Find your path to Melanie
75 people in our graph share verified history with Melanie — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Javier SolterounlockedMelanie: together at Canva (2022–2024)
×6Melanie: together at Canva
×5Melanie: together at Weber Shandwick
About
Melanie Perkins was rejected by about a hundred investors before Canva became one of the most valuable private software companies on earth — $42 billion in an August 2025 employee share sale, roughly $4 billion of annual recurring revenue, 265 million monthly users, and eight consecutive profitable years. She started at 19, teaching design software at the University of Western Australia and realising it was needlessly hard, then built the yearbook publisher Fusion Books with Cliff Obrecht from her mother's living room. Canva launched in 2013 with Obrecht and ex-Google engineer Cameron Adams. She and Obrecht — now married — signed the Giving Pledge and are giving away more than 80% of their fortune.
Likely email· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- m•••@canva.comreveal75% confident
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Co-founded Fusion Books in 2007 with Cliff Obrecht — a web-based yearbook publisher with a drag-and-drop editor that became Australia's largest and expanded to New Zealand and France. Launched Canva publicly in 2013 with Obrecht and ex-Google engineer Cameron Adams. Perkins co-founded Canva, an online graphic design platform, with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams.
- Education
- Left the University of Western Australia at 19, where she had been teaching design software, to build Fusion Books. Studied at University of Western Australia (communications, psychology and commerce)
- Charities
- Perkins and Obrecht joined the Giving Pledge in 2021, committing at least half of their fortune to philanthropic purposes.
- Communities
- Signed the Giving Pledge in 2021 with Obrecht, committing the vast majority of their wealth through the Canva Foundation; in 2026 they launched a Global Goals Platform with the Ad Council.
- Awards
- Ranked 93rd on Forbes' 2025 World's 100 Most Powerful Women and named to Fortune's 2026 Most Powerful Women list. Perkins was listed on the Forbes list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2023. Perkins ranked 92nd on Fortune's Most Powerful Women list. Perkins received the Asia's Most Influential Philippines, Gen.T (Philippines) recognition.
- Hobbies
- As a high school student Perkins trained seriously in figure skating and started a small business selling handmade scarves.
- Family
- Married co-founder Cliff Obrecht in January 2021 on Rottnest Island, Western Australia.
From published sources — common ground for a warm intro.
Co-founder & CEO at Canva
Intro paths
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In turn, Melanie can intro founders to Canva's investors below.
Canva's investors · 46
500 GlobalSan Francisco · $150K checks · since 2012AirTree VenturesSydney · $132K – $16.5M checks · since 2021Alkeon InnovationNew YorkAlpha Square GroupNew YorkAltos VenturesBurlingame · $1M – $3M checksAltra VentureNew York City · $500K – $25M checksAthletic VenturesB CapitalGenevaBessemer Venture PartnersRedwood City · $5M – $100M checks · since 2021Blackbird VenturesSydney · $149K – $60M checksBuilders + BackersCapitalGSan Francisco · $50M – $100M checksCarbide VenturesPalo AltoCoatue ManagementNew York · $1M – $20M checksFelicis VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $15M checks · since 2021Five V CapitalDarlinghurstFlow CapitalTorontoFPVJackson · $100K – $5M checksFranklin TempletonSan Mateo · since 2021Full In PartnersNew York · $3M – $50M checksGaldana VenturesBarcelonaGeneral CatalystSan Francisco · $30M checksGlobal Founders CapitalBerlin · $637K – $32M checksGreenoaksSan Francisco · $1M – $50M checks · since 2021ICONIQSan FranciscoInvestible Climate Tech FundSydney · $330K checksMana VenturesEsteroMarch Capital PartnersSanta MonicaMatrixSan Francisco · $100K – $10M checksPremji InvestMenlo ParkQuadrant Private Equity Pty Ltd.Sydney · $46.2M – $99M checksRaptor GroupMiami BeachRecursive VenturesSan Francisco · $100K – $1M checksRembrandt Venture PartnersLaramieRogue Insight CapitalMarkhamSecondQuarter VenturesSydneySequoia Capital’s Scout programMenlo Park · $25K – $100K checksSHAKTISan Francisco · $250K – $2M checksShasta VenturesMenlo Park · $250K – $6M checksSquare Peg CapitalMelbourneStack CapitalTorontoT. Rowe PriceBaltimore · since 2021TDK VenturesSan Jose · $5M checksTLV PartnersTel Aviv · $3M – $70M checksTreefrogNewmarketYOBE VenturesMiami
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Co-founders at Canva
CO
Clifford ObrechtExecutive Officer, Director
CO
Cliff ObrechtCo-founder & COO
CA
Cameron AdamsCo-founder & CPO
Experience
- CanvaCEO & Co-foundercurrent2012 — presentGreater Sydney Area
- Fusion BooksFounder and Directorcurrent2007 — presentGreater Perth Area
- The University of Western AustraliaMultimedia Centre Technical Assistant and Tutor2006 — 2007
- Weber ShandwickPublic Relations Internship2007Greater Sydney Area
Skills & more
Project Management99Product Development82Marketing99Entrepreneurship99User Experience99Start-ups99Mobile Applications96Web Development99User Interface Design99Online Advertising99Social Media99Social Networking84
+8 more
Mobile DevicesInformation ArchitectureDigital MediaSEOProduct ManagementBusiness StrategySocial Media MarketingWeb 2.0From Melanie's professional profile.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Melanie PerkinsFrequently asked questions
- Who is Melanie Perkins?
- Melanie Perkins was rejected by about a hundred investors before Canva became one of the most valuable private software companies on earth — $42 billion in an August 2025 employee share sale, roughly $4 billion of annual recurring revenue, 265 million monthly users, and eight consecutive profitable years. She started at 19, teaching design software at the University of Western Australia and realising it was needlessly hard, then built the yearbook publisher Fusion Books with Cliff Obrecht from her mother's living room. Canva launched in 2013 with Obrecht and ex-Google engineer Cameron Adams. She and Obrecht — now married — signed the Giving Pledge and are giving away more than 80% of their fortune.
- Where does Melanie Perkins work?
- Melanie Perkins is Co-founder & CEO of Canva.
- What companies did Melanie Perkins found?
- Melanie Perkins founded Canva.
- Where did Melanie Perkins go to school?
- Melanie Perkins studied at University of Western Australia (Innovation Excellence Program (Commercializing Innovation)); The University of Western Australia (BA(Arts)/BA(Commerce), Communications).
- What awards has Melanie Perkins received?
- Ranked 93rd on Forbes' 2025 World's 100 Most Powerful Women and named to Fortune's 2026 Most Powerful Women list. Perkins was listed on the Forbes list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women in 2023. Perkins ranked 92nd on Fortune's Most Powerful Women list. Perkins received the Asia's Most Influential Philippines, Gen.T (Philippines) recognition.
- What podcasts and interviews feature Melanie Perkins?
- Tracked appearances include "The woman behind Canva shares how she built a $42B company from nothing", "From information to imagination".
Founder mafias
500 Global mafia671
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Cliff Obrecht500 Global 2012Founded CanvaCameron Adams500 Global 2012Founded CanvaEoghan McCabeGA 3 2011Founded FinDes TraynorGA 3 2011Founded FinAihui OngGA 3Founded Buela +3Mike Sigal500 Global 2018Founded Fanvestor +2
+ 664 more
The University of Western Australia mafia24
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Cliff ObrechtFounded CanvaDr Andrew ForrestBachelor of Arts - BAFounded Fortescue +1Eunice WongCommerceFounded Talkstack +1Tao MantarasDouble Bachelor Degree (BSc & BCom)Founded BibliU +1Tim LevyBComFounded Linewize +1Abinesh KanagarajBachelor of Commerce (B.Com.)Founded Local +1
+ 17 more
Weber Shandwick mafia9
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Stefan WalterSocial Media, Digital CommunicationFounded NAPRobert StoeckerCorporate MarketingFounded FortoDenis GurskyAccount ManagerFounded SocialboostHayley AndersonProducer + EditorFounded soonaJulia DixonSenior Strategist, Cultural Insiders ManagerFounded ESAIJohn SimpsonInternFounded Digital Health Strategies
+ 2 more
Same school
Also attended University of Western Australia114
Cliff ObrechtCo-founder & COO of CanvaClare McCartney BeerCOO & Managing Director at Burda Principal InvestmentsShane ChessonFounding Partner at Openspace VenturesMyers DupuyFounder, Scratch Advisors at Tribes VenturesDan CoughlanPrincipal at AirTree VenturesJohn McCartneyPartner at Artesian
+ 108 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Canva40
Byron DeeterPartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersCliff ObrechtCo-founder & COO of CanvaCameron AdamsCo-founder & Chief Product Officer of CanvaJavier SolteroSenior Venture Partner at Felicis VenturesWesley ChanInvestor at Felicis VenturesJeff ChangInvestor at Vertex Venture Management Pte. Ltd.
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+ 34 more
Also worked at The University of Western Australia15
Tamryn BarkerSector Director, Mining & Nature at Founders FactoryMichael FinnCTO at Blockchain AssetsRyan SohnPartner at Premier Capital PartnersMarco VissersInvestment Team at Five V CapitalJosephine TayGiants Program Manager at Blackbird FoundryLiz DallimoreInvestment Committee Member at Tenmile
+ 9 more
Also worked at Weber Shandwick20
Dea SurjadiSpecial Advisor at Golden Gate VenturesStefan WalterInvestor at Cavalry VenturesRobert StoeckerPartner at AENULaksh SharmaSr. Investment Associate at Eximius VenturesKathleen OsbornePublic Relations at How Women InvestAllie DanzigerInvestor at Curate Capital
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+ 14 more