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Atlassian rediscovers its start-up mojo

Aussie start-up success Atlassian will throw open its doors to host the Sydney Launch48 event, as "wannapreneurs" collaborate over a weekend to build a working, product prototype from scratch.
Written by Mahesh Sharma, Correspondent

Aussie start-up success Atlassian will throw open its doors to host the Sydney Launch48 event, as "wannapreneurs" collaborate over a weekend to build a working, product prototype from scratch.

Since the Sydney-based software company scored a $60 million investment from US firm Accel partners last year, it has been actively investing in the local start-up community via staff hires, company acquisitions and supporting start-up events.

Today, the software-development company will host the Launch48 event, welcoming about 80 strangers from different disciplines, such as marketing, technology and business, who will form teams to devise a product idea and build a working prototype.

Support will be on hand throughout the weekend in the form of legal advice and mentors, including Atlassian Engineering VP, Jean-Michel Lemieux.

The initiative has been driven internally by Atlassian java graduate developer Brian McKenna, who said that six colleagues have signed up to attend the event.

He said that Atlassian has the start-up culture coded into its DNA.

"The story of Atlassian started with just Mike and Scott, maxing out their credit cards to create Atlassian on just $10K," McKenna said.

"That's very much the start-up spirit, and I think it has carried right through to where the company is now."

"I think that's the root of why Atlassian is always interested in getting involved in these types of events."

He also explained that internally the company has a 24-hour feature-building competition (FedEx) for its products.

The company will also sponsor a number of local start-up events.

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