Lessie AI
Platform
Resources
Pricing
Find Influencer
Find Client
Find Investor
Find Talent
Find Partner
Resources
Pricing
Blog
FAQ
Profile
  1. Home
  2. Founder
  3. Cliff Obrecht
Lessie AI
Platform
  • Find Influencer
  • Find Client
  • Find Investor
  • Find Talent
  • Find Partner
Terms & Policies
  • Term of Service
  • Privacy Policy
Resource
  • Pricing
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • Profile
Company
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Contact
  • X
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Discord
    Badge
© 2025 SUPERLINEAR PTE. LTD. All rights reserved
Cliff ObrechtCliff Obrecht

Cliff Obrecht

Co-Founder & COO / Canva

Cliff Obrecht is the Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Canva, the design software company valued at $40 billion. Along with his wife Melanie Perkins, he has built Canva into a revolutionary design platform serving millions of users worldwide. He is recognized as one of Australia's wealthiest young entrepreneurs with a net worth of $7.6 billion.

Bachelor's, University of Western Australia
Australia
LinkedInLinkedIn41K
TechnologyEntrepreneurshipDesign Software
$7.6B
Net Worth
$40B
Company Valuation
12+
Years at Canva
2012
Founded
Search More

Work Experience

CanvaCanva
Canva

Co-Founder & Chief Operations Officer

2012 - Present
Company Leadership
Co-founded and scaled Canva from a startup to a global design platform valued at $40 billion by private investors, serving millions of users worldwide with revolutionary design tools.
Strategic Operations
Led operational strategy and business development initiatives that transformed Canva into one of Australia's most valuable unicorns, preparing for a probable IPO in the near future.
Product Innovation
Spearheaded product rollouts and platform expansion, building Canva into a comprehensive design ecosystem that democratized graphic design for mass market adoption.
F
Fusion Books

Managing Director

2008 - 2013
Publishing Leadership
Led online publishing operations and business development, gaining four years of critical experience in digital publishing that would later inform Canva's mass market approach.
Business Development
Developed strategic partnerships and managed client relationships in the publishing industry, building foundational skills in business strategy and customer relationship management.

Education

The University of Western AustraliaThe University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia

Bachelor of Arts/Science

2003 - 2008
Academic Foundation
Graduated from UWA with an Arts and Education Degree, building critical thinking and communication skills that would prove essential in entrepreneurship and business leadership.
Perth Origins
Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, developing deep local connections and understanding of the Australian market that informed Canva's early growth strategy.

Core Skills

Business Strategy

Strategic planning and business model development for high-growth technology companies

Entrepreneurship

Co-founding and scaling global technology platforms from startup to unicorn status

Operations Management

Leading operational excellence and organizational scaling in hypergrowth environments

Product Development

Driving product innovation and mass market adoption strategies for design software

Professional Expertise

Comprehensive skillset spanning technology entrepreneurship, operations management, and strategic business development

Leadership & Management
Strategic LeadershipOperations ManagementTeam BuildingOrganizational ScalingExecutive Management
Technology & Product
Product DevelopmentSoftware PlatformDesign TechnologyUser ExperienceMass Market Products

Key Achievements

Achievement
Year
Impact
Co-founded Canva
2012
$40B valuation, global design platform
Forbes Billionaire List
2024
$7.6B net worth, ranked #478 globally
Australia's Youngest Billionaire
2024
Top of AFR Young Rich List with wife Melanie
IPO Preparation
2024
Leading Canva toward public offering
Fusion Books Leadership
2008-2013
Built publishing industry expertise

Personal Interests

Technology Innovation

Passionate about emerging technologies and their potential to democratize design and creativity

Outdoor Activities

Enjoys kite surfing and fishing, maintaining work-life balance through adventure sports

Continuous Learning

Committed to learning new things and staying current with industry trends and developments

Family Life

Married to Canva CEO Melanie Perkins, balancing entrepreneurship with family priorities

Ready to get more information?

Start for free