Stripe, the financial infrastructure giant, has undergone a significant transformation in its customer base over the past decade, evolving from primarily serving nascent startups to powering some of the world's largest corporations. This shift underscores the company's remarkable growth and its increasing dominance in the online payments sector. "2012: Stripe’s customer page was full of startups you’ve never heard of," stated Cristina Cordova, a former Head of Partnerships at Stripe, in a recent social media post. She contrasted this with the present, noting, "2025: Stripe's customer page is full of the biggest companies in the world."
Founded in 2009 by brothers Patrick and John Collison, Stripe initially gained traction by offering developer-friendly payment processing solutions to emerging tech companies. Its ease of integration and robust APIs made it a favored choice for new ventures looking to quickly establish online payment capabilities. This early focus on startups laid the groundwork for its expansion.
The company has since scaled dramatically, processing an estimated $1.4 trillion in payments in 2024, a volume equivalent to 1.3% of global GDP. This represents a substantial increase from previous years, with co-founder John Collison attributing much of this growth to Stripe's expanding enterprise business and the adoption of its products by fast-growing companies. Major corporations such as Airbnb, Amazon, Microsoft, Uber, BMW, and Ford Motor Company are now among its prominent clients.
Stripe's strategic expansion includes a diversified product suite beyond core payment processing, offering tools for in-person payments, tax calculations, and financial services like Stripe Capital. The company, currently valued at approximately $91.5 billion, has attracted significant investment and continues to innovate, particularly in areas like AI-driven commerce and stablecoin integration. Its ability to adapt and offer comprehensive solutions has been key to securing large enterprise clients and maintaining its position as a leading fintech firm.