Husband and wife Cliff Obrecht and Melanie Perkins are cofounders of design software maker Canva, which was valued by private investors at $40 billion in September 2021 but has since seen its value marked down nearly 40%.
Canva was launched in 2013 by the couple together with Cameron Adams in Sydney, Australia, but was met by investor skepticism due to its location.
Defying the doubts, Canva has attracted 130 million monthly users to its freemium software, with 6 million teams from companies like Zoom paying for it.
The couple has pledged to transfer more than 80% of their stake to the Canva Foundation for charitable causes.
Perkins learned kitesurfing in an effort to receive an investment from a group of kiteboard enthusiast venture capitalists, including angel investor Bill Tai.
Obrecht proposed to cofounder Perkins in Turkey's Cappadocia region with a $30 engagement ring.
In Their Own Words
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“The definition of beauty has really changed,” she said. "It’s about skincare and science-backed solutions. Beauty from the inside out. Wellness is being your best self.”