Canva's Strategic Expansion in AI
On 8 April 2026, Canva announced its acquisition of AI companies, Simtheory and Ortto, to significantly enhance its capabilities in artificial intelligence and marketing. This monumental step aligns with Canva's ambition to evolve beyond a mere design tool and become an end-to-end platform for creative work.
The acquisitions of Simtheory and Ortto bring complementary strengths in AI collaboration, agent management, data infrastructure, and marketing automation. As a result, Canva aims to streamline workflows and enable teams to manage the complete lifecycle of a project, from conception to execution.
Founded by Chris and Mike Sharkey, both companies have a history of innovation. The Sharkey brothers, previously known for founding Stayz, which was acquired by Fairfax Media, will join Canva in leadership roles, contributing their expertise in AI and marketing technology.
Cliff Obrecht, Co-Founder and COO of Canva, expressed enthusiasm, "We’re excited to welcome Simtheory and Ortto to Canva. They’ve built exceptional teams and technology, and this acquisition marks an important step toward evolving Canva from a design tool into the system where work happens end-to-end, whether it’s a quick idea or a full campaign."
Simtheory is renowned for its AI collaboration and agent management platform, which simplifies workflows by enabling teams to work with AI across tasks and applications. The platform allows for the creation and management of AI-driven assistants that understand business needs, ensuring control and reliability for enterprises.
Ortto's Role in Marketing Automation
Ortto enhances Canva's marketing capabilities by providing a robust customer data platform with advanced marketing automation features. This allows teams to design, execute, and manage campaigns across multiple channels seamlessly.
These acquisitions are part of Canva's broader strategy to expand its offerings. Previously, Canva acquired MagicBrief, MangoAI, and Doohly, which strengthened its position in design and content management.
The unveiling of Canva's expanded capabilities is scheduled for its upcoming event, Canva Create, on 16 April 2026. This event will showcase the most significant transformation in Canva's history, redefining how content is created and managed.
As Canva continues to integrate these new technologies, it aims to become the primary platform where teams execute their creative and marketing endeavors, from initial ideas to campaign scaling and measurement.
