US fintech startup Stripe sends layoff notices with cartoon duck image: Here’s what happened

A U.S.-based payment technology company Stripe reportedly sent layoff notices to 300 employees, creating a furour. As per reports, the company inadvertently attached a cartoon image of a yellow duck labeled "US-Non-California Duck" to the notifications.

According to a report of the Business Insider, the leading fintech company quickly acknowledged the error. Stripe is said to be the second most valuable startup of the Bay Area. Rob McIntosh, Stripe’s Chief People Officer, later issued an apology via email to the affected employees: "I apologize for the error and any confusion it caused. Corrected and full notifications have since been sent to all impacted Stripes."

Layoff Details

The layoffs primarily impacted employees in product and operations roles, though some in engineering were also affected. To compound the issue, some employees received incorrect termination dates in their emails.


Stripe, headquartered in South San Francisco with dual headquarters in Dublin, currently employs 8,550 people after the latest round of cuts. The company is the largest privately-owned fintech firm, valued at approximately $65 billion.

Despite the layoffs, McIntosh explained that the decision was made to ensure the company had “the right people in the right roles to get things done.” Stripe maintains a 17% growth target by 2025 and aims to reach 10,000 employees by the end of this year.

Stripe’s Layoff History

This marks the second round of layoffs at Stripe in recent years. In November 2022, the company cut 1,120 employees, representing 14% of its workforce at the time.

While a public offering has been anticipated, Stripe has instead raised private funds and provided liquidity to employees through tender offers. The company’s latest valuation reached $70 billion in July 2023.

The cartoon duck mishap, though unusual, has drawn attention to Stripe’s internal communications during a challenging time for the company and its employees.