From a modest table in Perth, Australia, to the towering heights of global tech fame, Canva’s journey over the past decade is the stuff of Silicon Valley legend, except this story has its roots firmly Down Under. Founded by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams, the all-in-one visual communication platform has conquered the once exclusive domain of graphic design, making it accessible to anyone who can drag and drop. If the internet democratised information, then Canva has certainly democratised design.
Ten years ago, Melanie Perkins had a vision while teaching design programs at the University of Western Australia. She saw students struggling with overly complex design tools and knew there had to be a better way. Fast forward to today, and Canva is far more than just a “better way”—it’s the go-to platform for over 135 million people each month, used to create a staggering array of designs for everything from business presentations to social media posts. If you need evidence of its massive reach, just look at the numbers: Canva’s users have collectively created over 17 billion designs, with 200 new ones coming to life every second.
The numbers are indeed staggering but even more impressive is the rate of Canva’s growth. In just the last year, 45 million new monthly users joined the platform. To put that into perspective, it initially took Canva eight years to hit that user number. That’s not just growth; that’s a veritable explosion. With more than $1.5 billion in annualised revenue and a consistent track record of profitability over the last six years, Canva is not just another tech startup making noise; it’s a full-fledged behemoth walking the talk.
But Canva’s appeal isn’t limited to the everyday user looking to spruce up their LinkedIn profile. Large enterprises like Zoom, FedEx, Starbucks, and Salesforce have recognized the platform’s potential, using it to manage and scale their brand identities across the globe. Add to that the fact that Canva is listed as a core skill on over a million LinkedIn profiles—a figure that’s shot up by 72% year-over-year—and you’ve got the makings of a bona fide corporate darling.
Yet, at its core, Canva is more than just a profit-generating machine. It’s a company with a mission that goes beyond the bottom line. They call it their Two-Step Plan: the first step is to build one of the world’s most valuable companies, and the second is to do the most good they can. By offering their platform for free to 400,000 non-profits and 45 million teachers and students, Canva is making a measurable impact. The company has even partnered with GiveDirectly to fund a $30 million cash transfer program in Malawi, with 30% of the company pledged toward social good. Canva proves that it’s possible to be both a commercial success and a force for positive change in the world.
As the platform turns 10, Melanie Perkins reflects on a decade that has seen her company transform from a bootstrapped startup into a $40 billion household name, “Empowering the whole world to design has been our mission for the last decade, and this remains just as critical today as it was when we first launched Canva in 2013,” she said.
The future, it seems, holds no limit for Canva. With plans for further global expansion, technological innovation, and ongoing social impact initiatives, this 10-year-old company has the vigour and promise of a startup, with the wisdom and stability of a seasoned enterprise.
In an increasingly visual world, where image often trumps text, Canva offers everyone—individuals, non-profits, and mega-corporations alike—the tools they need to tell their story in the most compelling way. So, as we wish Canva a happy 10th birthday, we’re also quietly thanking them for making our world a more beautifully designed place, one pixel at a time.
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