newly launched venture capital fund Blackbird Ventures<\/a>, which counts Tai and McClure on its list of investors.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Commercialisation Australia also contributed to Canva\u2019s funding round through its Early Stage Commercialisation program, which provides funding of up to $2 million.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve supported Canva because it\u2019s a strong team with a truly innovative product and we think it has the potential to be a global success,\u201d Commercialisation Australia chief executive Doron Ben-Meir said in a statement.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Canva isn\u2019t entering the market until May, when it will launch in America and Australia simultaneously. According to Perkins, the seed round demonstrates confidence in Canva\u2019s team, product and vision.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Perkins says the funding came about after she and Obrecht attended the MaiTai Global kite camp for entrepreneurs in Hawaii. The camp was started by Tai and kitesurfing enthusiast Susi Mai.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While there, Perkins and Obrecht were introduced to a number of Australian and US investors.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI met Bill Tai at a conference in Perth a few years back. We kept in contact and kept him informed about what we were doing,\u201d Perkins told StartupSmart<\/i>.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201c[MaiTai Global] was an amazing experience\u2026 The key ingredient is they bring together influential investors, journalists, successful entrepreneurs and start-up entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is learning to kitesurf, so it\u2019s about getting people out of their comfort zone. It helps people to bond in a way you can\u2019t do in a boardroom.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Perkins says the funds will be used primarily for the Canva team, which currently consists of nine people. Fundraising took almost a year, but Perkins is very happy with the investor line-up.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were trending on AngelList, which helped us close the round. Investors knew about us before we talked in the room \u2013 it gave us an added layer of credibility,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOur investors bring significant experience and expertise to the table, and are accomplished entrepreneurs in their own right.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are people who\u2019ve sat behind the wheel at some of Silicon Valley\u2019s most successful tech companies.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Google Maps founder Rasmussen, who is now director of engineering at Facebook, said he was impressed by the Canva founders, describing their story as \u201chighly compelling\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a strong team with a big vision, and I\u2019m thoroughly enjoying working with them,\u201d Rasmussen said in a statement.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cDesign is moving into a more collaborative and social world, and I predict Canva will be leading the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
According to Rick Baker, a partner at Blackbird Ventures, Canva\u2019s team is a sign of growing maturity in the Australian start-up scene.<\/p>\n
<\/b> \u201cThe desktop design industry is ripe for disruption and the Canva team are the best people for the job,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe founders have attracted a stellar cast of international investors, and are proving you can launch a truly global company from Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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