Melanie Perkins, born in Perth, Australia, had a bold idea while still a teenager. As a 19-year-old studying at the University of Western Australia in 2007, she noticed students struggling with complex design tools. This observation sparked her vision for a platform that made design accessible to everyone.
Perkins, with her then-boyfriend Cliff Obrecht, launched Fusion Books, an online tool for creating school yearbooks. The platform allowed schools to design and print yearbooks collaboratively. Over five years, Fusion Books grew into Australia’s largest yearbook company, serving schools across Australia, New Zealand, and France.
The success of Fusion Books validated Perkins’ belief that design could be democratized. However, she dreamed of scaling beyond yearbooks. In 2010, she pitched her broader idea of a graphic design platform to investors, facing multiple rejections before meeting Cameron Adams, a former Google engineer, who became Canva’s co-founder.
Building Canva: Challenges and Turning Points
Canva officially launched in 2013, after Perkins and her team secured $3 million in initial funding. Investors were impressed by her vision of a drag-and-drop design tool usable by anyone, regardless of skill level. Canva’s mission was to simplify graphic design, disrupting traditional software like Adobe and CorelDraw.
In its first month, Canva attracted 50,000 users, a testament to the pent-up demand for accessible design solutions. The early years were not without challenges, as the team navigated technical hurdles, user feedback, and a fiercely competitive market.
The turning point came in 2015, when Canva raised $15 million in a funding round led by Sequoia Capital. This injection of capital valued the company at $165 million and allowed it to expand its features. The platform soon offered templates for social media, marketing materials, presentations, and more, cementing its versatility.
By 2020, Canva’s user base had exploded to 30 million monthly active users across 190 countries. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated its adoption, as remote work and digital-first strategies increased demand for design tools. During this period, Canva’s valuation surged to $6 billion.
Exponential Growth: Scaling Globally
As of 2023, Canva boasts over 125 million monthly users and operates in more than 190 countries. Its valuation reached $26 billion, positioning it as one of the most valuable private companies in the world. Canva’s freemium model, which offers free basic features with optional paid upgrades, has been pivotal in its growth.
Canva Pro, its premium subscription, generates the majority of its revenue. As of 2023, the platform reported over $1 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR). The introduction of enterprise solutions helped Canva secure clients like American Airlines, Salesforce, and Zoom.
The platform now supports over 100 languages, emphasizing its global appeal. New features, including video editing, website design, and data visualization tools, keep Canva ahead of competitors. Partnerships with platforms like HubSpot and Dropbox have further strengthened its ecosystem.
The Leadership Behind Canva’s Success
Melanie Perkins remains at the helm of Canva, alongside Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams. Together, they’ve built a culture of innovation and inclusivity. The company employs over 4,000 people across its offices in Sydney, Manila, and Austin, among other locations.
Perkins, one of the youngest female billionaires globally, has a net worth estimated at $6.5 billion as of 2023. She remains committed to philanthropy, pledging to donate most of her wealth to charitable causes through the Giving Pledge initiative.
Canva continues to innovate, with plans to integrate artificial intelligence into its tools. Its AI-powered features, such as Magic Resize and Background Remover, are already industry favorites. The company also aims to expand its enterprise offerings and capture a larger share of the corporate market.