Canva
Rejected by 100 investors; now a $40B design platform from Perth.
▶ Founder shortScalingAI & creator toolsDesignAINo-codeCreatorAustralia
At nineteen Melanie Perkins taught design software from her mother's living room in Perth and saw how clunky it was. Her first product, Fusion Books, made yearbook design simple and became Australia's biggest. Pitching the bigger idea — design for everyone — she was rejected more than 100 times over three years before Canva launched in 2013. It now has 200M+ monthly users, is valued around $40B, and its AI tools make it one of the biggest creator-tool companies on Earth.
Why it's indexed
- Valued around $40B; 200M+ monthly users.
- Turned down by 100+ investors before the first round.
- AI design tools used by more non-designers than any other product.
Coverage
Founder short: Melanie Perkins & CanvaFounder short
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