At just 19 years old, college student Melanie Perkins embarked on an entrepreneurial journey that would eventually revolutionize the design world. She founded Canva, a user-friendly online design platform, and after a decade of determination, innovation, and relentless effort, Canva reached incredible milestones: 294,000 paying users and a valuation of $1 billion.
Here’s a closer look at Melanie’s early struggles and the hard steps that laid the foundation for Canva’s success:
1. Starting with a Small, Targeted Market
Melanie began her entrepreneurial journey by addressing a niche need: an online design tool specifically for school yearbooks. Schools became her first clients, and they paid real money for her solution.
- Within just five years, her tool became the largest yearbook printing service in Australia.
- Its success didn’t stop there—it expanded internationally to France and New Zealand, demonstrating the scalability of her concept.
2. Returning to the Vision of Canva
With her first venture thriving, Melanie decided to revisit her original vision for Canva: “to make design accessible to everyone.”
This vision required a much broader platform and significant investment. For the next three years, Melanie made repeated trips between Australia and the United States, tirelessly pitching her idea to potential investors.
- Despite facing numerous rejections, she remained persistent, fine-tuning her pitch and refining her vision.
- Finally, after three long years, Melanie secured her first round of investment, giving her the resources to begin writing the first lines of code for Canva.
The Big Takeaway
Melanie’s story is one of perseverance, strategic thinking, and unwavering belief in her vision. By starting small and proving her concept in a niche market, she built credibility and gathered the skills she needed to tackle a larger goal. Her willingness to endure countless rejections and stay focused on her mission ultimately paved the way for Canva’s monumental success.
Today, Canva is more than just a design tool—it’s a testament to what’s possible when you dream big and refuse to give up, no matter how challenging the journey.
Source: TechCrunch