Canva's recent share sale, valuing the company at $65 billion, could make over 2,400 employees, known as 'Canvanauts', instant millionaires, highlighting its remarkable growth since its founding in Perth 11 years ago.

The company's valuation peaked at $56 billion earlier this year but dipped to $39 billion in 2022 before recovering to its current valuation, driven by strategic investments and growth.

Canva's move to establish a US parent company has raised some tax concerns among staff due to significant tax bills, but it is viewed as a strategic step toward a future IPO.

Over the past two years, Canva has heavily invested in AI, acquiring startups like Leonardo.ai and MagicBrief, with its AI tools now used over 20 billion times, making it one of the fastest-growing AI companies globally.

The company plans to go public on the US stock exchange next year, which could be its final private share sale, with major investors like Fidelity and J.P. Morgan participating, reflecting strong confidence in its growth and AI potential.

Despite recent valuation fluctuations amid the global 'tech wreck', Canva has maintained profitability for eight consecutive years, with annual revenue around $4.6 billion.

Canva's valuation surge has been driven by early investor upgrades from Blackbird and Square Peg, and it now boasts over 240 million monthly active users, making it a major player in global design software.

Canva's founders and investors see the company as a once-in-a-century success story for Australia, with plans for a likely IPO in 2026, potentially on the Nasdaq, following the establishment of its US-based parent.

Based in Sydney, Canva has launched an employee share sale valuing the company at $65 billion, surpassing major Australian corporations like Telstra and Woolworths, and making employees potential instant millionaires.

Employees, nicknamed 'Canvanauts', can sell up to $4.6 million of vested shares in a tender offer led by Fidelity, allowing current and former staff to liquidate their equity, which is typically illiquid until a public offering.

Founded in 2013 by Cliff Obrecht, Melanie Perkins, and Cameron Adams, Canva has grown from a small social media graphics platform to a global design giant used by over 240 million people monthly.

A previous share sale in April 2024 resulted in some staff becoming overnight millionaires, with $2.4 billion worth of shares changing hands, setting the stage for this latest valuation milestone.