Startup Originals Team
Melanie Perkins’ story is a remarkable tale of vision, persistence, and guts. From her humble beginnings in Perth, Australia, to leading one of the world’s most successful tech startups, Perkins has become a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. Her mission to democratize design has changed the creative landscape and made design accessible to everyone, not just professionals.
Early Life and Entrepreneurial Spark:
Born in 1987 in Perth, Melanie grew up in a family where creativity and ambition were encouraged—her mother was a teacher and her father an engineer. As a child, Melanie dreamed of becoming a professional figure skater, getting up at 4:30 a.m. to train. At 14, she launched her first business selling handmade scarves at local markets, igniting her entrepreneurial spirit and teaching her the excitement of building something from scratch.
University Years and the First Big Idea:
Melanie attended the University of Western Australia, majoring in communications, psychology, and commerce. While tutoring fellow students in graphic design, she noticed that design tools like Photoshop were difficult and intimidating-so much so that it took a full semester just to grasp the basics. It was here that the spark for something simpler was lit, planting the seeds for her future vision.
Fusion Books: The First Venture
In 2007, tapping into her observation that design should be simpler, Melanie, with then-partner Cliff Obrecht, founded Fusion Books. This platform allowed schools to easily design and print their own yearbooks using a drag-and-drop online interface. They started the business from her mother’s living room, physically printing and distributing yearbooks around Australia. Fusion Books became the country’s largest yearbook publisher, later expanding to New Zealand and France, and served as a critical proving ground for Melanie’s next, even bigger idea.
The Birth of Canva:
Recognizing the potential to revolutionize graphic design far beyond yearbooks, Melanie set out to create a platform where anyone, regardless of skill, could design anything. The road wasn’t easy: she faced over 100 investor rejections as she sought funding for her vision. Her big break came when she met top investors like Bill Tai and Google Maps co-founder Lars Rasmussen, who introduced her to Cameron Adams, a former Google engineer who became Canva’s third co-founder.
In 2013, Canva launched with Melanie as CEO. The company provided a simple, user-friendly design tool, delivering what the average person needed, online and for free or low cost. The response was almost immediate; users began flocking to the platform, and word-of-mouth fueled viral growth.
Building a Unicorn: Growth, Impact, and Leadership
Melanie Perkins’ leadership style is characterized by humility, clarity of vision, and a willingness to face risk head-on. She has constantly pushed for innovation-introducing features like Magic Studio and Canva Visual Worksuite, and embracing artificial intelligence to make design even easier.
Despite initial setbacks and a highly competitive market dominated by giants like Adobe, Canva quickly gained traction. By 2021, Canva had achieved a $40 billion valuation, serving over 100 million users each month and employing thousands worldwide. Perkins has been especially lauded for fostering an inclusive and collaborative company culture, promoting gender balance (with 41% female representation), and championing philanthropy alongside husband and co-founder Cliff Obrecht-they pledged to donate much of their wealth to charitable causes through the Bill & Melinda Gates Giving Pledge.
Achievements and Recognition:
Melanie Perkins has racked up an impressive list of accolades:
- Named on Forbes’ “World’s 100 Most Powerful Women” and “Under 30 of the Decade” lists.
- Earned a spot on the Australian Financial Review Rich List and was inducted into the Global Business Hall of Fame.
- Led Canva to be named “Overall Design Collaboration Company of the Year,” and ranked among the world’s most innovative companies.
Today and the Future:
Today, Melanie Perkins continues to drive Canva’s vision forward, advocating for democratized access to creative tools and further expansion of the business. Her journey, from making scarves to leading a global technology leader, is a testament to resilience, purpose, and the power of big dreams pursued relentlessly.
Melanie Perkins’ business journey is a blueprint for modern entrepreneurship: spot the problem, dare to solve it, and keep going no matter the obstacles. In doing so, she has empowered millions to bring their creative ideas to life.
