The Rapid Rise of Klarna

Swedish fintech Klarna has had quite a 2019. 

The company, which puts up payments for goods on behalf of consumers as part of its “buy-now-pay-later” service, has experienced rapid growth since launching in the U.S. in 2015. The company claims to have added 60,000 merchants to its platform in 2019 and was valued at $5.5 billion in an August funding round. 

And the fintech created buzz in New York with a subway ad campaign that began in November and referenced the city’s recent ban of pets on public transportation. 

Now it aims to expand to Australia and other markets in 2020, in large part spurred by its success in the U.S. over the past year. Klarna will definitely be a name to keep an eye on in 2020.