Figma

Figma, created by Dylan Field after dropping out of Brown at 20, disrupted Adobe's monopoly by enabling real-time collaborative design like Google Docs. It replaced Sketch, InVision, and Adobe XD in most teams, leading to a $20 billion acquisition attempt by Adobe in 2022, blocked by regulators. Remaining independent, Figma hit $600 million ARR by 2024. Its free tier is robust for individuals, and FigJam extends capabilities to whiteboarding and brainstorming. Cheaper than the typical rival, Figma reduces team software costs by nearly 70% compared to legacy tools.