Stripe

What it does

Stripe is a global technology company building economic infrastructure for the internet. Founded in 2010 by Irish brothers Patrick and John Collison, Stripe processes hundreds of billions of dollars in payments annually for millions of businesses worldwide. Its most significant connection to Nigeria is its 2020 acquisition of Paystack for over $200 million — a landmark deal that signaled global investor confidence in African fintech. Through Paystack, Stripe has an indirect but major presence in the Nigerian payments ecosystem, with Paystack serving 300,000+ businesses and processing over N1 trillion in monthly transaction volume. In 2026, Paystack restructured under The Stack Group, with Stripe retaining a co-ownership stake.

Known for

• Acquired Paystack for $200M+ in 2020 — landmark African fintech exit
• Powers payments for millions of businesses globally
• Developer-first API approach to payments
• Highest-valued private fintech company globally (~$65B valuation)
• Stripe Atlas for company incorporation
• Indirect Nigeria presence through Paystack (The Stack Group)

Model & industry

Products & subsidiaries

Acquisitions

• Paystack (2020). Acquired for over $200 million. Paystack continues operating in Africa under The Stack Group (2026 restructuring).

Initiatives & programs

• The Stack Group: Paystack restructured into The Stack Group in January 2026, co-owned by Stripe, Shola Akinlade, and Paystack employees. Stripe retains significant ownership.

In the News

• 2026-01 · Paystack announces The Stack Group parent company — Stripe retains co-ownership stake after Paystack achieves group-level profitability · Paystack Blog
• 2024-03 · Stripe valuation rises to ~$65 billion in secondary market transaction · Reuters
• 2020-10 · Stripe acquires Nigerian payments startup Paystack for over $200 million · Stripe

People

Investors

External links