Canva Acquires Simtheory and Ortto to Build Out Marketing Operations
Canva has acquired Simtheory and Ortto, two marketing technology companies founded by brothers Chris and Mike Sharkey. The design platform did not disclose financial terms for either deal.
The acquisitions mark Canva's shift from a design tool into a broader platform for managing marketing campaigns end-to-end. Simtheory builds AI assistants that understand business operations and execute tasks across connected tools. Ortto combines customer data with marketing automation, serving over 11,000 customers globally.
Both founders will lead divisions within Canva focused on AI and marketing technology. A Canva executive said Simtheory helps the company transition from "a design platform with AI features to an AI-centric platform with design and productivity tools." Ortto strengthens Canva Grow, the company's tool for asset creation and campaign measurement.
Where This Fits Into Canva's Strategy
These purchases follow a pattern of acquisitions over the past year. Canva bought a digital outdoor advertising startup in late March, two animation and ad performance startups in February, and a marketing intelligence startup in January 2025.
The company reported $4 billion in annualized revenue at the end of 2025, with 265 million total users and 31 million paid subscribers. Monthly active users grew 20% year-over-year.
For marketing teams, the combination matters because it means managing creative assets, customer data, and campaign performance could happen within one platform. Ortto's real-time data activation and Simtheory's task automation address friction points in how marketing departments currently operate across disconnected tools.
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