In 2018, Stripe launched Stripe Press—an unexpected move from a $20 billion digital payments company. On the surface, publishing books seemed out of place for a fintech giant. But Stripe Press wasn’t a stunt. It was a deliberate effort to advance ideas central to Stripe’s mission of increasing the GDP of the internet.
The books it publishes focus on technological progress, economic systems, and the forces shaping society. Some ideas are too important for fleeting tweets or buried podcast episodes. They deserve permanence—to be held, revisited, and shared. The Collison brothers chose to invest in what lasts rather than chase passing trends.
Cultural Influence
Progress studies has moved from an academic niche to a live conversation among founders and policymakers. Working in Public is essential reading for developers navigating open-source communities. The Dream Machine appears on university syllabi and at tech conferences. Stripe Press titles spark conversations that shape how people think about technology and the future.
The Team Behind the Pages
Each Stripe Press book carries the imprint of a small, focused team.
At its center is Tamara Winter, commissioning editor, who scouts for books that challenge assumptions, surface overlooked ideas, and start meaningful conversations. Her choices give the catalog its intellectual depth and cohesion.
Once a manuscript is chosen, it moves to Rebecca Hiscott, managing editor. She works closely with authors to clarify complex ideas, sharpen arguments, and make dense subjects accessible. That attention to detail defines Stripe Press’s style—rigorous but readable.
This careful process is an investment in cultural capital. The goal is to influence how people think, not what they buy.
The Economics—and Why They Don’t Matter
Stripe Press moves about 1,000 books a day across sixteen titles—roughly $9.5 million in revenue. By publishing standards that’s small; for Stripe, which processes over $1 trillion annually, it’s a rounding error.
But that’s the cost of spreading ideas, not a profit center. Each book sparks conversations, surfaces insights, and seeds new ideas—value that never appears on a balance sheet.
In a culture obsessed with speed and constant updates, Stripe Press is a reminder to slow down and think. Headlines fade in minutes. A book can sit on a shelf for decades, waiting to be opened when it matters most.
Never underestimate the power of a good book.
✌🏽SR