In this episode of WP Legends, we chat with Raitis Sevelis, the Product Manager behind WPBakery and Visual Composer, two of the most widely used page builders in the WordPress ecosystem. Raitis opens up about what it takes to build tools that power millions of websites worldwide, how user experience drives innovation, and what the future of WordPress design might look like.
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The Birth of WPBakery
Raitis starts by walking us through the early days of WPBakery. Originally launched to simplify page building for non-coders, WPBakery quickly filled a crucial gap in the WordPress space. Raitis reflects on how a small idea to improve website editing turned into a product used by millions, and how listening closely to user feedback became the engine for growth.
From Page Builder to Design Platform
The journey didn’t stop with WPBakery. Raitis discusses how the team recognized a growing demand for more flexibility and modern UI standards. This led to the creation of Visual Composer Website Builder, a separate product built from the ground up with React and API integrations in mind. He shares how the focus shifted from just building pages to enabling full visual website creation.
Balancing Simplicity and Power
One of the biggest themes Raitis returns to is balance. How do you build something powerful enough for developers yet simple enough for beginners? He dives into the product philosophy that guides both WPBakery and Visual Composer, focusing on intuitive design, seamless compatibility, and keeping performance top of mind.
The Power of Community and Feedback
Throughout the conversation, Raitis emphasizes the role of the community. From support tickets to Facebook groups to WordCamps, he explains how every feature request, bug report, and use case has helped shape the products over time. Community isn’t just a support channel, it’s part of the product development loop.
Supporting Agencies at Scale
As agencies became a core customer segment, Raitis and the team doubled down on features like role management, template libraries, and theme integration. He explains how these tools are designed to help agencies deliver faster, maintain consistency across client sites, and reduce development overhead without sacrificing control.
The Story Behind the Names
Ever wondered why it’s called WPBakery or Visual Composer? Raitis shares the fun and somewhat unexpected history behind the names and how branding played a key role in creating long-term recognition in a crowded WordPress plugin market.
Looking Ahead: WordPress and Visual Building
Looking to the future, Raitis sees continued momentum in visual-first design and deeper integrations with core WordPress features like Full Site Editing (FSE). He envisions a future where site editing becomes even more seamless and where tools like Visual Composer help bridge the gap between creators and developers.
Bootstrapping, Lessons and Growth Mindset
Raitis also reflects on the challenges of building a global product while staying bootstrapped. He shares personal lessons, the highs and lows of scaling without external funding, and why staying close to the user has always been their competitive edge.
Tools That Drive Product and Support
We also peek behind the curtain at the SaaS tools and workflows powering WPBakery and Visual Composer. From analytics and customer support platforms to CI/CD tools, these systems help them ship updates quickly and reliably.
The Million-Dollar Question
To close the episode, Raitis answers the big one: What advice would you give your younger self? His answer is a mix of practical wisdom and inspiration, perfect for anyone building in the WordPress space.
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