A Look Into Canva, The Design Company That Became A Tech Unicorn For Australia

If you are at all connected to the design world, you definitely know about Canva, the Australian company which was founded in 2013. It has truly exploded in recent years, going from its spectacular A$1 billion valuation in 2018 with backing from Sequoia Capital, Blackbird Ventures, and Felicis Ventures, making it just one of Australia’s eight companies to have such a high valuation, to having a US$40 billion valuation in 2021. Canva is a platform that makes it easy to make designs such as logos and banners, and it is an excellent tool for all sorts of business. Beyond its design functions, it also connects customers with printers, allowing them to easily get their designs made into physical marketing materials. 

Unlike many companies which take many years to become profitable, Canva saw profits early on in its growth. Beyond the big-name investment firms, many celebrities have jumped on board as well, including Woody Harrelson, Owen Wilson, and Lars Rasmussen who have invested in the company. Rasmussen was more than just an investor, and as the co-founder of Google Maps he lent his experience and knowledge to the company. Even though the company was profitable, they sought new investors to keep growing, and under the leadership of Melanie Perkins, the company has consistently grown to new heights. As of September 2021, around 2,000 people were working for them. As they have grown, they have added many new services including video editing, and it is available in over 100 languages.