Founding Atlassian
In 2002, Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar, both just 22 years old, founded Atlassian with a $10,000 credit card debt. Their initial goal was to create a software development company that could produce innovative tools for developers. The duo’s first product, Jira, was a project management and issue tracking software designed to help teams plan, track, and release software. Jira quickly gained traction among software developers, establishing Atlassian as a significant player in the tech industry.
Business Philosophy and Growth
Cannon-Brookes and Farquhar adopted a unique business model that set them apart from many traditional software companies. Atlassian focused on creating high-quality products that could be sold online without a dedicated sales team. This approach allowed the company to scale rapidly while keeping costs low. Additionally, Atlassian adopted a strong emphasis on company culture and employee satisfaction, which helped attract top talent and foster innovation.
