# Canva Snaps Up Animation and Marketing AI Startups
Canva, the Australian design powerhouse, has made a bold double acquisition by snapping up UK-based 2D animation platform Cavalry and US AI-driven video ad startup MangoAI, accelerating its push into AI-powered creative tools and professional motion design amid a turbulent software market.[1][2][3]
This strategic move positions Canva to challenge giants like Adobe and Apple's Creator Studio, integrating advanced animation and reinforcement learning tech into its unified platform serving 265 million active users.[4][5]
Canva's Aggressive Acquisition Spree Targets AI and Pro Creative Tools
Canva's latest deals mark its fourth and fifth acquisitions in the past two years, following Affinity (2024), Leonardo (2024), and MagicBrief (2025), with Cavalry becoming its seventh Europe-based buy after Flourish (2022), Kaleido (2021), Smartmockups (2021), Pexels (2019), and Pixabay (2019).[3][4][5]
Cavalry, already powering motion graphics for heavyweights like Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix, brings advanced 2D animation capabilities that simplify professional workflows without the steep learning curve of tools like After Effects.[2][3][4] Its founders—Chris Hardcastle, Ian Waters, and Adam Jenns—will join Canva to enhance its motion design suite, building on Affinity's success which has exceeded five million downloads.[5]
Meanwhile, MangoAI specializes in AI-generated video ads using proprietary algorithms and a closed-loop reinforcement learning system that optimizes content based on ad platform signals, slashing testing time and costs for marketers.[3][4] This bolsters Canva's Canva Grow marketing intelligence suite, enabling real-time personalized video creation at scale.[3][5]
Key Leadership Hires Fuel Canva's AI Ambitions
The acquisitions come with high-profile talent integrations, supercharging Canva's AI research and algorithmic prowess. MangoAI co-founder Nirmal Govind, ex-VP of Data Science & Engineering at Netflix with over two decades in machine learning, joins as the newly created Chief Algorithms Officer to lead personalization, AI systems, and in-house model development alongside Canva’s AI Lab.[3]
Co-founder Vinith Misra, a former machine learning leader at Roblox and Netflix, steps in as Reinforcement Learning Lead in Canva’s Research Lab, focusing on adaptive creative optimization.[3][4]
Canva Co-founder and COO Cliff Obrecht emphasized the vision: "We’re helping designers break free from bloated, expensive tools and bringing everything from vector to motion design into one powerful suite," while highlighting MangoAI's role in powering next-gen AI-driven marketing products.[4][5]
Strategic Timing Amid Software Stock Turmoil and Market Growth
As traditional software stocks crater due to fears of generative AI disruption—hitting Adobe and Figma's parent—Canva bets big on AI-native tools, reporting $4 billion in annualized revenue with 36% year-on-year growth, 265 million active users, and 31 million paid subscribers.[2][4]
These buys expand Canva's Creative OS, targeting enterprise workflows in video editing, social content, and ad optimization, directly rivaling Adobe's Creative Cloud dominance in motion graphics and personalized marketing.[2][5]
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Cavalry and MangoAI?
**Cavalry** is a UK-based 2D animation and motion graphics platform used by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix, while **MangoAI** is a US startup specializing in AI-powered video ad optimization via reinforcement learning algorithms.[2][3][4]
Why is Canva acquiring these startups?
Canva aims to expand its **AI capabilities**, professional creative suite, and marketing tools, integrating motion design and real-time ad optimization into its platform for 265 million users.[1][3][6]
Who are the key executives joining from these acquisitions?
Nirmal Govind from MangoAI joins as **Chief Algorithms Officer**, Vinith Misra as **Reinforcement Learning Lead**, and Cavalry founders Chris Hardcastle, Ian Waters, and Adam Jenns will integrate into Canva's teams.[3][4]
How does this fit into Canva's recent acquisition history?
These are Canva's fourth and fifth buys in two years, including Affinity (2024), Leonardo (2024), and MagicBrief (2025), with seven Europe-based deals total.[3][5]
What is Canva's current user base and revenue?
Canva has 265 million active users, 31 million paid subscribers, and $4 billion in annualized revenue, up 36% year-over-year.[4]
How do these acquisitions impact Canva's competition with Adobe?
They strengthen Canva's motion graphics and AI marketing tools, challenging Adobe's Creative Cloud by offering accessible, AI-native alternatives for pros and non-designers.[2][5]
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 7:50:29 AM
Canva announced on Monday the dual acquisition of **Cavalry**, a UK-based 2D animation platform used by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix, and **MangoAI**, a US-based AI startup specializing in video ad optimization[2]. The acquisitions bolster Canva's Creative OS with motion editing capabilities and reinforcement learning systems, with MangoAI co-founder Nirmal Govind becoming Canva's first "Chief Algorithms Officer"[2]. Canva closed 2025 with **$4 billion in annualized revenue**, **265 million users**, and **31 million paid subscribers**, representing 36% year-on-year growth
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 8:00:31 AM
**Canva accelerates challenge to Adobe and Apple** with dual acquisitions of UK-based motion graphics platform Cavalry and US-based AI startup MangoAI, directly targeting gaps in professional creative software.[1][2] The moves position Canva—which now reports 265 million active users, 31 million paid subscribers, and $4 billion in annualized revenue—to compete directly against Adobe's Creative Cloud dominance by offering motion design capabilities previously unavailable in its suite.[1][3] Cavalry's technology, already used by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix, combined with MangoAI's reinforcement learning algorithms for video ad optimization, gives Canva what analysts describe as
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 8:10:28 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Canva's Dual Acquisition Signals AI-Driven Assault on Adobe's Turf**
Industry experts hail Canva's acquisitions of UK-based 2D animation platform Cavalry—already powering tools at Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix—and US startup MangoAI as a "boldest move yet into professional creative tools," directly challenging Adobe's Creative Cloud dominance amid software stock pressures from AI disruption fears[1][3][4]. Canva COO Cliff Obrecht emphasized, “We’re helping designers break free from bloated, expensive tools and bringing everything from vector to motion design into one powerful suite,” while the company touts closing the "motion editing gap" to form a "full-stack Creative OS" with over 265 millio
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 8:20:28 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Canva's AI Acquisitions Amid Software Stock Selloff**
Canva's dual acquisition of animation platform Cavalry and marketing AI startup MangoAI drew sharp contrasts in market reactions, as traditional software stocks cratered over AI disruption fears—targeting giants like Adobe, whose shares have faced valuation compression from investor concerns about generative AI commoditizing creative tools[4]. While private Canva reported $4B in annualized revenue and 265M users (31M paid) with 36% YoY growth, the deals signal a contrarian AI bet, with Wall Street hammering SaaS peers amid worries that "generative AI will commoditize their products"[4]. No direct stock movements for Canva were disclosed
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 8:30:28 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Canva Bolsters AI Arsenal with Cavalry and MangoAI Acquisitions**
Canva announced on Monday the acquisition of UK-based 2D animation platform Cavalry—used by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix—and US stealth startup MangoAI, which specializes in reinforcement learning for video ad optimization, building on its 2024 Affinity purchase that has exceeded **5 million downloads**[1][2][4][6]. MangoAI founders Nirmal Govind (ex-Netflix VP of Data Science) joins as Canva's first **Chief Algorithms Officer**, while co-founder Vinith Misra bolsters marketing products; Canva ended 2025 with **$4 billion** annualized revenue, **265 million*
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 8:40:28 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Canva's AI Acquisitions Target Adobe Gap in Motion and Ad Optimization**
Canva's acquisition of UK-based Cavalry integrates its professional 2D motion animation tools—used by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix—into the Affinity suite, which has exceeded **5 million downloads** since its 2024 revamp, completing a "photo–vector–layout–motion" workflow and enabling advanced techniques like generative art for marketing and gaming[1][2][4][6]. Meanwhile, MangoAI's reinforcement learning systems, leveraging multi-armed bandits and Bayesian optimization for video ad testing on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, will power real-time personalization and performance gains amid privacy-limited attribution, wit
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 8:50:28 AM
**BREAKING: Canva's Dual Acquisitions Signal Bold AI Push Amid Software Sector Turmoil**
Industry analysts hail Canva's acquisitions of UK-based animation platform Cavalry—used by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix—and stealth video ad optimizer MangoAI as a "contrarian bet" against Wall Street's AI disruption fears hammering traditional software stocks like Adobe.[1][4][5] Canva COO Cliff Obrecht emphasized, “We’re helping designers break free from bloated, expensive tools and bringing everything from vector to motion design into one powerful suite,” positioning the deals to complete a pro-grade Creative OS atop Affinity's 5 million+ downloads.[2][4] Experts note MangoAI founders Nirmal Govind
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 9:00:29 AM
Canva announced the **dual acquisition of Cavalry and MangoAI on Monday**, expanding its AI-powered creative suite with professional motion design and video ad optimization capabilities.[1][2] The move positions the Australian design unicorn directly against Adobe and Apple, as Cavalry is already trusted by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix, while MangoAI's co-founders—former Netflix executives Nirmal Govind and Vinith Misra—will lead Canva's algorithms and marketing products respectively.[1][2] This marks Canva's seventh Europe-based acquisition and comes as the company closed 2025 with $4 billion in annualized revenue and 265 million users
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 9:10:29 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Canva's AI Acquisitions Amid Software Stock Rout**
Canva's dual acquisition of animation platform Cavalry and marketing AI startup MangoAI drew sharp market reactions as **software stocks cratered** over generative AI disruption fears, with traditional players like **Adobe** seeing valuations compress amid investor concerns about pricing power erosion[5]. While Canva—ending 2025 with **$4 billion annualized revenue**, **265 million users**, and **31 million paid seats**—bolstered its AI-native edge, the deals amplified a contrarian bet on creative automation as Wall Street hammered SaaS giants[2][3][5]. No financial terms were disclosed, but analysts note the timing underscores intensifying pressure on incumbents lik
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 9:20:28 AM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Canva's Cavalry and MangoAI Acquisitions Face No Immediate Regulatory Scrutiny**
As of February 24, 2026, Canva's acquisitions of UK-based Cavalry and US-based MangoAI—announced Monday—have elicited no public regulatory or government response from bodies like the UK's CMA, US FTC, or Australia's ACCC, despite Canva's $4 billion annualized revenue and 265 million active users potentially raising antitrust flags in the AI design space[1][2]. Sources including TechCrunch and Economic Times confirm the deals closed without disclosed review hurdles, mirroring Canva's smooth 2024 Affinity buy that amassed over four million downloads[1][
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 9:30:28 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Canva's Global AI Push Sparks International Buzz**
Canva's acquisitions of UK-based Cavalry—used by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix—and US startup MangoAI mark its **seventh Europe-based deal**, solidifying its transatlantic footprint with **seven European acquisitions** including Affinity (2024) and bolstering tools for **265 million global users** across animation and AI ad optimization[1][2][5]. This expansion into motion graphics and reinforcement learning positions Canva against Adobe worldwide, with co-founder Cliff Obrecht stating, “We’re helping designers break free from bloated, expensive tools and bringing everything from vector to motion design into one powerful suite.”[5] International outlets hail the move a
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 9:40:28 AM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Canva's AI Acquisitions Target Motion Design and Ad Optimization**
Canva's dual acquisition of UK-based Cavalry—specializing in professional 2D motion graphics used by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix—and stealth US startup MangoAI, which deploys reinforcement learning with multi-armed bandits and Bayesian optimization for video ad performance, directly fills the motion editing gap in its Affinity suite, which has seen over 5 million downloads since going free post-2024 buyout[1][2][5]. Technically, MangoAI founders Nirmal Govind (ex-Netflix VP Data Science) joins as Canva's first Chief Algorithms Officer to enable real-time creative adaptation via performance data, whil
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 9:50:28 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Canva's AI Acquisitions Draw Expert Praise Amid Creative Wars**
Industry analysts hail Canva's acquisitions of UK-based 2D animation platform Cavalry—used by Amazon, Meta, Google, and Netflix—and US startup MangoAI's video ad optimization tech as a "contrarian bet" on AI-native tools, directly challenging Adobe's dominance while traditional software stocks crater on AI disruption fears.[1][5] Canva COO Cliff Obrecht stated, “With the acquisition of MangoAI, we’re... laying the foundations for a new era where performance data continuously improves and adapts creative in real time,” as Cavalry co-founder Chris Hardcastle added, “Together, we have an incredible opportunity to redefine motion design.
🔄 Updated: 2/24/2026, 10:00:28 AM
**NEWS UPDATE: Canva's AI Acquisitions Spark Enthusiasm Among Designers and Users**
Consumer reactions to Canva's acquisition of animation startup Cavalry and video ad AI firm MangoAI have been overwhelmingly positive, with professionals hailing it as a game-changer for accessible tools. Cavalry co-founder Chris Hardcastle stated, “We built Cavalry to give motion designers a faster, more flexible creative playground... Together, we have an incredible opportunity to redefine motion design.”[4] Canva COO Cliff Obrecht noted the design community's strong response, as Affinity—now integrated with Cavalry—has surpassed **four million downloads** in months, signaling broad excitement for affordable, AI-powered motion editing amid Canva's **26