Melanie Perkins: The Aussie Who Took on Big Tech and Won

Back when she was 19, studying communications in Perth, Melanie hit a wall with clunky design programs. It was frustrating. Creating something simple like a poster or a pitch deck felt like learning how to fly a plane just to send an email. So, she did what most people wouldn’t: she started building a solution herself.

That idea became Canva. And it didn’t just work it exploded.

Starting From Scratch

Canva launched out of Sydney in 2014. It wasn’t built for designers it was built for everyone else. The idea was to make graphic design simple, fast, and accessible, whether you were a school teacher, a startup founder, or someone running a local café.

Melanie wasn’t trying to compete with Adobe. She was rewriting the playbook entirely.

By 2024, Canva had over 10 million users worldwide. The company raised $40 million USD, hired hundreds of people, and became Australia’s next tech unicorn, clocking a valuation north of $1 billion USD. Not bad for someone who started with a frustration and a laptop.

Leading with Grit, Not Hype

Melanie doesn’t fit the Silicon Valley stereotype. She’s not a flashy founder chasing the next press headline. She’s steady, strategic, and sharp.

“I learned the power of determination early,” she says. “And you don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room to make an impact.”

As an introvert, she built a product for the quiet achievers the people who just want to get good work done without the fluff. Canva is now used by over 20,000 non-profits to raise awareness for causes that actually matter.

Building for Impact, Not Just Income

Sure, Canva’s a business. But Melanie’s motivation runs deeper. It’s about helping people show up better whether it's in a boardroom pitch or a school newsletter.

“Every day I get to work with smart and kind people to solve big problems,” she says. “That’s what makes it worth it.”

While other tech founders burn out chasing exits and headlines, Melanie’s building something long-term. Something useful. Something global.

Why She Deserves the Spotlight

In a world full of overhyped founders and half-baked apps, Melanie Perkins is the real deal.

She’s a young woman who built a billion-dollar company in Australia’s backyard. She didn’t wait for permission, didn’t beg for attention, and didn’t sell out early. She just kept building.

If you want a blueprint for smart, grounded entrepreneurship Melanie’s story is it.

Image Credit:https://en.wikipedia.org/