Canva’s Melanie Perkins becomes Australia’s 3rd richest woman

Melanie Perkins now one of Australia’s three wealthiest women after her tech sensation Canva rose in value to $8.77bn.

Canva CEO Melanie Perkins. Picture: Dean Mackenzie

Melanie Perkins will be among Australia’s three wealthiest women after her technology sensation Canva doubled its value after its latest big capital raising.

Canva raised $US60m in its latest investor round, reportedly giving it a $US6bn ($8.77bn) valuation.

Perkins, 32, founded the digital graphics business with fiance Cliff Obrecht in 2014. The firm has since raised more than $400m from investors, giving the private company – which has its headquarters in inner Sydney – a big increase in valuation each time.

The duo is now likely to hold a stake worth more than $2.5bn.

Melanie Perkins. Picture: Dean Mackenzie

At that level, only mining magnate Gina Rinehart – whose wealth from Hancock Prospecting and other assets was valued at $16.25bn when The List – Australia’s Richest 250 was published in late March – and TPG Telecom founder Vicky Teoh, who holds a big stake in that company with husband David, have larger wealth.

Perkins debuted on The List with wealth of $1.32bn with Obrecht, making her the youngest billionaire in the country.

Canva has maintained its performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more of its graphics being downloaded by users around the world working from home.

It was reported overnight that Canva had raised its latest funds from existing shareholders such as Australian firm Blackbird Ventures and China’s Sequoia Capital.

Ms Perkins did not hide her ambition when she spoke to The Australian earlier this year, and also called on the corporate world to change the way business is done.

Melanie Perkins, the CEO of Canva, iis now one of Australia’s wealthiest women. Picture: Supplied

“We have a simple, two-step plan. One, to build one of the world’s most valuable companies and, two, to do the best we can. I hope with the opportunity that has been afforded to us we can use it to bring a little more equality to the world,” she said.

Mr Obrecht said overnight that the latest raising round for Canva had been 10 times oversubscribed, and it was reported the company is growing 100 per cent annually in terms of revenue and users.

Ms Perkins told The Australian in April that all Canva workers were at home, and the company was hosting regular fitness and yoga classes via Zoom, and even its employee social clubs had been meeting up remotely.

“We’ve also started hosting online comedy nights and music acts every Friday night, which is great for our team’s morale and the artists we’re supporting,’’ Ms Perkins said.