Canva IPO: what employees need to know about RSU and option taxes

• Canva steps up US public market preparations with IPO-focused hiring push

  Capital Brief · Sep 6, 2026

  Canva is accelerating its preparations for a potential US IPO by hiring senior staff to manage public-company infrastructure, including earnings calls and financial guidance.

  For employees: These preparations suggest the company is moving closer to a public listing, which could eventually provide liquidity for employee equity, though recent valuation cuts may impact the potential value of those holdings.

• Airtree extends its first fund to July 2028 to hold onto Canva stake

  Dealroom News · Sep 1, 2026

  Venture firm Airtree Ventures has extended the life of its inaugural fund to 2028 to maintain its investment in Canva as the company remains private.

  For employees: The extension of major investor funds indicates that some institutional backers are prepared for a longer wait before a liquidity event like an IPO, which may delay when employees can sell their shares on public markets.

• Backed up

  Capital Brief · Aug 27, 2026

  Current and former employees have expressed frustration over the delayed IPO and are reportedly expecting another secondary share sale to provide liquidity.

  For employees: Employees seeking to cash out their equity may have to rely on secondary share sales as a primary liquidity mechanism while the timeline for a public market exit remains uncertain.

• Canva’s big backers slash $10b from software giant amid AI pivot

  Australian Financial Review · Aug 16, 2026

  Major investors Blackbird Ventures and Airtree have reduced their internal valuations of Canva by $10 billion as the company navigates competitive pressures from AI.

  For employees: A lower internal valuation can reduce the current fair market value of equity grants, potentially increasing the strike price for new options or affecting the tax valuation of existing holdings.

Sources

• Segmara Research - Canva IPO Status
• Bloomberg - Canva IPO Timing
• Reuters - Canva Employee Stock Sale