People & Company News

Atlassian Reveals Secrets of its Success

Since its 21-year-old co-founders set it up in 2002, enterprise software company Atlassian has grown into a $30 million-plus company with 10,000 customers, 170 employees and offices in four countries.

Mike Cannon-Brookes, who founded Atlassian with fellow university graduate Scott Farquhar, revealed the secrets of his company’s success at the recent Playford Capital Entrepreneur breakfast seminar. “Scott and I were young, but we had a fair bit of experience with enterprise software,” he said.

“We saw that it was very expensive – $100,000 plus – and had a high cost of sales because sales people earned large commissions. We wanted to redefine that so the average sale would cost US$3000 to $3500 and we’d have no outbound sales people. To do that, we came up with five principles:

• The price had to be low

• The software had to sell itself

• Low price meant we had to sell to thousands of companies

• We must sell globally

• Customers must buy because we couldn’t afford to sell.

“From day one, we aimed to become a global business with 50,000 customers. We chose that figure because we want to become a $100 million company, so we need 50,000 customers spending an average of $2000 each.”

Sydney-based Atlassian is already 20 per cent of the way through that marathon journey. In February this year, the company sent a bottle of champagne to its 10,000th customer, who is located in Ohio, USA. The company is on track to generate $34 million in sales this year, an 84 per cent increase on last year.

Read the full report on Mike's presentation at the Playford Capital Entrepreneur breakfast seminar on the Playford website here.

Ultrasonic Cleaning Device a Boost for SA Wine Industry

Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research announced this week that Playford investee company, Cavitus Pty Ltd, has been awarded a Commercial Ready Plus Grant.  The $250,000 grant will assist to develop its high-power ultrasonic device to clean and disinfect oak wine barrels.  For the full AusIndustry story, click here.

Embedded Systems Australia survey

Embedded Systems Australia is a new industry cluster whose members are collaborating to strengthen embedded systems and related industries in Australia.  Their first project will be an Australia-wide capability mapping survey, and they are seeking participants. The survey will be used to collect information that will be published to market Australia's capability in Embedded Systems.  Full details are available on the National ICT Australia (NICTA) website. 

EIA and ICT Council Collaboration

Representatives of the EIA Board have had discussions with Board representatives from the ICT Council about closer collaborative ties during 2008. The discussions have been productive and centring around issues of functions, activities and benefits to membership. Either organisation would welcome any questions.  Contact EIA Executive Director via email gbassani@eiaa.asn.au or phone on (08) 8272 5222. Or contact the ICT Council Executive Director via email exec.director@ictcouncil.org.au or phone on (08) 8410 7400. Full story here.

Expert Panel for Fast-Track FTTN Network

Reg Coutts of the University of Adelaide has been appointed by the Australian Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, to a panel to assist in drawing up an RFP for its $4.7b next generation network.  The Panel will be chaired by the secretary of the Department Of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (BCDE), Patricia Scott. See here for the Full news story & other panel members

Prophecy fits bill for UK water group

Software developer Prophecy, with international headquarters and global software development centre based in Adelaide, has been selected to provide its basis 2 customer information system to Mid Kent Water in the UK. The deal is expected to generate revenue of at least $A1 million for Prophecy, which won the business in league with its UK partner IMASS.

Maptek Grant Win

Mining industry technical solutions provider Maptekhas won a $975,000 grant from The Innovation and Investment Fund for South Australia (IIFSA), to help it quadruple production of high performance I-Site 3D laser scanners. The company will match the funding. The development will create 27 new jobs at Maptek's Glenside-based operation over the next six years.

New business development director for Sybiz

SA Business management software developer Sybiz, has appointed Jeff Lewis as sales and business development director. An industry veteran, Lewis most recently worked on the Sage Pastel brand. His early career in sales did not involve ICT, but he made the switch when he developed the Sun Microsystems platform for Ariel Technologies.

New AIIA website

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) have an updated their website, with an improved events calendar & registration system to make it easy for you to stay in touch with the ICT industry in your area.   http://www.aiia.com.au/

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Grants & Awards

South Australian Science Excellence Awards 2008

Nominations are now open for the 2008 South Australian Science Excellence Awards.  Playford Capital's CEO, Amanda Heyworth, will sit on the judging panel for this year’s Awards.  Recognising and rewarding excellence in science and acknowledging commitment and skill in raising public awareness of science, awards will be presented in 6 categories, which are detailed on the website, along with nomination information.  Visit www.scienceawards.sa.gov.au  Nominations close on
9 May 2008.

AusIndustry Information

Would you benefit from AusIndustry's innovation or other programs?  For program information, call the AusIndustry Hotline on 13 28 46. Information on programs administered through the AusIndustry network is available at their website www.ausindustry.gov.au or contact their Adelaide staff: State Manager, Brenton Pain (ph: 8406 4702), Deputy State Managers, Steve Peters,
(ph: 8406 4705) and Stephen Ramsay (ph: 8406 4708)

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