Founder Success Story: Melanie Perkins – The Visionary Behind Canva
Early Life and Inspiration
Melanie Perkins grew up in Perth, Australia, with a strong passion for design and entrepreneurship. While teaching design software at university, she noticed that students found existing tools like Photoshop too complex and expensive.
This struggle gave her a simple yet powerful insight:
👉 Design should be easy, accessible, and available to everyone.
The Beginning of Canva
In 2007, Melanie, along with co-founder Cliff Obrecht, launched Fusion Books, an online tool that allowed students and schools to design their yearbooks. The venture was a success in Australia and gave them the confidence to expand the concept globally.
In 2012, Melanie, Cliff, and Cameron Adams (former Google engineer) co-founded Canva, with a mission to make design simple and collaborative.
Disrupting the Design Industry
When Canva launched in 2013, it instantly stood out with:
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Drag-and-drop design tools – No technical skills required.
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Free + affordable pricing model – Freemium SaaS approach.
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Templates for everything – Presentations, social media, posters, resumes, and more.
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Collaboration features – Enabling teams and businesses to design together.
Canva democratized design, turning what was once exclusive to professionals into something everyone could do.
Growth and Global Impact
Today, Canva is one of the fastest-growing SaaS companies in the world with:
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Over 170 million monthly active users (2025)
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Presence in 190+ countries
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A valuation of over $25 billion, making it one of the world’s most valuable startups
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Customers ranging from students and entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies
What makes Canva unique is its mission-driven approach – simplifying design for anyone, anywhere, regardless of background or skill.
Leadership Philosophy of Melanie Perkins
Melanie is among the youngest female tech billionaires in the world. Her leadership style emphasizes:
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Inclusivity – Building tools that anyone can use.
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Sustainability – Canva is a certified B Corp focused on positive impact.
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Team-first approach – Maintaining culture while scaling globally.
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Long-term thinking – Building a company that lasts for generations, not just valuations.
Lessons from Canva’s Journey
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Find real-world problems – Canva started from a classroom struggle.
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Start small, scale big – From Fusion Books to a global platform.
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Build for accessibility – Simplicity is a superpower.
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Diversity matters – Canva is a global company with global users.
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Purpose over profit – Mission-led businesses build deeper impact.
Melanie Perkins and Canva’s story is a testament to the power of vision, simplicity, and persistence. From an idea born in a classroom to a global unicorn, Canva has transformed the way the world designs.
Her journey proves that you don’t need to come from Silicon Valley to build a tech giant – all you need is a bold vision and the determination to make it real.
