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Canva, the Australian graphic design platform, has acquired several companies over the years to expand its offerings and improve its services. These acquisitions have helped Canva to become one of the most popular design tools available today. Canva’s acquisitions include companies that specialize in photography, video creation, and data visualization, among others.
One of Canva’s most recent acquisitions is Flourish, a London-based data visualization company. The acquisition was made in February 2022 and has helped Canva to provide better data visualization tools to its users. Canva has also acquired other companies such as Kaleido, a company that specializes in creating interactive content, and Pixabay, a platform that provides free stock photos and videos. These acquisitions have helped Canva to expand its offerings and provide a more comprehensive design tool to its users.
Canva’s acquisitions have also helped the company to increase its valuation, with the company announcing a USD $40 billion valuation in September 2021. With Canva’s continued growth and expansion, it is likely that the company will continue to acquire other companies in the future to improve its services and offerings.
Canva: A Brief Overview
Canva is a global visual communications platform that was founded in 2013 by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, and Cameron Adams. The company is headquartered in Sydney, Australia, and has offices in Manila, Beijing, and San Francisco. Canva offers a user-friendly design tool that enables users to create professional-looking designs for various purposes, such as social media graphics, presentations, posters, and more.
Canva has grown rapidly over the years and has become a well-known name in the tech industry. The company has raised over $570 million in venture capital funding and has a valuation of $40 billion as of September 2023. Canva’s success can be attributed to its user-friendly interface, vast library of design templates, and its ability to cater to both individuals and businesses.
Canva has made several acquisitions over the years to expand its offerings and provide more value to its users. As of September 2023, Canva has made seven acquisitions and five investments. Some of the notable companies that Canva has acquired include Flourish, Kaleido AI GmbH, and Smartmockups. These acquisitions have allowed Canva to expand its capabilities in areas such as data visualization and mockup creation.
Overall, Canva has established itself as a leading player in the visual communications space and continues to innovate and expand its offerings to provide more value to its users.
Acquisition Strategy of Canva
Canva has been expanding its business through a combination of acquisitions and investments. The company has made 7 acquisitions and 5 investments in various sectors, including Online Photos, Video Creation Tools, Tech for Film & TV, and more. Canva’s acquisition strategy is aimed at expanding its product offerings, increasing its user base, and entering new markets.
Canva’s acquisition strategy is focused on acquiring companies that complement its existing product offerings. For example, in February 2022, Canva acquired Flourish, a London-based data visualization startup, to enhance its data visualization capabilities. Canva also acquired Kaleido AI GmbH, an Austria-based AI platform that allows individuals and businesses to create images and videos, in February 2021.
Canva’s acquisition strategy also involves investing in companies that have innovative technologies or products that can help the company expand its business. For example, Canva invested in Lightricks, an Israeli startup that develops photo and video editing apps, in August 2020. Canva’s investment in Lightricks allowed the company to integrate Lightricks’ technology into its platform, enabling users to create more engaging content.
Overall, Canva’s acquisition strategy has been focused on acquiring companies that can help it expand its product offerings, increase its user base, and enter new markets. By acquiring companies that complement its existing product offerings and investing in innovative technologies, Canva has been able to stay ahead of the competition and continue to grow its business.
Notable Acquisitions by Canva
Pixabay and Pexels Acquisition
Canva’s acquisition of Pixabay and Pexels in May 2019 was a strategic move to expand the platform’s image library. Pixabay and Pexels are both free stock photo and video websites that offer high-quality images and videos that can be used for personal or commercial purposes. By acquiring these two companies, Canva now has access to over a million images and videos that users can incorporate into their designs.
Zeetings Acquisition
In April 2018, Canva acquired Zeetings, an interactive presentation startup based in Australia. Zeetings offers a platform that allows users to create interactive presentations that can be shared and accessed on any device. With this acquisition, Canva expanded its offerings to include interactive presentations, making it easier for users to create engaging and interactive content.
Interactive Presentation Startup Acquisition
In February 2022, Canva acquired Flourish, an England-based SaaS platform that provides solutions such as data visualization and analytics for businesses. This acquisition followed two other acquisitions made in 2021, including Kaleido AI GmbH. These acquisitions are part of Canva’s mission to tell better stories with data. Canva’s co-founder and CEO, Melanie Perkins, said that “Flourish’s expertise in data visualization and storytelling will enable us to empower more people to create visually compelling and data-rich content.”
Canva’s acquisitions have helped the platform expand its offerings and improve its user experience. With access to a wider range of images and videos, interactive presentations, and data visualization tools, Canva has become a one-stop-shop for all design needs.
Impact of Acquisitions on Canva
Canva’s acquisitions have played a significant role in the company’s growth and expansion. By acquiring companies that offer complementary services, Canva has been able to enhance its product offerings and provide a more comprehensive solution to its users.
One of the notable acquisitions made by Canva is SlidesCarnival, a Madrid-based company that provides free templates for Google Slides and PowerPoint. With this acquisition, Canva was able to expand its template library and offer more options to its users. The acquisition also helped Canva to establish a presence in the Spanish market.
Another significant acquisition made by Canva is Flourish, a London-based data visualization company. By acquiring Flourish, Canva was able to add data visualization tools to its platform, making it easier for users to create charts and graphs. This acquisition also helped Canva to tap into the data visualization market and compete with other players in the space.
Canva’s acquisitions have also helped the company to expand its global reach. By acquiring companies in different regions, Canva has been able to establish a presence in new markets and gain access to new users. For example, Canva’s acquisition of Pexels, a German stock photo company, helped the company to expand its presence in Europe.
Overall, Canva’s acquisitions have been instrumental in the company’s growth and success. By acquiring companies that offer complementary services, Canva has been able to enhance its product offerings and provide a more comprehensive solution to its users. These acquisitions have also helped Canva to expand its global reach and establish a presence in new markets.
Future Acquisition Plans of Canva
Canva has been actively acquiring companies to expand its services and improve its platform. With a valuation of $40 billion, the company has the resources to continue its acquisition spree. According to Owler, Canva has acquired six companies to date, and it is likely that more acquisitions are in the pipeline.
Canva’s acquisition strategy is aimed at strengthening its position in the visual communication market. The company is focused on acquiring companies that offer complementary services and technologies. For example, in 2022, Canva acquired Flourish, an England-based SaaS platform that provides data visualization and analytics solutions for businesses. This acquisition will help Canva enhance its data visualization capabilities and offer more comprehensive solutions to its users.
In addition to expanding its capabilities, Canva is also looking to expand its reach. The company is eyeing acquisitions that will help it enter new markets and geographies. For example, in 2020, Canva acquired Positive Graphic, a printing company based in Quebec, Canada, to expand its services in the North American market.
Canva’s acquisition plans are also driven by its desire to stay ahead of the competition. The visual communication market is highly competitive, and Canva is facing stiff competition from companies like Adobe and Piktochart. By acquiring companies with cutting-edge technologies and solutions, Canva can stay ahead of the curve and offer its users the latest and greatest in visual communication.
Overall, Canva’s acquisition strategy is focused on expanding its capabilities, reach, and market share. With a strong financial position and a clear vision for the future, Canva is well-positioned to continue its acquisition spree and remain a leader in the visual communication market.