Can You Invest in Canva Pre-IPO? Here's What You Need to Know

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Dec 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM EST | Fact-checked by Margo Winton Parodi

Key Points

Canva, an AI-driven design platform, is poised for an IPO, already profitable with a broad user base.
Investors can access pre-IPO Canva shares through funds like the Fundrise Innovation Fund.
Alternatives to Canva stock include investing in Adobe, Autodesk, or Microsoft, all embracing AI.
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Canva has built a leading design and communications platform and is an early adopter of artificial intelligence (AI). Its AI-powered tools and easy-to-use software enable users to create graphics, videos, and presentations. For instance, Canva's Magic Eraser makes it easy to remove anything from an image.

And the company is just scratching the surface of its potential for using generative AI to empower people to create more.

Designer looking at a tablet while writing a note. — Image source: Getty Images.

The company is emerging as a major competitor to Adobe (ADBE +0.25%) in the design software space. It's growing fast and has already amassed more than 240 million monthly active users. That vast and growing user base has enabled Canva to generate lots of recurring revenue. And unlike many start-ups, it's already solidly profitable.

Canva's disruptive capabilities have many investors eagerly anticipating its initial public offering (IPO). Here's a guide on how you can invest in its stock before it goes public, as well as some alternative options to consider while awaiting its IPO.

IPO

IPO (Initial Public Offering) is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public, making it a publicly traded entity.

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Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a network of interconnected servers and data centers working together to deliver a service through the Internet.

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Should you invest in Canva?

Canva isn't public yet and likely won't complete an IPO in the near term. That gives investors ample time to research the company. This research is crucial because it could confirm your investment thesis that Canva will be a good stock to buy once it goes public, or it might change your mind.

As part of the research process, here are a few things to consider that might lead you to buy shares when the company goes public:

You think Canva can unseat Adobe as the leader in design software.
You think the company's adoption of AI will pay off over the long term.
You believe the company can continue growing its revenue and profits at a brisk pace.
You like to invest in founder-led companies.
You're comfortable investing in stocks that could be volatile, which is typical of an IPO stock.
You think Canva can grow into its already lofty pre-IPO valuation.

On the other hand, here are some factors that might lead you not to buy shares of Canva when it goes public:

You're worried Adobe will pressure Canva by releasing new, more innovative, and lower-cost solutions.
You're not sure AI will be a big growth driver for the company.
You'd prefer not to invest in highly volatile stocks, which will likely be true for Canva when it completes its IPO.
You're more of a value investor and think Canva's roughly $42 billion pre-IPO valuation is rich for a company only generating $2.5 billion in annual revenue.

The bottom line on Canva

Canva is one of the more hotly anticipated IPOs. The design software company is growing briskly as it takes on industry behemoth Adobe. It's also an early adopter of AI, which could be a massive growth driver. These features make it an interesting stock to watch as it prepares to go public.

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About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst specializing in covering dividend-paying companies, particularly in the energy and REIT sectors, since 2012. He also covers pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

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Matt DiLallo has positions in Adobe and Zoom Communications and has the following options: long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Adobe, Autodesk, Microsoft, and Zoom Communications. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, long January 2028 $330 calls on Adobe, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short January 2028 $340 calls on Adobe. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.