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The Knot Worldwide

Wedding marketplace linking couples with vendors

New Business Development Manager

Full-TimePosted on 10/16/2026
$92.2k - $158.1k/yr
Senior
New York, NY, USA
HybridTwo in-office days per week are expected.
Sales & Account ManagementBusiness Development & Partnerships

About the job

Requirements
  • At least 5 years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, media, digital health, consumer technology, commerce, or a related field.
  • Demonstrated success sourcing, developing, and closing complex partnerships or commercial opportunities.
  • Strong discovery, presentation, proposal-development, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.
  • Strong business judgment and the ability to connect partner needs with audience value and company capabilities.
  • Experience managing a disciplined pipeline and forecasting process in a customer relationship management system.
  • Ability to coordinate diverse internal stakeholders and move ambiguous opportunities toward clear decisions.
  • A self-directed, resilient, and high-integrity approach to commercial growth.
Responsibilities
  • Build and maintain a prioritized market map and prospect pipeline aligned with The Bump’s audience, brand, content, product, and commerce strategy.
  • Lead targeted outbound prospecting and respond to high-potential inbound opportunities with speed, preparation, and clear qualification.
  • Conduct discovery with prospective partners to understand objectives, audiences, constraints, decision processes, and measures of success.
  • Develop tailored partnership concepts, presentations, proposals, business cases, and commercial narratives.
  • Coordinate internal inputs from Partnerships, Sales, Editorial, Product, Data, Legal, Finance, Brand, and other stakeholders.
  • Lead opportunities through qualification, solution design, negotiation, contracting, and a clear implementation handoff.
  • Maintain accurate pipeline stages, activity, next steps, forecasts, risks, and partner intelligence in the designated customer relationship management system.
  • Build trusted relationships with partner decision-makers and identify opportunities for expansion, renewal, and broader strategic value.
  • Gather market intelligence and partner feedback to identify whitespace, improve packaging, and influence the commercial roadmap.
  • Protect user trust and brand integrity by escalating misaligned opportunities and applying commercial guardrails consistently.

About the company

T

The Knot Worldwide

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Website

The Knot Worldwide operates a global wedding planning marketplace that connects engaged couples with local wedding vendors. It runs a two-sided platform where couples access free planning tools, personalized wedding websites, gift registries, and invitations, while vendors pay for listings, advertising, and subscriptions to gain exposure; revenue also comes from wedding product sales and registry commissions. The company differentiates itself with a broad portfolio of brands—WeddingWire, Bodas.net, Hitched, Matrimonio.com, The Bash, and more—and by acquiring companies to expand its market reach. Its goal is to help couples plan and realize their wedding by matching them with suitable vendors and planning tools, while growing revenue from marketplace listings and related services.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

2018

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • May 2026 Venmo registry integration removes payment friction and strengthens gifting monetization.
  • 2026 AI planning features cut vendor search time, increasing engagement and lead generation.
  • June 2026 leadership additions and product investment focus resources on commerce and data.

What critics are saying

  • April 2025 class action alleges vendor fraud; discovery threatens customer trust and sales conversion.
  • October 2025 restructuring exited five Latin American countries, signaling weaker international returns and execution strain.
  • Zola, Google Search, and OpenAI compress vendor discovery, eroding The Knot's traffic moat.

What makes The Knot Worldwide unique

  • The Knot Worldwide spans 16 countries and 14.6 million reviews across wedding brands.
  • Its marketplace pairs couples with nearly 200,000 U.S. vendors and direct commerce tools.
  • January 2026 ChatGPT app and in-house AI recommendation engine deepen product lock-in.

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Benefits

  • Paid Vacation
  • Parental Leave
  • Hybrid Work Options
  • Health Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Mental Health Support
  • Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
  • Gym Membership
  • Meal Benefits
  • Home Office Stipend
  • Paid Holidays
  • Employee Referral Bonus

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

0%

2 year growth

0%
PYMNTS
Oct 14th, 2026
The Knot to acquire rival Zola amid growing regulatory scrutiny.

The Knot to acquire rival Zola amid growing regulatory scrutiny. By CPI | October 14, 2026 The Knot Worldwide has agreed to acquire wedding-planning competitor Zola in a transaction that would expand its reach across the U.S. wedding services market, even as the company faces scrutiny over its business practices and relationships with smaller vendors. The agreement, announced Wednesday, will bring Zola into a portfolio that includes The Knot, WeddingWire, WeddingPro and Hitched. Financial terms were not disclosed, according to the New York Post, which reported details of the transaction and the regulatory concerns surrounding the buyer. Zola is expected to continue operating as a separate brand following completion of the acquisition. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including any necessary regulatory approvals, the companies said. The combination would bring together two prominent digital platforms serving couples and wedding professionals. Both businesses offer wedding websites, gift registries, planning tools and services connecting customers with vendors, including photographers, florists and other event specialists. The acquisition would increase The Knot Worldwide's portfolio to 14 brands operating across 11 countries, according to the company's announcement. Deal raises questions about market concentration. The transaction comes at a sensitive time for The Knot Worldwide, which has faced criticism from wedding vendors over advertising contracts, customer referrals and the cost of acquiring business through its platforms. According to the New York Post, Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, called on the Federal Trade Commission in October 2025 to examine allegations involving the company's treatment of small businesses. Grassley said his office had received nearly 200 complaints from wedding professionals. Vendors alleged that they were charged for advertising services that generated questionable customer inquiries or failed to deliver expected results. Some also complained about difficulties terminating contracts, the newspaper reported. The Knot Worldwide has denied engaging in deceptive or fraudulent business practices. In February 2026, FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson responded to Grassley's concerns, acknowledging that the alleged conduct, if substantiated, could raise issues under federal consumer protection laws, according to correspondence described by the Post. Ferguson did not confirm whether the agency had opened an investigation, citing restrictions on disclosing nonpublic enforcement matters. The acquisition could bring renewed attention to The Knot Worldwide's position in the wedding services industry, although it remains unclear whether federal antitrust authorities will conduct an extensive review. The New York Post previously reported that the company's acquisition of wedding startup Simply Eloped had also prompted concerns among some industry participants about increasing consolidation. Zola executives seek to reassure vendors. Zola's leadership has moved to address potential concerns among wedding professionals who depend on the platform to attract customers. In an internal communication obtained by the New York Post, Zola co-Chief Executive Officer Shan-Lyn Ma said the company intended to preserve stability for vendors while exploring opportunities created by the transaction. Ma and fellow co-CEO Rachel Jarrett are expected to continue overseeing Zola and eventually join The Knot Worldwide's executive leadership team after the deal closes, according to the newspaper. Zola also indicated that business customers would receive advance notice before significant changes involving integration or cross-platform services. Please add Competition Policy International to your preferred sources list so its news, data and interviews show up in your feed. Thanks! The assurances reflect the importance of maintaining vendor relationships in a business model that depends heavily on connecting wedding professionals with prospective clients. The Knot Worldwide CEO Raina Moskowitz said in the company's announcement that the combination would provide additional opportunities for wedding businesses to reach customers while improving personalized planning services for couples. Acquisition comes amid financial pressure. The deal also comes as The Knot Worldwide works to strengthen its financial position and modernize its technology. The company has been owned by private equity firm Permira since 2018. Moskowitz, a former Etsy executive, has focused on restructuring the business and introducing artificial intelligence-powered planning tools. The New York Post reported that Moody's Ratings downgraded The Knot Worldwide's credit rating into speculative-grade territory in August, citing earlier reporting by Bloomberg. The downgrade highlighted concerns about the company's credit risk. The acquisition of Zola could expand The Knot Worldwide's consumer reach and provide additional opportunities to develop its technology offerings, although the companies have not disclosed projected financial benefits or integration costs. Zola, founded in 2013, has attracted substantial investment from prominent financial and media companies. The business raised $100 million in a 2018 financing round that valued it at approximately $600 million, according to the New York Post and Reuters. Investors included NBCUniversal and Goldman Sachs Investment Partners. That earlier valuation does not necessarily indicate the price agreed upon in the current transaction. Regulatory approval remains a key uncertainty. The companies have not provided a timetable for completing the acquisition, and the extent of any regulatory review remains uncertain. Representatives for Grassley and the FTC declined to comment on the transaction when contacted by the New York Post, while the Justice Department did not immediately respond to the newspaper's request for comment. A spokesperson for The Knot Worldwide also declined to comment to the Post, and Zola did not immediately respond to its inquiry.

StreetInsider
Oct 14th, 2026
The Knot Worldwide to buy rival Zola, once valued at $600M, sources say

The Knot Worldwide has agreed to buy smaller rival Zola, according to two people familiar with the deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. Zola will run as a standalone brand and become the 14th in The Knot's portfolio. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including any required regulatory clearances. The Knot, owned by investment firm Permira, helps couples find local wedding vendors and build wedding websites. Zola offers similar services, including registry sites, invitation design, and guest-list management. Zola launched in 2013. It raised $100 million in a Series D round in 2018 at a reported valuation of around $600 million, led by Comcast Ventures.

MarketScreener
Oct 14th, 2026
The Knot Worldwide to acquire Zola in wedding platform union, sources say.

The Knot Worldwide to acquire Zola in wedding platform union, sources say. Published on 10/14/2026 at 10:32 am EDT - Modified on 10/14/2026 at 12:17 pm EDT NEW YORK, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The Knot Worldwide has agreed to buy its smaller peer Zola, adding to its portfolio of leading wedding-planning brands, according to two people familiar with the deal. The Knot, which is owned by investment firm Permira, helps couples find local wedding vendors and create personalized wedding websites. Zola offers similar services such as wedding and registry sites, invitation design and guest-list management. Zola will continue to operate as a standalone brand within The Knot's portfolio of global brands, the people said. The companies and Permira declined to comment. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately available. The Knot launched in the 1990s and Permira has been invested in it since 2018. Last year, the company appointed outsider and former Etsy executive Raina Moskowitz as its CEO to help reorganize the business and launch new AI tools in the face of rapid technological transformation. This year, for example, it launched an app within ChatGPT, which it called the first of its kind within the wedding industry. Zola launched in 2013 and raised $100 million in a Series D financing round in 2018 at a reported valuation of around $600 million. That round was led by existing investor Comcast Ventures, with new investors NBCUniversal and Goldman Sachs Investment Partners also participating. Zola's co-founders Shan-Lyn Ma and Nobu Nakaguchi remained significant owners. Zola will become the 14th brand in The Knot's portfolio. The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including any required regulatory clearances, the people said. (Reporting by Abigail Summerville in New York; Editing by Colin Barr and Jamie Freed) By Abigail Summerville (C) Reuters - 2026

Flight Plan Strategies
Aug 13th, 2026
$6M wedding marketplace courted The Knot for 4 years with Janessa White.

$6M wedding marketplace courted The Knot for 4 years with Janessa White. About This Episode In 2016, Janessa White and her business partner started Simply Eloped, a marketplace that planned elopements and small weddings for couples in 35 cities across the United States. They also decided, before they had a single customer, which company they wanted to sell it to. The Knot Worldwide, the largest wedding platform in the world. Over the next seven years, White told The Knot exactly that, met with their corporate development team every quarter for four years, and shared her revenue and margins with them along the way. When she finally emailed to say she was ready, the letter of intent arrived within a week. On this week's episode of Built to Sell Radio, you'll learn how to: * Pick your acquirer years before you are ready to sell, then build the business backwards from there. * Open your books to a potential buyer without handing them a reason to compete with you. * Set a revenue target based on what gets a strategic buyer's attention rather than your own ambition. * Tell your employees you intend to sell, and get more from them because of it. * Build a data story that survives an interrogation by every specialist in the acquiring company. * Justify the unglamorous cleanup work most owners defer. * Negotiate the one term White says she would change if she could do it again. About The Guest Janessa White. Janessa White is the co-founder and former CEO of Simply Eloped, the company that helped pioneer the modern elopement movement by making intimate weddings simple, affordable, and stress-free. Under her leadership, Simply Eloped grew into the largest elopement planning company in the world, helping thousands of couples celebrate their love in a more meaningful way before being acquired by The Knot Worldwide. Today, Janessa is widely recognized as an innovator in the wedding industry and has been featured in outlets including Brides, Vox, and HuffPost. Every business owner wonders,. "Am I doing the right things for the future?" It's a short, focused process that reveals how prepared your business is for growth or transition - even if you're not planning an exit yet.

BizSugar
Jun 15th, 2026
The Knot Worldwide teams up with Venmo to enhance gifting for wedding couples.

The Knot Worldwide teams up with Venmo to enhance gifting for wedding couples. June 15, 2026 In a move set to redefine wedding gift-giving, The Knot Worldwide has announced an integration with Venmo, making it easier for couples and their guests to manage registry cash funds. As of today, users can seamlessly contribute funds through Venmo on The Knot's Wedding Registry, enhancing both the giver and recipient experience. This integration taps into a growing demand for payment solutions that resonate with today's digital-savvy couples. According to a survey by The Knot, about 89% of couples noted that ease of use for their guests was their top priority regarding cash funds, while 68% expressed a desire to track all gifts in one location. The integration of Venmo addresses both needs, streamlining the gifting process into a single, user-friendly platform. Discover more Retail Business Tools Operations Management Software Small Business News "Venmo is widely used and trusted by more than 100 million customers, making it easy for guests to contribute in a way that feels familiar and seamless," says Anu Penmetcha, Chief Product and Experience Officer at The Knot Worldwide. "By integrating Venmo into The Knot Wedding Registry, we're removing friction from the gifting experience and helping couples maximize their funds." The integration allows guests to contribute directly from their bank accounts, debit cards, or Venmo balances, creating a familiar payment experience. Couples can now receive funds directly into their Venmo accounts, which can then be used online or at thousands of in-store merchants. For small business owners, particularly those in the wedding industry, this integration presents a new channel for promoting their services. Certainty in transactions can encourage more customers to choose certain types of gifts, such as experiences offered by local businesses. Couples may be more inclined to utilize services like catering, photography, or venue rentals, knowing that their funds are organized and accessible. Further, the ability to track gifts effectively can encourage couples to share their registries on social media or within their wedding planning circles, potentially increasing the visibility of local vendors and services. This added exposure can lead to increased bookings and sales, helping small businesses thrive during wedding season. However, a few challenges arise with this enhanced payment option. The reliance on digital payment platforms may alienate guests who are less tech-savvy or prefer traditional gifting methods. Small business owners should remain vigilant and cater to various customer preferences, ensuring they have alternatives available for those who may not wish to use a digital platform. Moreover, as cash funds are increasingly popular, businesses that wish to capitalize on this trend may need to adjust their offerings. This could involve creating gift card options or special experiences that are appealing to couples looking for something unique. The introduction of a cash fund system may also provoke conversations about the importance of clear communication regarding how gifts will be used, a vital consideration for businesses wanting to maintain relationships with couples. The Knot Worldwide is known for championing seamless planning and unforgettable celebrations across the globe, serving as a trusted resource for couples navigating their wedding experiences. By aligning with Venmo, The Knot enhances its mission to facilitate ease and security within the wedding gifting landscape. For Venmo, the partnership aligns with its role in the evolving landscape of money management among millennials and Gen Z consumers. Citing the integration, Alexis Sowa, General Manager of Venmo, stated, "Venmo has always been part of how people share and celebrate together, and The Knot Worldwide has long set the standard for the wedding industry. Together, we're enhancing the gifting experience by delivering a secure, intuitive solution that meets couples and guests where they already are." Couples can now access these features on The Knot's app, available on both iOS and Android devices. As the wedding industry continues evolving, the partnership stands to make an impact, catering to the needs of couples while streamlining the process for their guests. Discover more Small Business Advice Startup Funding Advice Entrepreneurship Resources For further details, you can refer to the original announcement here. Image Via BizSugar Mike Brown is a small business finance expert and writer dedicated to helping entrepreneurs manage their finances with confidence. With over a decade of experience in financial planning, budgeting, and cash flow management, Michael has guided countless business owners in improving profitability and achieving financial stability. His insights on business loans, accounting strategies, and expense management have been featured in leading finance publications. Mike's practical advice empowers small business owners to make informed financial decisions. When he's not writing about finance, Mike enjoys playing chess and exploring local history museums.