Melanie Perkins turned a university design-teaching frustration into Fusion Books and then Canva, building the design-software company from Australia with Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams. [1][2][3]
A narrow design business before Canva
Perkins was teaching design software while studying at the University of Western Australia when she became convinced that design tools should be simpler, online and collaborative. She and Cliff Obrecht tested that idea first through Fusion Books, a school-yearbook business they began while still students. [2][3]
Fusion Books gave Perkins and Obrecht operating experience and a working product, but raising venture capital for a broader design platform from Perth proved difficult. After years of pitching and repeated rejection, they teamed with engineer Cameron Adams and launched Canva in 2013. [2][3]
Perkins remained Canva's chief executive as the company expanded internationally and became one of the world's largest private software businesses. Her billionaire wealth comes from the founder stake she retained in Canva rather than inherited capital or a family operating company. [1]
Canva's private-company valuation represents the whole business rather than Perkins's personal balance sheet. Shared founder ownership and outside venture financing mean her wealth tracks the value of her retained stake after dilution, not the full enterprise value attributed to Canva. [1][3]
Sources for background
Sources reviewed Sep 15, 2026.
- Melanie Perkins · Forbes · Mar 10, 2026
- 21 Questions from Aussie Startups: Highs, lows & lessons learned during Canva's journey so far (Part 1) · Canva
- Canva Uncovered: How A Young Australian Kitesurfer Built A $3.2 Billion (Profitable!) Startup Phenom · Forbes · Dec 11, 2019
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