Canva, the prominent online visual communication and design platform, has acquired Kaleido AI, the Vienna, Austria-based developer of visual AI tools, for an undisclosed amount. This corporate acquisition, which initially took place in 2021, brings Kaleido AI’s advanced artificial intelligence capabilities directly into Canva's ecosystem, enhancing its offerings for individuals and businesses globally. This transaction marks a strategic expansion for Canva, rather than a funding round for Kaleido AI.
Kaleido AI is known for its mission to democratize design through easy-to-use visual AI tools that simplify and accelerate creative workflows. Its popular products, remove.bg and Unscreen.com, are industry-leading solutions for automated image and video background removal. Additionally, Designify.com offers a design platform combining bulk-processing capabilities with AI-generated editing features. These tools are utilized by over 25 million monthly users from more than 200 countries, enabling them to create professional designs and empowering developers to build new applications.
The acquisition is strategically significant due to the strong alignment of missions between the two companies. Kaleido AI's commitment to making visual AI accessible globally perfectly complements Canva's overarching goal of empowering the world to design. Integrating Kaleido AI's solutions directly into Canva’s platform allows Canva to offer advanced, AI-driven design automation and editing features to its vast user base, thereby enriching the user experience and expanding creative possibilities.
Looking ahead, the combined entity is poised to accelerate the democratization of design further by making sophisticated AI tools more readily available to a broader audience. While Kaleido AI's products – remove.bg, Unscreen, and Designify – will continue to operate under their existing branding and functionality, the legal entity has transitioned to Canva Austria GmbH, reflecting its full integration into the Canva family and its ongoing contribution to a more empowered and creative global community.