Melanie Perkins is one of the most inspiring stories in the world of tech startups today. From starting a simple scarf business in Perth to co-founding Canva, a tool used by millions across the world, Perkins has shown what a clear vision mixed with smart business sense can build. Today, her estimated net worth stands at $6 billion, making her not just one of the richest women in Australia but also one of the most successful female tech founders globally.
Early Life and First Steps in Business
Born in 1987 in Perth, Australia, Melanie Perkins grew up in a family where learning and curiosity were valued. Her father was an engineer, and her mother worked as a teacher. Perkins is of Malaysian, Filipino, and Sri Lankan heritage on her dad’s side, something she has often spoken about when highlighting the importance of diversity in tech.
In her teenage years, Melanie had dreams of becoming a professional figure skater. She was so dedicated she would wake up at dawn to train before heading to school at Sacred Heart College in Sorrento. But by 14, her knack for business was already showing when she began making and selling handmade scarves around Perth.
After finishing high school, Perkins enrolled at the University of Western Australia. She studied communications, psychology and commerce but spent a lot of her time tutoring other students in graphic design. It was here that the idea of making design simpler for everyone first took shape in her mind.
Fusion Books: The First Big Break
Before Canva, there was Fusion Books. In 2007, at just 19, Melanie teamed up with Cliff Obrecht to launch a web tool for students and schools to design and print their own yearbooks. The idea was born out of watching how hard it was for students to create good designs with traditional software.
Fusion Books quickly grew into Australia’s largest yearbook company, with expansions into New Zealand and France. It was Melanie’s first real taste of building software that solved a big problem in a simple way.
Canva: Changing the Way the World Designs
In 2013, Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht and Cameron Adams co-founded Canva. The vision was straightforward: take the pain out of graphic design and make it easy for anyone to create high-quality visuals, from social media posts to business presentations.
On day one, Canva offered simple drag-and-drop tools and templates for beginners and non-designers. What made it special was how accessible it was. In its first year alone, Canva attracted over 750,000 users. The idea of removing the barrier between everyday people and good design caught on like wildfire.
By early 2018, Canva raised $40 million in funding and was valued at $1 billion, instantly turning Perkins into one of the youngest female CEOs of a billion-dollar tech startup. Over the next few years, Canva’s valuation kept climbing as it expanded tools for editing photos, videos, presentations and even websites. By late 2021, Canva hit a peak valuation of $40 billion. While that number has come down slightly, the company remains one of the most successful design platforms globally.
Today, Canva is used by over 220 million people in more than 100 languages. It has acquired well-known creative platforms like Pixabay, Pexels and Smartmockups, helping expand its library and tools for millions of creators and businesses.
Unique Approach to Growth and Philanthropy
Melanie and Cliff, who got married in early 2021 on Rottnest Island, have kept true to their roots. Despite Canva’s size, they’ve stuck with the original vision of making design simple and accessible. What’s more impressive is their commitment to give back.
The couple joined the Giving Pledge, started by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, promising to donate the majority of their wealth to good causes. For Perkins, building a billion-dollar company is only part of her mission. She’s just as focused on using her success to create a positive impact worldwide.
Personal Life and Hobbies
Outside boardrooms and investor meetings, Melanie Perkins has found ways to blend fun with business. She famously took up kitesurfing to connect with investors like Bill Tai, who backed Canva early on. Kitesurfing not only became a networking trick but remains one of her favorite ways to unwind.
Travel is another passion. Perkins has said her travels, especially a trip to India, shaped her worldview and pushed her to think bigger about what technology can do for people in different countries and contexts.
How She Built Her $6 Billion Net Worth
The bulk of Melanie’s fortune comes from her stake in Canva. As the company’s CEO and co-founder, she holds a significant share of the business alongside her husband, Cliff Obrecht. Canva’s freemium model, which offers basic design tools for free but charges for premium features and assets, has turned out to be a gold mine. Millions pay for Canva Pro, business subscriptions and premium content every month.
Beyond that, smart acquisitions have kept Canva ahead of competitors. Integrating new tools and creative assets into one easy-to-use platform keeps people coming back and paying for extra features.
Final Thoughts
Melanie Perkins is proof that age, gender or background don’t have to limit big dreams. From selling scarves in Perth to leading a multi-billion-dollar design company used by students, entrepreneurs, teachers and marketers everywhere, she’s done what few have achieved in the tech world.
While her $6 billion net worth is impressive, it’s her vision to keep design simple, give back generously and break barriers for other young women in tech that makes her story truly stand out.