Partners at Australia’s three biggest venture capital firms say Canva is capitalising on rising international interest in Australian tech firms after the design software giant increased its valuation by almost 20 per cent after a share sale.

Canva said on Thursday its valuation had risen by $US6 billion ($9.1 billion) to $US32 billion after an undisclosed number of shares changed hands, the first major transaction since investors and employees were allowed to sell shares in April. Canva is the largest of the country’s privately owned technology firms and is widely regarded as a bellwether for the local start-up sector.