Atlassian: A Global Tech Leader Born from a $10,000 Credit Card

Atlassian, co-founded by Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, has become a household name in the tech world. But few know that this multi-billion-dollar company was initially funded with a mere $10,000 credit card. While studying at the University of New South Wales, Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar noticed a gap in the market for efficient software to help teams track bugs and collaborate on projects. Their solution was Jira, a tool they initially developed for their use, before realizing it could benefit other businesses.

What began as a small-scale project quickly gained momentum. Despite multiple offers from buyers and investors, the duo held out for years, knowing their product’s value. Their patience paid off-Atlassian accepted its first major investment in 2010 when Accel Partners invested US$60 million, marking one of the largest venture capital investments in a software company at the time. Today, Atlassian’s software is used by giants like NASA, Toyota, and Airbnb, and the company's co-founders each boast a personal net worth of around AU$33 billion.

Source: Academy Xi