PATRICK COLLISON CEO & Co-founder
Stripe
The 33-year-old Irish billionaire is the CEO and co-founder of Stripe , the world ’ s most highly valued fintech .
Born in Dromineer , Ireland , Collison always had an enquiring and academic disposition . At the age of 16 in 2005 , he won the 41st Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition . He was also named BT Young Scientist of the Year .
Despite his young years , Stripe isn ’ t Collison ’ s first attempt at successful entrepreneurship . In 2007 , aged just 18 , he set up a software company called ' Shuppa ' in Limerick with his brother John Collison . When funding failed to materialise in Ireland , the boys searched further afield , and California ’ s Y Combinator showed an interest . This prompted a move to California , new partners , and a rebrand of the company , which became Auctomatic . In 2008 , Collison , aged nineteen , and his brother sold Auctomatic - a move that made them both millionaires .
Collison launched Stripe in 2010 with his younger brother John when he was just 21 years old .
Under his leadership , Stripe , which is now listed as the leading global , e-commerce payment solution , received its most recent external valuation of a staggering $ 95bn .
He is known for saying : “ One phrase we use at Stripe is , ' Most tech companies are building cars . Stripe is building roads .”
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