Canva Bolsters Enterprise Suite with Acquisition of Simtheory and Ortto

Canva announced the dual acquisition of startups Simtheory and Ortto on April 9, 2026. This strategic move brings powerful agentic AI and comprehensive marketing automation to its rapidly expanding ecosystem. The acquisitions allow Canva to transition from a specialized design tool into a full-scale business operating system that manages the entire content lifecycle.

AI-Powered Workflows

Simtheory is an AI collaboration platform that enables teams to build custom assistants and manage multi-model workflows. By integrating this technology, Canva users can soon utilize agents that understand specific business logic and execute complex multi-step tasks. This shift places AI at the core of the creative process rather than treating it as a secondary utility.

Connected Marketing Lifecycles

Ortto provides customer data and marketing automation across various channels like email, SMS, and in-app messaging. Its integration into Canva allows creators to publish campaigns and measure performance without ever switching tabs. This significantly strengthens the existing Canva Grow marketing suite for enterprise users across the globe.

Leadership and Vision

Both companies were founded by Australian serial entrepreneurs Chris and Mike Sharkey. The brothers previously co-founded Stayz before moving into the high-growth sectors of AI and marketing technology. They will now join Canva in leadership roles to guide the technical integration of their respective platforms.

A New Competitive Landscape

The move positions Canva as a direct competitor to enterprise giants like HubSpot and Salesforce. By closing the gap between content design and distribution, the platform becomes a one-stop shop for modern marketing teams. This follow a string of recent purchases including MagicBrief and MangoAI.

Looking Ahead to Canva Create

Early results of these integrations will be showcased at the upcoming Canva Create event on April 16. The company promises its biggest evolution yet, focusing on re-imagining how teams work from idea to outcome. This event will likely define the next era of visual communication and automated productivity.