Canva sets sights on 1 mn user base in India by 2016

The Australia-based online imaging firm Canva, which counts Hollywood actors Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson as its investors, today said it aims to take its India user base to one million by 2016.
"India has become the fourth-largest market for us. We already have 1,50,000 users in India who have created more than one million designs in the last six months.
"We see over 2,000 users signing up in India every day. We are targeting to have one million users in India by 2016," Canva Co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins told reporters here.
The company provides ready-made templates and image editing tools online. It has both free and premium images available that people can use for making presentations, websites, print posters and the like.

"Our platform addresses the issue of cost that people spend on designs. There will be no copyright issue when people use images available at Canva. There are thousands of free designs available. Besides this, people can buy premium images for USD 1," Perkins said.
Canva co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Cliff Obrecht said the company will build up user community in India to expand it base and is in talks with some prominent faces to make them its ambassadors.

"India is first country after Australia where we are investing to build our base. We have added support for Hindi language. Indians now have templates for cards and social media posts to celebrate festivals such as Durga Pooja, Dussehra and Diwali at Canva," Obrecht said.

The company has monetisation programme for designers and photographers, where they can earn up to 35 per cent royalty for each of their designs sold through Canva.
"We are looking to spread similar opportunity in India as well," Perkins said.
She said Canva has raised a total of USD 27.6 million till date. Apart from Hollywood stars, its investors include Felicis Ventures, Blackbird Ventures, Matrix Partners, and new investors Vayner Capital.