Klarna

Overview & Vision

Klarna is a Swedish fintech startup specializing in Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions, online payments, and financial services. Founded with the mission to make shopping smoother and safer, Klarna empowers consumers with flexible payment options while helping merchants increase sales and customer satisfaction.

History & Growth

Klarna was founded in 2005 by Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth, and Victor Jacobsson. Starting as a simple online checkout solution, Klarna grew into one of Europe’s most valuable fintech companies.

Key milestones:

2005 – Launched with a focus on invoice-based payments.
2014 – Entered the U.S. market.
2017 – Became one of Europe’s first fintech unicorns.
2020 – Valued at over $10 billion, driven by BNPL growth.
2021 – Expanded globally, reaching over 45 markets.
2023 – Serving more than 150 million active consumers worldwide.

Products & Services

Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) – Shop now and split payments into installments with no interest.
Direct Payments – One-click checkout with bank transfers and cards.
Klarna Card – Physical and virtual cards for flexible payments.
Klarna App – A shopping super-app offering deals, payment tracking, and budgeting tools.
Merchant Solutions – E-commerce tools, checkout optimization, and data insights for retailers.

Innovation & Market Leadership

Klarna stands out by:

Pioneering the BNPL model in Europe and beyond.
Partnering with over 500,000 global merchants, including H&M, IKEA, Sephora, and Samsung.
Building a data-driven ecosystem for personalized shopping experiences.
Creating a shopping super-app that combines payments, savings, and rewards.

Customers & Reach

With 150+ million users across Europe, the U.S., and Asia-Pacific, Klarna has become a trusted payment partner for both consumers and businesses. It processes over 2 million transactions daily, making it one of the most active fintech platforms worldwide.

Culture & Impact

Klarna promotes a culture of innovation, boldness, and customer-first thinking. It is a strong advocate of responsible lending and financial literacy, ensuring users can shop smarter and manage credit more effectively