Asana, a workplace software company set up by one of Facebook's co-founders, is “stepping on the gas” in Europe and Asia, as boss Dustin Moskovitz said leaving the social network was a “good decision”.

Asana has raised around $50m (£39m) in its latest funding round, from investors including Benchmark Capital and Founders Fund, giving it a valuation of $1.5bn. Its previous funding round, in January, had valued the company at $900m.

The company, which develops software helping teams to organise tasks, produce newsletters and manage social media, said the funds would be funneled into ramping up growth and scaling out its teams in new markets, including in Australia and Japan.

Chris Farinacci, the chief operating officer of Asana said growth was “particularly hitting home in places like the UK”.

“We’re seeing this category really take off,” he said.

Mr Moskovitz, the chief executive and co-founder, added that, while the company was “not yet profitable we’re rapidly approaching it”.