Today, Canva, the leading all-in-one visual communication platform, held its inaugural developer conference, Canva Extend, in San Francisco. The event marked the debut of Canva’s new developer platform, the Canva Developers Platform, which comprises a comprehensive set of APIs and development tools. These offerings enable developers to integrate their apps or platforms with Canva, providing access to the platform’s impressive user base of 135 million monthly active users. In addition, Canva announced the establishment of the $50 million Canva Developers Innovation Fund, aimed at supporting app developers in delivering delightful and innovative experiences to the Canva community.
During the conference, Canva unveiled a wide range of opportunities for developers to build on the platform. They introduced the Canva Apps SDK (Software Development Kit) for public use, marking a significant milestone in empowering developers to create seamless integrations with Canva. The company also provided a sneak peek of the upcoming Canva Connect APIs (REST APIs) set to launch later this year. Alongside these announcements, Canva shared insights into the Canva Apps SDK UI library and offered a glimpse into the company’s API roadmap.
The Canva Apps SDK has undergone a successful beta phase over the past nine months, with more than 11,000 developers eagerly awaiting its release. Now, developers on the waitlist, as well as those interested in building or integrating their apps with Canva, have direct access to a global community that constantly seeks to enhance their design capabilities, increase productivity, and simplify workflows. Canva invites developers from around the world to join the Canva Developers community, starting today.
Meanwhile, Canva has demonstrated its commitment to fostering innovation by allocating $50 million to the inaugural Canva Developers Innovation Fund. This fund aims to invest in creative and innovative app developers, providing them with the necessary resources to bring new and exciting experiences to the Canva community. With the goal of accelerating the growth and adoption of apps on Canva, the fund will offer monetary grants and expert guidance to selected developers. Importantly, the fund will prioritize empowering developers who are underrepresented in the global market, ensuring a diverse range of voices and perspectives.
Anwar Haneef, Head of Ecosystem at Canva, expressed enthusiasm about the progress achieved through collaborations with beta partners to streamline app creation within Canva. By opening the design engine to a broader community of developers, Canva enables instant distribution of their apps and services to millions of Canva users. This collaborative approach allows developers to tap into the valuable feedback and creativity of the Canva community, offering new avenues for users to achieve their visual communication goals.
One of the notable highlights of the Canva Developers Platform is the Canva Connect APIs. These REST APIs will simplify and automate processes for teams using Canva. Soon, developers will be able to seamlessly sync designs, assets, comments, and more across platforms by connecting their apps with Canva. The Connect APIs will also facilitate simplified file and design management, enabling teams to upload assets programmatically into Canva folders for efficient design workflows. Developers eager to explore the potential of the Canva Connect APIs can join the waitlist today to gain early access to the beta release scheduled for later this year.
