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§ Private Profile · San Jose, CA, USA
Payment processing service enabling e-commerce merchants to accept credit card payments online, focused on secure integration and PCI compliance.
Braintree has raised $69.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Braintree.
Braintree has raised $69.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Based in Chicago, Illinois, Braintree provides mobile and web payment processing systems that enable e-commerce merchants to securely accept and manage their online credit card transactions. The software platform modernizes digital payment infrastructure by offering secure credit card storage, recurring billing capabilities, minimized compliance requirements, and broad international payment acceptance for growing online businesses. Experiencing rapid early adoption among these digital merchants, the payment processor reached a significant scale of handling $8 million in daily transaction volume by 2011 and ranked 47th on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. Backed by venture capital firm Accel Partners, the organization expanded its consumer peer-to-peer payment capabilities by acquiring Venmo for $26.2 million in 2012, before ultimately being acquired by PayPal for $800 million in 2013. Braintree was originally established in 2007 by technology entrepreneur Bryan Johnson.
Braintree has raised $69.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Braintree's investors include Ravi Viswanathan, Accel, Benchmark, DAG Ventures, Headline (formerly e.ventures), Index Ventures, Khosla Ventures, NEO, NewView Capital, Hadi Partovi, Nigel Morris, Greycroft.
Braintree has raised $69.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $35.0M Series B in September 2012.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2012 | $35M Series B | Ravi Viswanathan | Accel, Benchmark, DAG Ventures, Headline, Index Ventures, Khosla Ventures, NEO, NewView Capital, Hadi Partovi, Nigel Morris, Greycroft, RRE Ventures | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2011 | $34M Series A | — | Accel | Announced |
Key people at Braintree.
Braintree is a technology company that builds a modern payment gateway platform enabling online and mobile businesses to accept credit card and digital payments securely and efficiently. It serves merchants ranging from startups to large enterprises, including notable clients like Uber, Airbnb, and Shopify. Braintree solves the problem of outdated, complex, and insecure payment processing systems by offering a developer-friendly, scalable, and compliant solution that simplifies integration, reduces PCI compliance burdens, and supports global transactions. The company experienced rapid growth, processing billions annually before being acquired by PayPal in 2013, which further accelerated its market reach and innovation[1][2][3].
Braintree was founded by Bryan Johnson, who started the company while pursuing his MBA at the University of Chicago after a successful stint as a top credit card processing salesperson. Johnson’s early career involved door-to-door sales, where he identified the inefficiencies in payment processing. Motivated by a desire to create real value and disrupt the payments industry, he launched Braintree in 2007. The idea emerged from his firsthand experience with outdated payment systems and the opportunity to modernize them for the emerging online and mobile commerce markets. Early traction came from securing clients like Hotel Tonight and OpenTable, which helped validate the platform’s value. A pivotal moment was the $34 million investment from Accel Partners in 2011, which propelled Braintree into the spotlight and attracted major clients[1][2][3][4].
Braintree rides the wave of the digital commerce and mobile payments revolution, addressing the growing demand for seamless, secure, and scalable payment solutions. The timing was critical as e-commerce and app-based businesses surged, requiring modern payment infrastructure beyond legacy providers. Market forces such as globalization, mobile adoption, and increasing online transactions have favored Braintree’s growth. By enabling startups and large enterprises to accept payments easily, Braintree has influenced the broader ecosystem by accelerating digital commerce adoption and setting new standards for payment technology innovation[1][2][3].
Post-acquisition by PayPal, Braintree continues to evolve within a competitive fintech landscape focused on expanding payment methods, enhancing security, and supporting global commerce. Future trends shaping Braintree’s journey include the rise of embedded finance, cryptocurrency payments, and AI-driven fraud prevention. Its influence is likely to grow as it integrates deeper with PayPal’s ecosystem and adapts to emerging technologies, maintaining its role as a key enabler of digital commerce innovation. Braintree’s origin story of disruption and customer-centric innovation remains a guiding principle as it navigates the evolving payments landscape[1][2][3].
