Payments titan Stripe is a highly watched—and highly revered—company in the venture community. And although the payments provider is reportedly in talks to raise new funding at a steep discount from its last valuation, some VCs see a potential down round as a positive example for companies in the tumultuous market.
Stripe is reportedly in talks to raise up to $3 billion at a valuation between $55 billion to $60 billion—which, although a hefty price tag in the current environment, would be a huge discount from the firm's last valuation of $95 billion in early 2021. The company told employees late last week that it would either go public or make a deal to allow employees to sell stock within the next 12 months (reports on Monday suggest the potential fundraise does not completely rule out going public). Stripe declined to comment to Fortune. The Wall Street Journal first reported the company was pursuing a raise at up to a $60 billion valuation. Importantly, Stripe is already being valued at around $60 billion via a 409a valuation, as the company internally cut its valuation.
