Dear Reader 💜,
A brand that has convinced millions of unimaginative people like me that they are, in fact, creative. A software so simple that even my mother, who still struggles with Instagram stories, can whip up a birthday party flyer in minutes.
For years, if you needed a design, you had two frustrating options: either hire a designer and hope they understood your vision (while emptying your wallet in the process), or struggle with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign, spending hours watching YouTube tutorials to move a single layer correctly. The latter, I can tell you from experience, was soul-destroying.
Then Canva happened, and suddenly, everyone became a designer.
Today, Canva has over 200 million users in 190 countries and is worth $48.7 billion. But this isn’t your regular tech success story. Unlike many companies that grow by limiting access to tools through costly subscriptions or by making design exclusive, Canva built its business by offering creativity for free.
The Accidental Empire:
Like all great ideas, Canva started with frustration. Back in 2008, Melanie Perkins was a university student in Australia, teaching her classmates how to use Adobe Photoshop. It was a nightmare: too many tools, too many steps, and too much time spent figuring out menus instead of actually creating them.
That frustration turned into an idea: What if the design was simple?
She teamed up with Cliff Obrecht, and together, they launched Fusion Books, an online platform for students to design their own yearbooks. It worked, but Perkins knew the potential was much bigger. Investors, however, didn’t see it. She pitched Canva for three years and got rejected over and over again.
Everything changed in 2012 when Cameron Adams, an ex-Google engineer, joined as co-founder. With the right tech and a vision to democratise design, Canva launched in 2013, and within a year, it had 750,000 users.
More Than Just a Business:
Most startups focus on disruption. Canva focused on inclusion. While other companies charged premium prices for design software, Canva made its tools free for educators, students, and nonprofits.
Millions of teachers now use Canva to create lesson plans and presentations, making learning more engaging for students, especially in underfunded schools where resources are scarce.
For nonprofits, Canva became an innovator. The Canva Nonprofit Program allows charities to create professional marketing materials without paying for expensive design services. Fundraising campaigns, impact reports, and awareness graphics that once required a budget can now be made in minutes for free.
For small businesses, Canva eliminated the need for expensive agencies. A local bakery, an independent fitness trainer, or a solo entrepreneur can now build their brand, create social media ads, and design packaging, all without a graphic designer.
Canva also pledged 30% of its equity to the Canva Foundation, using its success to fund education, poverty alleviation, and humanitarian aid. It has already donated $12 million to disaster relief and has partnered with UNESCO to improve digital literacy worldwide.
The Bigger Picture:
Canva didn’t just make design easier; it made opportunity accessible. It handed creative power to people who never had it before.
For a teacher in a rural school, it means creating visually engaging lessons without a budget. For a social media manager, it means launching a business overnight. For a nonprofit, it means reaching thousands more people without spending a single penny.
For a local café, it means designing menus, ads, and branding in minutes without a designer. For an aspiring entrepreneur, it means building a business with nothing but an internet connection.
For millions of everyday people, it means the freedom to create without limitations, without barriers, and without needing anyone’s permission.
The Lesson for Businesses
Canva didn’t win by hoarding value; it won by sharing it.
While most companies gatekeep innovation behind paywalls, Canva gave people the tools to succeed for free. While other startups chased disruption, Canva built accessibility, impact, and generosity into its business model.
It’s proof that giving people the power to create is good for the world and business.
Maybe that’s the real takeaway here. The brands that stand the test of time won’t be the ones that extract the most but the ones that empower the most.
Cheers!
Akanksha
Opmerkingen