BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Open For Business  >  AI-Powered Creativity: How Pixlr is Taking on Canva & Adobe

AI-Powered Creativity: How Pixlr is Taking on Canva & Adobe

Warren Leow, CEO, Pixlr Group

09-Jan-25 10:00

AI-Powered Creativity: How Pixlr is Taking on Canva & Adobe

How does a Malaysian-based SaaS company challenge global giants like Adobe and Canva? Meet Pixlr Group, an AI-powered creative tools provider with over 10 million active users, transforming how individuals and businesses create content and communicate.

In this episode of Open for Business, Warren Leow, CEO of Pixlr Group, takes us through the company’s journey from its origins in Sweden to its acquisition by Imagine Group in Malaysia. Learn how Pixlr evolved from a basic photo editing tool to a comprehensive AI-driven creative ecosystem, catering to semi-professional and professional users worldwide.

Here are some AI-generated highlights of key areas covered in the conversation:

- Pixlr’s Evolution: Originally founded in 2008 by Swedish developer Ola Sevandersson and later acquired by Autodesk, Pixlr transitioned to Malaysian ownership in 2016/17 under INMAGINE Group. With a complete rebuild using HTML5 and AI integration, Pixlr has transformed into an ecosystem of creative tools catering to global audiences.

- AI-Powered Creativity: Pixlr integrates cutting-edge AI features, including generative fill, background removal, and animation tools, enabling faster, smarter, and more cost-efficient content creation. The tools reduce production time from weeks to minutes, offering transformative value for semi-professionals and businesses alike.

- Warren’s Leadership: From his beginnings in Ipoh and a corporate career in energy trading at BP and consulting at Bain, Warren brought his global experience to Pixlr. As CEO, he has driven the company’s professionalisation and positioned it for growth, balancing the founders’ vision with operational execution.

- Global SaaS Strategy: Pixlr’s revenue is 99% global, with key markets in North America, Europe, and APAC. Its SaaS model leverages freemium offerings, subscription-based products, and partnerships to scale internationally.

- Competitive Positioning: Positioned between Canva’s simplicity and Adobe’s high-end professional tools, Pixlr targets the semi-professional market. Its user-friendly tools offer powerful features without the prohibitive costs of competitors like Adobe.

- Recognitions and Milestones: Pixlr was the only Southeast Asian company recognised with an ‘Add to Chrome’ badge at Google I/O 2024, affirming its position as a world-class product.

- Bootstrapping Success: As part of INMAGINE Group, Pixlr has been largely bootstrapped, growing organically while maintaining profitability. Despite limited funding, it has achieved eight-figure revenue and continues to invest in product innovation and operational rigor.

- Future Growth Plans: Warren outlines Pixlr’s ambitious target of 50% compounded annual growth, with plans to deepen its existing product offerings, introduce new AI-powered tools, and explore corporate exercises like IPOs or M&As to maximise value.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  technologymanagingeducationentrepreneurs

Tags:  AI-powered toolscreative SaaSMalaysian tech ecosystemfreemium modelbootstrapped startupsAI in content creationSoutheast Asian startupsgenerative AIproduct innovation





Play / Pause

Listen now : Mattsplained: Matt Armitage, Founder, Kulturpop

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tim Mulholland of President, TJM Limited, Chicago tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Selena Ling, Chief Economist, OCBC Bank tells us what Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs' mean for Asian economies.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities discusses the impact of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs on the tech industry.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Norazlam Norbi, CEO of Sumisaujana Group Berhad discusses the company’s ACE Market debut on April 9, with RM74 million from the IPO fueling expansion, digital transformation, and infrastructure.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Law Teik Hua from Universiti Putra Malaysia explains how the upcoming point-to-point system, could improve road safety.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(Repeat) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tim Mulholland of President, TJM Limited, Chicago tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

What's The Focus

We wrap up the week’s biggest conversations to keep you in the know.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Dean Yeong, Co-Founder, Wolo Yoga

11:00 AM

Mattsplained

Matt Armitage, Founder, Kulturpop

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

The AI Safety Crisis No One’s Talking About

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Norazlam Norbi, CEO of Sumisaujana Group Berhad discusses the company’s ACE Market debut on April 9, with RM74 million from the IPO fueling expansion, digital transformation, and infrastructure.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

The 3rd episode of "There's No Planet B" explores climate governance, and why international policies have failed to enact change, with Dr Helena Varkkey, an Associate Professor at the University of Malaya.

3:05 PM

Front Row

tbc

3:20 PM

Front Row

Straddle #2025 is a 4-day artistic exchange program by Five Arts Centre, focusing on identity exploration through dance. We find out more about the inaugural event from artists based in Kuala Lumpur and Montreal.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Doctor in the House: More than 10 million people worldwide get TB every year, and more than 1 million die from the disease. We look at why TB is still a threat in Malaysia.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Popcorn Culture

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

Bar None

9:00 PM

The Selector