In 2007, a young design student at the University of Western Australia noticed something most people overlooked. Her classmates struggled with complex design tools like Photoshop — hours were wasted trying to create simple graphics, posters, or layouts.

That student was Melanie Perkins. At just 19, she asked herself a question that would later disrupt an entire industry: “What if design was as easy as dragging and dropping?”

With her then-boyfriend, Cliff Obrecht, she started Fusion Books, an online tool that allowed schools to create and print yearbooks. Fusion Books grew into the largest yearbook publisher in Australia and expanded into New Zealand and France. But Perkins knew this was just the beginning. She saw the potential to transform not just school yearbooks, but the entire global design industry.

The Leap: Founding Canva

The real turning point came in 2011, when Perkins met Bill Tai, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist, at a conference in Perth. Tai believed in her vision and introduced her to a network of investors and entrepreneurs.

With Cliff Obrecht by her side and Cameron Adams, a former Google engineer, as the technical co-founder, Perkins founded Canva in 2012. Their mission: “to empower the world to design anything and publish anywhere.”

The challenge was enormous. The design industry was dominated by giants like Adobe. But Canva had something revolutionary: a drag-and-drop, browser-based tool that anyone could use, from students and small businesses to global enterprises.

Funding the Impossible: A Story of Relentless Persistence

Raising capital wasn’t easy. Perkins faced hundreds of rejections from investors who doubted her vision. But her persistence paid off.

2013 – Seed Round ($3 million): Led by Bill Tai, Lars Rasmussen (co-creator of Google Maps), and Matrix Partners.

2015 – Series A ($6 million): Valuation: $165 million. Investors: Felicis Ventures, Blackbird Ventures.

2018 – Series C/D ($40 million): Canva reached unicorn status with a valuation of $1 billion.

2019 – Series D ($85 million): Valuation: $3.2 billion.

2020 – Series E ($60 million): Despite a pandemic, Canva rose to a $6 billion valuation.

2021 – Series F ($200 million): Canva exploded to a $40 billion valuation, making it one of the world’s most valuable startups.

Even after the 2023–24 tech correction, Canva remains a $26 billion powerhouse — proof that its fundamentals are strong and its product irreplaceable.

The Global Impact of Canva

Today, Canva is not just a design tool. It is an ecosystem.

185 million monthly active users across 190 countries.

Tools ranging from social media posts, presentations, posters, and resumes to video editing and enterprise design platforms.

Clients include Fortune 500 companies, governments, schools, and millions of freelancers.

Translations available in over 100 languages, making it a truly global product.

By putting professional-level design into the hands of everyday users, Canva has done what Microsoft did for word processing and what Google did for search — it has democratized creativity.

Leadership with Purpose

Unlike many Silicon Valley founders, Melanie Perkins stands out not just for her business acumen but also for her values-driven leadership.

Together with Cliff Obrecht, she pledged to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes, joining the Pledge 1% movement. Their goal is to use Canva’s success to fund long-term solutions in education, equality, and sustainability.

Perkins is also a role model for women in tech. As one of the youngest female CEOs to lead a multi-billion-dollar company, she has shattered stereotypes in an industry often criticized for its lack of diversity.

Lessons from Perkins’ Journey

Solve a real problem: Canva was born from a genuine frustration — complicated design tools.

Persistence beats rejection: Perkins faced years of investor rejections before landing her first cheque.

Think global from day one: Canva was designed to be scalable and accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Lead with purpose: True success is measured not just in valuation, but in impact.

The Legacy of Melanie Perkins

At 37, Melanie Perkins has built more than just a startup. She has built a movement. Canva isn’t merely a tool; it’s a platform that empowers creativity at scale.

Her story is proof that great companies don’t just come from Silicon Valley — they can come from anywhere, even Perth, Australia. And they don’t always start with billions — sometimes they begin with a simple question asked by a 19-year-old student.

As Canva continues to grow, one thing is clear: Melanie Perkins didn’t just change design. She changed the way the world communicates.