- Sri Lankan startup WSO2 sells for $600M.
- CEO drives Uber part-time.
- Employees share windfall.
Coding through chaos
Sanjiva Weerawarana’s journey with WSO2 is a testament to perseverance. Founded in 2005 amid Sri Lanka’s civil unrest, the open-source enterprise software company has defied odds to become a global player.
Despite pressure to relocate, Weerawarana kept WSO2’s roots firmly planted in Colombo, proving that world-class tech companies can thrive anywhere.
Driving change, literally
WSO2’s success lies in its robust middleware stack, offering API management and identity access management solutions.
With clients like Samsung and AT&T, the company is set to hit $100 million in annual recurring revenue this year. This impressive growth caught the eye of private equity giant EQT, leading to a $600 million acquisition deal.
Beyond his role as CEO, Weerawarana occasionally moonlights as an Uber driver. This unexpected side gig serves a purpose: challenging social perceptions about service jobs in Sri Lanka.
It’s just one way Weerawarana is using his success to drive positive change in his home country.
