History of Canva in Timeline

Canva is a versatile graphic design platform launched in Australia in 2013. It empowers individuals and businesses to create professional-quality visuals for various purposes, including social media graphics, presentations, marketing materials, and websites. The platform offers a vast library of customizable templates, along with tools for photo editing, video editing, and more.

January 2013: Canva Founded

Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams founded Canva in Perth, Australia, on January 1, 2013.

2013: Canva Launches in Australia

Canva, a graphic design platform for creating various marketing and social media materials, was launched in Australia in 2013.

April 2014: Guy Kawasaki Joins Canva

Guy Kawasaki, a social media and technology expert, joined Canva as its chief evangelist in April 2014.

2015: Canva for Work Launches

Canva expanded its offerings by launching Canva for Work in 2015, focusing on marketing materials for businesses.

2016: Canva's Revenue Increases

During the 2016–17 financial year, Canva experienced significant revenue growth, increasing from A$6.8 million to A$23.5 million.

2017: Canva Achieves Profitability

Canva reached profitability and amassed a considerable user base of 294,000 paying customers in 2017.

January 2018: Canva Raises A$40 Million

In January 2018, Canva raised A$40 million in funding, with a valuation reaching A$1 billion, marking a significant milestone for the company.

2018: Canva Acquires Zeetings

Canva acquired Zeetings, a presentations startup, in 2018 to expand its presence in the presentations market.

May 2019: Canva Acquires Pixabay and Pexels

Canva acquired two free stock photography platforms, Pixabay and Pexels, in May 2019, providing users with access to a vast library of images for their designs.

May 2019: Canva Raises A$70 Million in Funding

Canva secured another round of funding, raising A$70 million in May 2019, which further increased the company's valuation to A$2.5 billion.

May 2019: Canva Experiences Data Breach

In May 2019, Canva faced a security breach affecting approximately 139 million users, exposing personal data.

December 2019: Canva for Education Launches

Canva introduced Canva for Education in December 2019, offering a free product designed for schools and educational institutions to encourage collaboration.

January 2020: Compromised Passwords Shared Online

Following the data breach, around 4 million user passwords were decrypted and shared online in January 2020, prompting Canva to implement password resets for affected users.

June 2020: Canva Partners with FedEx Office and Office Depot

Canva formed strategic partnerships with FedEx Office and Office Depot in June 2020, expanding its reach and services.

February 2021: Canva Acquires Kaleido.ai and Smartmockups

Canva expanded its technological capabilities by acquiring Austrian startup Kaleido.ai and Czech-based Smartmockups in February 2021.

September 2021: Canva Raises US$200 Million, Valuation Reaches US$40 Billion

Canva's valuation surged to US$40 billion in September 2021 after raising US$200 million, solidifying its position as a major player in the tech industry.

March 2022: Canva Surpasses 75 Million Monthly Active Users

Canva achieved a significant user base milestone in March 2022, surpassing 75 million monthly active users.

September 2022: Canva's Valuation Levels at US$26 Billion

By September 2022, Canva's valuation stabilized at US$26 billion, reflecting the dynamic nature of the tech market.

December 7, 2022: Canva Launches Magic Write

Canva launched Magic Write on December 7, 2022, an AI-powered copywriting assistant integrated into the platform.

March 22, 2023: Canva Announces New Assistant Tool

On March 22, 2023, Canva introduced its new Assistant tool, designed to provide users with recommendations for graphics and styles that align with their existing designs.

2023: Canva Co-Founders Recognized for Philanthropy

Co-founders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht were recognized for their philanthropic endeavors, aiming to donate a significant portion of their wealth to various causes in 2023.

January 11, 2024: Canva Launches GPT in OpenAI's GPT Store

Canva expanded its AI capabilities by launching its own GPT in OpenAI's GPT Store on January 11, 2024.

March 2024: Canva Finalizes Share Sale at US$26 Billion Valuation

Canva concluded a share sale in March 2024, maintaining a valuation of US$26 billion.

March 2024: Canva Acquires Serif

In March 2024, Canva made a significant acquisition, acquiring UK-based Serif, known for its Affinity suite of graphic design software, for approximately $380 million.

May 2024: Canva Launches Canva Enterprise

Targeting large organizations, Canva rolled out Canva Enterprise in May 2024, along with new tools like Work Kits, Courses, and enhanced AI capabilities.