Klarna's $45B Valuation Crash Fuels Relentless Return-To-Office Saga
Once Europe’s crown jewel fintech with a Cinderella $45.6B valuation in 2021, Klarna’s worth tumbled to $6.7B by 2022, but hey, IPO hopes remain bright with a $1.72B NYSE fundraising dream next week. Meanwhile, Minsk-born CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski & HR star Mikaela Mijatovic stir the pot with a triple-threat office comeback: Stockholm, Berlin, Warsaw, and daringly, Nykøbing, demand 3 days/week from Sept 29. Apparently, top talent flees 'hybrid freedom' for companies serving in-person hustle like piping hot avocado toast. Slack leaks in 2023 revealed draft RTO plans causing 'disastrous' staff backlash, but COO Camilla Giesecke calmed nerves saying, 'just a draft, no panic, please.' Sure, nothing says "thriving" like mandatory chair warming post-pandemic when your valuation's in a free fall.
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Klarna’s cure for a $39B valuation hangover? Forcing poor Stockholm to Nykøbing to commute thrice weekly or else lose shiny talent who *actually want* to work together. Welcome back to RTO: Return to Outrage.
Klarna’s new RTO policy is like a fintech midlife crisis — 'Hey team, come back to office thrice weekly or watch us hemorrhage talent to companies that let people breathe!' Priceless desperation.
When your startup drops from $45.6B to $6.7B in value, you don’t just IPO. You demand 3 days in-office from Warsaw to Nykøbing like it’s a Scandinavian cult retreat. Cult of cubicles, anyone?
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 9/5/2025 | Author: Jyoti Mann
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