Intro

My guests this week are the co-founders of Stripe, Patrick and John Collison. My conversation with John in 2020 is still one of our most popular. A key theme that emerged from that first discussion was John’s boundless curiosity for all things business and this conversation continues that thread. We talk about setting a strategy and culture that attracts ambition, why the returns to sweating the details are high, and how they view Stripe’s progress against their mission to increase the GDP of the internet. Please enjoy this great and wide-ranging discussion with John and Patrick Collison.

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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.

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Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes. 

Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more.

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Show Notes

(00:03:16) - (First question) - Stripe's curiosity-driven growth fuels enduring success and expansion

(00:08:34) - Why companies should resonate with founders' ideas but also have strong enduring cultures

(00:012:27) - Stripe aims to reduce friction and expand global commerce by solving practical barriers

(00:25:59) - Simplifying processes for startups and large companies to drive growth efficiently

(00:29:11) - Analyzing the enduring stories of ancient companies

(00:35:44) - Success in Hollywood and academia depends on unmeasurable vision and knowledge

(00:40:11) - Stripe's ubiquity, self-serve nature, and collective care drive its unique status

(00:43:16) - Success in tech is grounded in user-centricity, care, and connecting with customers

(00:48:17) - Parental influence on becoming entrepreneurs is complex

(00:50:21) - Adult perspective on parents, admiration for their work, and ongoing philanthropy

(00:52:30) - Stripe's challenges include complexity due to diverse payment methods and global programmable accessibility

(00:57:27) - Aiming for long-term durability, Stripe prioritizes beauty and craftsmanship in its pursuit

(01:02:50) - The most memorable conversation they had between them

(01:05:30) - Why the launch of Atlas was a defining moment in Stripe’s history

(01:06:35) - How their 25-year-old selves would react to what they are doing now

(01:10:19) - The various ways in which they feel proud of each other

(01:14:35) - The kindest thing anyone has ever done for them