutional investors, as of August 15, 2025, owned 75,042,267 shares, representing 32.86% of the company's institutional ownership. This diverse ownership structure, with founders and institutions as major shareholders, influences the company's trajectory and its approach to markets, such as its Target Market of Semrush.

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The Board of Directors at Semrush Holdings, Inc. is comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds, including founders, major shareholder representatives, and independent directors. As of recent filings, the board includes Steven Aldrich, Anna Baird, Dmitry Melnikov (Co-founder), Dylan Pearce, Oleg Shchegolev (Founder and CTO), Trynka Shineman Blake, Caroline Tsay, and Chairman Mark Vranesh. William (Bill) R. Wagner, who assumed the role of CEO in March 2025, also holds a board seat.

Semrush operates under a dual-class share structure, a critical element in understanding Semrush ownership and who controls Semrush. Class A common stock carries one vote per share, while Class B common stock grants ten votes per share. This structure significantly concentrates voting power, ensuring that founders Oleg Shchegolev and Dmitry Melnikov, alongside other pre-IPO stockholders, executive officers, and their affiliates, maintain substantial control. As of December 31, 2024, these key individuals and entities collectively held 79% of the total voting power of Semrush's capital stock. This arrangement means that holders of Class A common stock have limited influence on corporate decisions, allowing the founding team to guide the company's strategic direction. The board’s audit committee is composed entirely of independent directors, adhering to NYSE listing standards and SEC rules. Notably, stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights for director elections, meaning each share votes independently.

Understanding Semrush Stock Ownership

The ownership structure of Semrush is heavily influenced by its dual-class share system, giving founders significant voting power.

• Class B shares have 10 times the voting power of Class A shares.
• Founders and early stakeholders control a majority of the voting power.
• This structure is key to understanding Semrush company owner dynamics.
• For more on the company's journey, see the Brief History of Semrush.

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Recent developments at Semrush have seen significant leadership changes and shifts in ownership trends over the past few years. A key transition occurred in March 2025, marking a new era for the company's executive leadership.

The company's ownership structure reflects a blend of founder influence and substantial institutional investment. While founders like Oleg Shchegolev have made some share sales, primarily for tax management, the overall institutional ownership remains a dominant factor. This trend is further supported by the company's strategic growth initiatives and consistent financial performance, as evidenced by its revenue figures and future projections.

Leadership Evolution

In March 2025, a significant leadership change saw co-founder Oleg Shchegolev move to CTO, with William (Bill) R. Wagner taking over as CEO. This transition highlights a focus on product innovation and experienced SaaS leadership.

Shareholder Activity

Insider sales, such as Oleg Shchegolev's March 2025 share disposal for tax obligations, have occurred. However, institutional investors remain a key component of Semrush's ownership, with their holdings showing an upward trend.

Strategic Growth and Financials

Semrush has actively pursued growth through acquisitions, including Third Door Media in October 2024. The company reported strong revenue of $376.8 million for 2024 and projects continued growth for 2025.

Market Position and Ownership Trends

As a publicly traded entity, Semrush's ownership is characterized by a substantial institutional presence, alongside founder involvement. Understanding the Revenue Streams & Business Model of Semrush provides context for these ownership trends.

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