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Global visual communication platform Canva has accelerated its growth with the acquisitions of UK-based 2D animation platform Cavalry and US-based AI startup MangoAI, adding new capabilities to its AI-driven creative ecosystem.
Cavalry, already used by companies such as Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix, will enhance Canva’s offerings for motion designers. This acquisition builds on Canva’s earlier purchase of Affinity in 2024, which has already exceeded four million downloads since its launch. Canva now boasts seven Europe-based acquisitions, including Affinity, Flourish, Kaleido, Smartmockups, Pexels, and Pixabay, strengthening its global footprint.
MangoAI, an early-stage startup focusing on video advertising optimisation, will integrate its proprietary algorithms and reinforcement learning system with Canva AI. This move is expected to enable brands to create personalised marketing content in real time, improving campaign performance while reducing production time. Vinith Misra, MangoAI co-founder, will join Canva as Reinforcement Learning Lead in the company’s Research Lab.
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Cliff Obrecht, co-founder and chief operating officer of Canva, said the acquisitions are part of a broader vision to make professional creative tools accessible while keeping human creativity central. “We’re helping designers break free from bloated, expensive tools and bringing everything from vector to motion design into one powerful suite,” he said.
Canva reports 265 million active users, with 31 million paid subscribers, and $4 billion in annualised revenue, marking a 36% year-on-year growth. The addition of Cavalry and MangoAI further solidifies Canva’s position against competitors such as Adobe and Apple’s Creator Studio, reinforcing its Creative OS and ongoing push into enterprise workflows.
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Liam Fisher, head of Pro Design Marketing at Canva, emphasised the role of AI as a creative assistant, saying, “It’s about the craft, the creativity, a designer, and their unique attention to detail. We want to make sure we’re not taking anything away from that craft.”
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What elevates the Storyboard18 Awards For Creativity further is the composition of its jury — a rare convergence of leaders from public policy, corporate leadership, advertising, entrepreneurship, cultural commentary and global brand building.
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Amitabh Kant’s presence on the jury adds a distinct dimension to this mix: an understanding of how narratives, ideas and communication shape national perception, economic participation and public behaviour.
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