Zendesk Commits to Melbourne as Technology Hub, Announces Major Partnership with Victorian Government

November 8, 2015

MELBOURNE — November 9, 2015 — Zendesk, Inc. (NYSE: ZEN), provider of a leading customer service software platform, today announced a major partnership with the Victorian Government that will create up to 175 new jobs in Victoria’s burgeoning technology industry.

Through the first partnership of its kind, the Victorian Government will provide a five-year financial investment in the form of a grant for job creation to Zendesk aimed at fuelling the growth of technology and innovation in Victoria. Philip Dalidakis, Small Business, Innovation and Trade Minister for the Victorian Government, announced the major investment today at the opening of Zendesk’s new office in Melbourne.

“Zendesk’s decision to base its tech headquarters in Melbourne is a vote of confidence in the future of our industry and means more high-skill jobs for Victorians,” said Premier Daniel Andrews. “We’re working hard to attract more investment in our tech industry and to provide the opportunities that will help local companies start up and grow.”

“Zendesk is a major international player in the industry and we are excited they’ve made Melbourne their tech hub in the Asia Pacific region,” said Philip Dalidakis, Small Business, Innovation and Trade Minister for the Victorian Government. “This partnership highlights Victoria’s growing prominence in the tech space and the Labor Government is committed to growing this even further through the Premier’s Jobs and Investment Fund and our $60 million startup fund, which will help to provide the foundation these companies need to grow and prosper here.”

Zendesk also launched the Melbourne arm of its global Zendesk Neighbour Foundation, committing $100,000 in financial support to community organisations and 1,000 hours of employee volunteer service for local charities. This includes official partnerships with local charities such as Purple Lion, a not-for-profit organisation that supports the quality of education of children with Autism, and STREAT, an organisation that helps disadvantaged youth become self-sufficient through work experience and hospitality skills training.

“The Melbourne office has been an enormous part of our product development, growth and success as a global company, and the world class talent in this city will continue to play a vital role in the future of Zendesk,” said Mikkel Svane, founder and CEO, Zendesk. “We believe that the Victorian Government partnership, together with the Zendesk Neighbour Foundation working at a local level, will lay the groundwork for us to build one of the most talented and diverse workforces in Melbourne.”

Zendesk has further solidified its investment in Melbourne as a technology hub for the company with a new office at 395 Collins Street, opened today by Zendesk’s Svane and Minister Dalidakis. Since Zendesk opened its first Melbourne office in September 2011, the local Zendesk team has grown to 70 people across its business and product development team. The new office currently has the capacity for 200 people, giving Zendesk’s Australia and New Zealand team the opportunity for years of future growth.

Zendesk’s new office, which has a great social and historical importance to Melbourne, is located in the Federation Gothic style former National Mutual Life Association Building. The new office space of more than 2,100 square metres maintains many original features as a part of the building’s historic preservation and makes an excellent design contrast to Zendesk’s modern aesthetic. The lower ground floor has been fully equipped by Zendesk as an event space and is available for use by the local technology community and local neighborhood organizations.

“This is just the beginning of a very meaningful and significant partnership with the Victorian Government,” said Brett Adam, managing director and VP for engineering, Zendesk, Australia and New Zealand. “We look forward to increasing both the depth and breadth of our tech talent in Melbourne, and I believe this will be a great model for how private and public sectors can come together to create a partnership that works.”

About Zendesk

Zendesk provides a customer service platform designed to bring organisations and their customers closer together. With more than 64,000 paid customer accounts, Zendesk’s products are used by organisations in 150 countries and territories to provide support in more than 40 languages. Founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Francisco, Zendesk has operations in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Learn more at www.zendesk.com