Klarna’s IPO Pushed to Fall as Human Touch Returns
Hey Payments Fanatic!
It was meant to be Klarna’s big moment this spring, a long-awaited listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The plans were in place, and the timing looked right. But once again, the Swedish fintech has decided to wait.
According to Dagens Industri, the IPO is now expected sometime after the summer, as continued market uncertainty clouds the path forward. What once seemed like a clear window has narrowed, and the IPO wait goes on.
For Klarna’s CEO and co-founder, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, this is another pause in a journey that’s already seen several delays. Behind the scenes, shareholders like Sequoia Capital are still hoping to see a listing take shape before the year is out.
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, another shift is quietly underway. After leaning heavily into automation and reducing staff over the past few years, Klarna is testing a new approach, one that reintroduces human support.
Two remote agents have started under what Siemiatkowski describes as an “Uber-type of setup,” aimed at bringing experienced Klarna users into customer service roles. Hiring had been on hold for over a year as the company focused on AI and cost reduction.
“We also know there are tons of Klarna users who are very passionate about our company and would enjoy working for us,” said Siemiatkowski from Klarna’s Stockholm office.
He admitted that the earlier strategy had its limits. “What you end up having is lower quality,” he said. AI still plays a central role in Klarna’s roadmap, its financial assistant is expected to launch later this year, but people are returning to the picture.
Read more global Payments industry updates below 👇 and I'll be back with more on Monday!
Cheers,
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