Melanie Perkins

On track to be one of the most successful tech founders in history. Canva is valued at over $42 billion, makes over $3.3 billion in revenue per year, and has been profitable for eight consecutive years. Was rejected by over 100 investors before succeeding. Their core argument: Integrate AI where it naturally helps users achieve their goals — your question is the answer. The evidence is specific: AI embedded in Canva's design tab (used 170 million times/month) and elements tab (used 900 million times/month) — AI augments surfaces users already frequent. Furthermore, users can generate videos, photos, code, and use an AI collaborator through comments — all integrated in-context rather than as separate AI features. When teachers requested MagicWrite for classrooms, Canva unlocked it with safety controls — showing community-driven AI rollout. In Melanie Perkins's own words: "Your question is actually the answer at the same time. I think being able to integrate it into the product where it actually helps people to get their work done where it genuinely helps them to achieve their goals, and then being really open to listening to your community and hearing what they're loving, what they're struggling with and refining from there I think is really, really important." (On Canva's philosophy of AI integration.)