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.
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 Melanie's own website — 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 · 42
500 GlobalSan Francisco · $150K checks · since 2012AirTree VenturesSydney · $132K – $16.5M checksAlkeon InnovationNew YorkAlpha Square GroupNew YorkAltos VenturesBurlingame · $1M – $3M checksAltra VentureNew York City · $500K – $25M checksAthletic VenturesB CapitalGenevaBessemer Venture PartnersRedwood City · $5M – $100M checksBlackbird VenturesSydney · $30K – $5M checksBuilders + BackersCapitalGSan Francisco · $50M – $100M checksCarbide VenturesPalo AltoCoatue ManagementNew York · $1M – $20M checksFelicis VenturesSan Francisco · $500K – $15M checksFive V CapitalSydneyFPVJackson · $100K – $5M checksFull In PartnersNew York · $3M – $50M checksGaldana VenturesBarcelonaGeneral CatalystSan Francisco · $30M checksGlobal Founders CapitalBerlin · $637K – $32M checksICONIQSan 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 CapitalTorontoTDK 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
Education
- University of Western AustraliaInnovation Excellence Program (Commercializing Innovation)2009
- The University of Western AustraliaBA(Arts)/BA(Commerce), Communications
Skills & more
Project Management99Product Development82Marketing99Entrepreneurship99User Experience99Start-ups99Mobile Applications96Web Development99User Interface Design99Online Advertising99Social Media99Social Networking84
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Mobile DevicesInformation ArchitectureDigital MediaSEOProduct ManagementBusiness StrategySocial Media MarketingWeb 2.0From Melanie's professional profile.
Podcasts & interviews
featuring Melanie PerkinsFrequently asked questions
- Where does Melanie Perkins work?
- Melanie Perkins is Co-founder & CEO at Canva.
- What companies did Melanie Perkins found?
- Melanie Perkins founded Canva.
Paths to reach Melanie
People who overlapped with Melanie at the same organization — a shared school or employer with one of them is a warm way in.
Together at CanvaMelanie: Co-founder & CEO
Cliff Obrecht2013–2026Co-founder & COO of CanvaThe University of Western AustraliaByron Deeter2019–2026Partner at Bessemer Venture PartnersUniversity of California, BerkeleyJavier Soltero2022–2024Senior Venture Partner at Felicis VenturesWesley Chan2015–2026Investor at Felicis VenturesMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyJeff Chang2020–2022Investor at Vertex Venture Management Pte. Ltd.University of California, BerkeleyJean Sini2012–2026General Partner at Partech VenturesPierre and Marie Curie University · Télécom Paris
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Together at The University of Western AustraliaMelanie: Multimedia Centre Technical Assistant and Tutor
Cliff Obrecht2006–2008Co-founder & COO of CanvaThe University of Western AustraliaClare McCartney Beer2006–2008COO & Managing Director at Burda Principal InvestmentsAlma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna · The University of Western Australia · University of SydneyAdam Froese2009Venture Partner at Harvest Venture PartnersThe University of Western Australia · Trinity Western UniversityAndrew McLean2006–2008Managing Partner at Tin Alley VenturesThe University of Western Australia · University of OxfordSrdjan Dangubic2006Partner at Five V CapitalINSEAD · The University of Western AustraliaLeigh Travers2006–2008Executive Chair at DigitalX Fund ManagementAustralian Institute of Company Directors · Kaplan Professional · Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Together at Weber ShandwickMelanie: Public Relations Internship
Veronica Fresneau2007Communications Director at World FundVrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)Denis Gursky2007Partner at 1991 VenturesKyiv National Economics University · London Business SchoolSophie Moser2007Director Marketing & Communications at VidiaCIM | The Chartered Institute of Marketing · Colby College · Imperial Business SchoolAlex Reid2007Chief Communications Officer at Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationSt Helen’s School · University of NottinghamBonin Bough2007Co-Founder and Advisor at Lockstep VenturesHartwick College
Together at 500 GlobalMelanie: 500 Global 2012
Christine Tsai2012CEO at 500 Startups VietnamMission San Jose High SchoolBedy Yang2012Managing Partner at 500 StartupsFGV - Fundação Getulio Vargas · University of PennsylvaniaSantiago Zavala2012Managing Partner at 500 StartupsTecnológico de MonterreyHenrique Guimarães2012Investor at Cotidiano AceleradoraCliff Obrecht2012Co-founder & COO of CanvaThe University of Western AustraliaCameron Adams2012Co-founder & Chief Product Officer of CanvaUniversity of Melbourne
Founder mafias
500 Global mafia67
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 FinHarry GrunerGA 19Founded Hilos +2Mike Sigal500 Global 2018Founded Fanvestor +2
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The University of Western Australia mafia7
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Weber Shandwick mafia6
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended University of Western Australia65
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
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Shared employers
Also worked at Canva34
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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Also worked at The University of Western Australia9
Tamryn BarkerSector Director, Mining & Nature at Founders FactoryBert VandereydtInvestor at E14 FundJosephine TayGiants Program Manager at Blackbird FoundryLiz DallimoreInvestment Committee Member at TenmileArjun BalajiInvestment Associate at TenmileXavier EvansSustainability Associate at Elaia
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Also worked at Weber Shandwick16
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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