Jason Fried is the co-founder and CEO of 37signals, a Chicago-based software company known for creating Basecamp and HEY. He is a prominent advocate for remote work, minimalist product design, and sustainable business practices, having co-authored several influential business books including Rework and Remote.
Jason Fried is the co-founder and CEO of 37signals, a software company recognized for its influential project management and communication tools. He founded the firm in 1999 as a web design consultancy before pivoting to product development with the launch of Basecamp in 2004. [2] Fried is a prominent advocate for calm company culture, remote work, and sustainable profitability over venture-backed hypergrowth. [2][3] His leadership has seen the release of major products including the HEY email service and the ONCE software licensing model. In early 2026, he oversaw the launch of Basecamp 5 and a new kanban-style organizational app called Fizzy. [4] Fried has co-authored several bestselling business books such as Rework and It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work. [4][5] He frequently shares his philosophy on minimalist design and independent thinking through the REWORK podcast and his personal writing. His work continues to influence a generation of entrepreneurs by challenging traditional Silicon Valley orthodoxies. [4][5]
Jason Fried is the co-founder and CEO of 37signals, a software company based in Chicago. He is a prominent advocate for remote work, business sustainability, and minimalist product design. [2][4] Fried attended the University of Arizona, where he earned a degree in finance. [4][6] His entrepreneurial career began during his student years when he developed and sold Audiofile, a music collection organizer. [4] After a brief period working as a designer in San Diego, he returned to Chicago to pursue freelance web design. [4]
In 1999, Fried co-founded 37signals as a web design consultancy alongside Carlos Segura and Ernest Kim. The firm initially focused on creating clear and simple websites for clients. [2][7] In 2004, the company pivoted to software development with the launch of Basecamp, a project management tool originally built to solve internal coordination challenges. [4][6] The success of Basecamp led the company to transition entirely into a product-focused business. [7] In 2014, the firm briefly rebranded as Basecamp Inc. before returning to the 37signals name in 2022 to reflect an expanded product portfolio. [2][4][7]
Under Fried's leadership, 37signals has remained a bootstrapped and profitable enterprise, famously rejecting venture capital to maintain independence. He has overseen the launch of several influential products, including the HEY email service in 2020 and the ONCE software licensing model. [2][4][7] In December 2025, the company introduced Fizzy, an open-source Kanban tracking tool designed as a lightweight alternative to complex project management platforms. [4][8][9][10] Fried is also credited with fostering the development of Ruby on Rails, an open-source web framework created by his business partner, David Heinemeier Hansson, within the company. [4]
Fried is a prolific author whose books challenge traditional corporate orthodoxies. He co-authored the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Rework, as well as Remote: Office Not Required and It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work. [2][7] His business philosophy emphasizes "calm" company culture, small autonomous teams, and the prioritization of profitability over hypergrowth. [2][4] He frequently writes and speaks on the importance of simplicity in software and the benefits of maintaining a sustainable work-life balance. [7]
Fried advocates for a calm business philosophy that prioritizes profitability and independence over venture-backed hypergrowth. [11] He champions a sustainable work culture centered on 40-hour weeks and asynchronous communication to protect employee focus and prevent burnout. His strategic goals include challenging the software-as-a-service status quo through the ONCE initiative, which promotes permanent software ownership over recurring subscriptions. Fried maintains a commitment to simplicity and intentional constraints, often utilizing small two-person teams to build focused products that solve specific user needs. [2] He rejects traditional long-term planning in favor of agile, short-term decision-making and intuition-driven development. [12][13][14]
Jason Fried has received significant institutional and industry recognition for his contributions to technology and business philosophy. [15] In 2006, he was named to the MIT Technology Review TR35 list, which honors the world's top innovators under the age of 35. He is a prolific author whose work has achieved widespread commercial and critical acclaim. His book Rework reached the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. [2] His subsequent publication, Remote: Office Not Required, also became a New York Times bestseller. [1][2] Fried is a long-standing contributor to Inc. magazine, where he writes the Get Real column focusing on business and leadership. [15] In 2010, he delivered a widely viewed TED talk titled Why Work Doesn't Happen at Work, which has reached millions of viewers globally. He is frequently cited as a leading voice in the fields of product development, remote work, and sustainable business practices. [2][15]
2. Jason Fried, 37signals (makers of Basecamp, HEY and ONCE) | Davidsenra
3. Interview with Basecamp’s Co-Founder, Jason Fried | Salesflare
5. Jason Fried's Book Recommendations (updated 2025) | Goodbooks
6. Jason Fried, CEO of Basecamp | Bridge24
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdDCtMA1gSw | Youtube
8. Fizzy: How to set up and use the Kanban tracker from 37signals - a complete guide | Serverspace
9. Introducing Fizzy, our newest product | Hey
10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGlu852QF-o | Youtube
11. 37signals: The Company That Owns Control (And Doesn't Know It) | Paulsyng
12. Jason Fried on Why He Doesn't Do Planning or Politics at Work | Future
13. Jason Fried challenges your thinking on fundraising, goals, growth, and more | Lennysnewsletter
