From Limerick to Silicon Valley: The Inspiring Rise ofthe Collison Brothers

Patrick & John Collison

When we think of global tech success stories, our minds might jump to places like Silicon Valley or bustling metropolises like New York or London. But sometimes, world-changing ideas are born in quieter corners—like the outskirts of Limerick, Ireland. Enter Patrick and John Collison, the brains behind Stripe, one of the world’s most valuable and influential fintech companies. The Collison brothers turned curiosity and code into billions — and continue to inspire a generation of aspiring Irish entrepreneurs to think bigger.

Humble Beginnings in County Limerick

Patrick and John Collison grew up near the village of Dromineer in County Tipperary and later moved to Castletroy, County Limerick. Their parents were entrepreneurial in their own right — their father ran a lakeside hotel, and their mother was a microbiologist who later went into business as well. Homeschooled for a period and always encouraged to explore their interests, the Collison brothers showed an early passion for computers and problem-solving. Patrick won the Young Scientist of the Year Award in 2005 for creating a programming language at just 16 years old. John, just as precocious, took his Leaving Cert a year early and scored the highest marks in the country in 2008. This wasn’t just talent—it was a combination of curiosity, opportunity, and a hunger to learn.

The First Leap: Auctomatic

Before Stripe, there was Auctomatic—a startup they launched in their teens that helped sellers manage transactions across multiple auction sites like eBay. Based in Silicon Valley, the company was snapped up for $5 million when Patrick was just 19 and John was 17. That early success could have been the end of the story—but the brothers were just getting started.

Enter Stripe: A Simpler Way to Get Paid Online

In 2010, the Collisons spotted a major pain point: how hard it was for developers and businesses to accept payments online. Most platforms were clunky, complex, and outdated. So, they built a solution: Stripe, a sleek, developer-friendly payments platform designed for the modern internet economy. Their goal? Make it easy for anyone to start and scale an online business—whether it’s a global e-commerce company or a solo developer in a dorm room. Stripe launched quietly, but it quickly gained traction. Backed by some of the biggest names in tech—including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and Sequoia Capital—it didn’t take long for Stripe to become the engine behind many of the internet’s biggest platforms, including Shopify, Amazon, and Airbnb. Today, Stripe is valued at over $50 billion and operates in more than 40 countries. Not bad for two lads from Limerick.

Staying Grounded

Despite their massive success, Patrick and John are known for their humility and down-to-earth approach. They often speak about the importance of education, curiosity, and long-term thinking—qualities that are deeply rooted in Irish culture. They’ve also never forgotten where they came from. In fact, they’ve continually invested in Irish startups and frequently speak about the potential of Ireland as a hub for innovation and talent. The Collisons represent a new kind of Irish success story - global in scale, local in spirit.

A Message for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

If there’s one thing to take away from the Collison story, it’s this: you don’t need to be in Silicon Valley to build something world-changing. What you need is an idea, a willingness to learn, and the courage to start. Whether you're sketching business plans in your notebook, coding late at night, or dreaming of launching your own brand, remember—Patrick and John started where many of us do. In a small corner of Ireland, with big dreams and a laptop. So, keep learning, keep building, and don’t be afraid to think globally. Who knows—maybe the next Stripe will be yours.

Slán go fóill, and here’s to continued Irish success—wherever you are in the world.