Stripe, Inc.

Stripe is a financial technology company that provides payment processing software and application programming interfaces for e-commerce websites and mobile applications. Founded in 2010 by Irish entrepreneurs Patrick Collison and John Collison, the company started as /dev/payments before rebranding.

The platform processes hundreds of billions of dollars annually for millions of businesses worldwide, competing with established players like PayPal in the digital payments space. Stripe serves companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises, including Amazon, Google, and Shopify.

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Stripe operates as a private company valued at approximately $50 billion as of 2023. The company employs thousands of people across offices in multiple countries.

About Stripe

Sector: Technology

Industry: Financial Services

CEO: Patrick Collison

Website: stripe.com

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Founded: 2010

Status: Private

Stripe Founders

Patrick Collison
Co-Founder & CEO
John Collison
Co-Founder & President

Stripe History

2010
Patrick and John Collison founded the company as /dev/payments in Palo Alto, later rebranding to Stripe
2011
Stripe officially launched its payment platform after receiving seed funding from Y Combinator and prominent investors
2016
The company achieved unicorn status with a valuation exceeding $9 billion following a major funding round, joining competitors like Square in the fintech unicorn club
2020
Stripe expanded its services with acquisitions and launched new products for business finance management and corporate cards, entering territory traditionally dominated by Visa and Mastercard
2023
The company raised $6.5 billion in funding at a $50 billion valuation despite market headwinds affecting tech valuations

FAQs

Who owns Stripe?

Stripe is privately owned by its founders Patrick and John Collison, along with institutional investors including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Thrive Capital. The Collison brothers maintain significant ownership stakes.

Is Stripe an American company?

Yes, Stripe is an American company headquartered in San Francisco, California. However, it was founded by Irish entrepreneurs Patrick and John Collison who moved to the United States.

When did Stripe come out?

Stripe officially launched in September 2011 after being founded in 2010. The company initially operated in private beta before opening its payment processing platform to businesses publicly.

Who made Stripe logo?

Stripe's minimalist logo was designed in-house by the company's design team. The simple wordmark reflects the company's focus on clean, developer-friendly products and streamlined user experiences.