# Canva: Melanie Perkins (2019)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2021-03-01
- Length: 41m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-03-01-canva-melanie-perkins-2019

## Summary

Melanie Perkins, co-founder of Canva, explains how she pivoted from a yearbook tool called Fusion Books to building a global design platform after securing investment from Bill Tai and Lars Rasmussen. She details the grueling process of pitching over 100 investors in San Francisco, who repeatedly rejected the idea due to the lack of a technical co-founder, forcing her to recruit Dave Herndon and Cameron Adams. Perkins describes the strategic decision to offer a free core product with premium assets, which allowed Canva to reach 30 million monthly users and achieve profitability despite early rejections and a premature embargo break.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-03-01-canva-melanie-perkins-2019#t=0) Introduction: Melanie Perkins and Canva's Origin
- [3:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-03-01-canva-melanie-perkins-2019#t=237) Fusion Books: The Yearbook Pivot and Early Traction
- [10:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-03-01-canva-melanie-perkins-2019#t=622) Meeting Bill Tai and the Search for a Tech Team
- [15:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-03-01-canva-melanie-perkins-2019#t=941) San Francisco Pitching: Sleeping on Floors and Facing Rejection
- [20:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-03-01-canva-melanie-perkins-2019#t=1236) The Mai Thai Conference and Recruiting Dave Herndon
- [28:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-03-01-canva-melanie-perkins-2019#t=1719) Securing Seed Funding and Building the Product
- [32:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-03-01-canva-melanie-perkins-2019#t=1941) Canva Launch, Business Model, and Growth
- [37:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-03-01-canva-melanie-perkins-2019#t=2221) Leadership Challenges and Company Culture

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Canva (product)
- Fusion Books (product)
- Bill Tai (other)
- Lars Rasmussen (other)
- Dave Herndon (other)
- Cameron Adams (other)
- Adobe (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- Google (company)
- Shutterfly (company)
- Fuji Xerox (company)
- TechCrunch (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Oddball's Path From Idea to Funding a Nationwide Target Launch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-07-11-oddballs-path-from-idea-to-funding-a-nationwide-target-launch) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [159: Build a Community to Sell Your New Product Invention](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-01-18-159-build-a-community-to-sell-your-new-product-invention) (Product Startup)
- [Dip Into Paradise with Founder Emily Edwards](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2021-03-01-dip-into-paradise-with-founder-emily-edwards) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Daniela Suarez of iCalm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-11-01-founder-feature-daniela-suarez-of-icalm) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [034: Staying Motivated & Overcoming Lack of Money, Time & Skills](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-01-03-034-staying-motivated-overcoming-lack-of-money-time-skills) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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