Cliff Obrecht
University of Western Australia · Canva
The Quiet Co-Founder Behind Canva's $40 Billion Success
18 February 2026
Cliff Obrecht met Melanie Perkins at the University of Western Australia and became her co-founder on Fusion Books, their first venture. While Perkins focused on product and fundraising, Obrecht handled operations, finance, and the unglamorous work of building a company.
From Yearbooks to Canva
Obrecht helped grow Fusion Books into Australia's largest yearbook company, proving that design software could be simplified. When they pivoted to the broader Canva vision, he managed the operational complexity of scaling a global SaaS platform.
The Operational Backbone
While Perkins flew to Silicon Valley to pitch investors, Obrecht kept the company running from Perth. His focus on sustainable unit economics helped Canva avoid the cash-burn problems that killed many peers.
Giving Back
Obrecht and Perkins have pledged to give away the majority of their wealth. They serve as co-COO and CEO respectively of a company with over 170 million users. Obrecht's story reminds us that behind every famous founder, there's often an equally important co-founder doing the essential work.
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