One of the global deferred payment leaders, Klarna, wants to build a new technology hub in Warsaw. It has been present in Poland since 2021 and considers this investment a milestone in global development in AI solutions and financial innovations. “Poland will be a technology superpower in Europe. Thanks to its exceptional engineering talent, blooming startup scene, and the strategic location of Warsaw, this is an ideal choice for our new technology center. This is not only about Klarna’s development; this is also about releasing Poland’s potential internationally. As a person of Polish origin, I am glad that Klarna invests in local talent, with which we will shape the future of AI-supported commerce,” said Sebastian Siemiątkowski, Klarna founder and CEO.
Klarna was established in Stockholm in 2005 by Siemiątkowski and two other Swedish partners to pioneer large-scale “buy now, pay later” services, deferring payments even up to 60 days. In 2021, it was considered by Financial Times as the most valuable startup in Europe. Now it serves 85 million customers in 26 countries (including 34 million in the USA) and 600 thousand vendors globally, performing 2.5 million operations every day. It co-operates with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, and OpenAI. Following its recent success in expansion into the US market, it is preparing for the Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange in 2025, while its current assets are estimated at approximately $15 billion.
The new Warsaw hub will play a key role in the company’s broad strategy of increasing its global coverage and AI leadership. In 2025, it wants to employ over 100 engineers, mainly local. Now, 9 out of 10 of its employees use AI in everyday work, setting new standards in customer handling, management, and product development. The hub will enable engineers to launch innovations determining the future of purchases and payments for millions of consumers around the world. The investment will not only strengthen Klarna’s local influence but will also contribute to the long-term positioning of Poland as the global fintech center.
