This is very well written. You've created the definitive guide to understanding how Paystack was built. Nothing like this, in depth, currently exists. Well done, I am proud of you.
If you knew a “Stack”, you’d know that they are a bit different; for lack of an apter word to capture the unique weirdness, openness and camaraderie they seem to all share. It is a difference you cannot help but notice watching them interact with each other and the rest of the world. The best thing about this essay for me is that it captures that difference in words. It is one long “aha” moment. Thank you for this, Fuad.
To my mind, this essay is a story of a company built by seemingly ordinary people thinking extraordinary things. Why is a Nigerian kid writing to a Norwegian agency to get an internship? Why are they moving into a flat and coding their lives away in the hopes of making it easier to pay my favourite Instagram vendors? It is a story of infecting other people with that belief that extraordinary is not only welcome but encouraged.
It is good to know this commitment to extraordinary was baked into the culture of the company at the beginning of the company, it is even more impressive that they seem to have kept it hundreds of new hires, a Stripe acquisition, and a round of layoffs later. Regardless of whether this culture holds its own against the cold facts of doing business in other companies, it is helpful to have a well-documented model to at least consider.
Finally, it is one thing to collect and document these stories (a service to posterity) and quite another to tell them so beautifully in a way that takes you on a journey through time (a gift to every reader). Thank you for doing both.
P.S Grateful to the Stacks (still think it’s a crappy name) for opening their doors to Fuad, you really cannot write this from a distance. Thank you Fuad for showing your working, the references make things make sense. And thank you to the army of editors, fact-checkers and thankless helpers that helped make this the first thing I’m reading on my way to work on a Tuesday morning.
Man, you know themmmmmmmm. One of the earliest things someone told me in 2021 when I was researching this story is, "Forget it, if you have Paystack friends. They'll hang out with each other before they'll hang out with you."
Everything you said is such a great way for me to start my day. Thank you so much man.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. Working at Paystack was everything and more. It was life-changing for me in many ways and I don't think I'll ever find a company like that again. Truly one of a kind.
From start to finish, I enjoyed every single bit of it. Despite the fact I have read almost all of Ezra's blog and how Paystack popped up, reading it feels fresh
This is brilliantly written Fu’ad. Every paragraph and line had me glued, very detailed and well curated. Thank you for documenting the Paystack story, so beautiful.
I can't express how beautiful this was. As someone who was in the room the entire time, it's really difficult to articulate the magic that was Paystack but this article did justice to it.
Would it have killed you guys to ask "who was Emmanuel's first hire" 😒
bruh, I was reading the genealogy and I was like "yes, keep coming". He did the top 10, and I thought "almost there". Got to Emmanuel I'm like "yes yes, I'm right after him. Do me next", and my guy just went off to quote Karl Max or some shit kmt
I totally enjoyed reading this. It's only Fuad that can make this story enjoyable with his Impeccable skill. I almost thought I'd lose interest at some point. I'm glad I was glued all through. I particularly love the angle you wrote the story from. It is fantastic!
This is very well written. You've created the definitive guide to understanding how Paystack was built. Nothing like this, in depth, currently exists. Well done, I am proud of you.
Bananaaa ❤️
If you knew a “Stack”, you’d know that they are a bit different; for lack of an apter word to capture the unique weirdness, openness and camaraderie they seem to all share. It is a difference you cannot help but notice watching them interact with each other and the rest of the world. The best thing about this essay for me is that it captures that difference in words. It is one long “aha” moment. Thank you for this, Fuad.
To my mind, this essay is a story of a company built by seemingly ordinary people thinking extraordinary things. Why is a Nigerian kid writing to a Norwegian agency to get an internship? Why are they moving into a flat and coding their lives away in the hopes of making it easier to pay my favourite Instagram vendors? It is a story of infecting other people with that belief that extraordinary is not only welcome but encouraged.
It is good to know this commitment to extraordinary was baked into the culture of the company at the beginning of the company, it is even more impressive that they seem to have kept it hundreds of new hires, a Stripe acquisition, and a round of layoffs later. Regardless of whether this culture holds its own against the cold facts of doing business in other companies, it is helpful to have a well-documented model to at least consider.
Finally, it is one thing to collect and document these stories (a service to posterity) and quite another to tell them so beautifully in a way that takes you on a journey through time (a gift to every reader). Thank you for doing both.
P.S Grateful to the Stacks (still think it’s a crappy name) for opening their doors to Fuad, you really cannot write this from a distance. Thank you Fuad for showing your working, the references make things make sense. And thank you to the army of editors, fact-checkers and thankless helpers that helped make this the first thing I’m reading on my way to work on a Tuesday morning.
Man, you know themmmmmmmm. One of the earliest things someone told me in 2021 when I was researching this story is, "Forget it, if you have Paystack friends. They'll hang out with each other before they'll hang out with you."
Everything you said is such a great way for me to start my day. Thank you so much man.
What a read. Really enjoyed it. Will definitely take a run at it again. Thanks for writing.
Thank you for reading!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. Working at Paystack was everything and more. It was life-changing for me in many ways and I don't think I'll ever find a company like that again. Truly one of a kind.
"Once a stack, always a stack!" ❤️
Really enjoyed reading through this, thanks for taking the time and putting in the effort towards documenting these stories Fuad🫶🏾.
It truly was an amazing (and inspirational) read.
Thank you for taking the time to read it too, Sodiq!
Thanks for writing & documenting this Fuad!
Thank you for reading!
I love the stories you tell and I’m grateful for them. I enjoyed reading this one thoroughly.
Thank you for putting pen to paper and simply exploring your curiosity, Fu’ad.
May the fire of our curiosities never die out (and may it lead us to dollahssssss).
Brilliant. Thanks for writing.
Ogbuefi, thank you!
From start to finish, I enjoyed every single bit of it. Despite the fact I have read almost all of Ezra's blog and how Paystack popped up, reading it feels fresh
Thank you so much Ben!
This is brilliantly written Fu’ad. Every paragraph and line had me glued, very detailed and well curated. Thank you for documenting the Paystack story, so beautiful.
Thank you 🍩!
Impressive story, impressive personalities, impressive writer... That Emmanuel Quartey part is🔥
Quartey is something.
This is a beautiful story. Thank you for making public, with the right authority, of how Paystack excellent culture was formed. ❤️
I can't express how beautiful this was. As someone who was in the room the entire time, it's really difficult to articulate the magic that was Paystack but this article did justice to it.
Would it have killed you guys to ask "who was Emmanuel's first hire" 😒
Thank you! (And no vex! 😭💀)
not you campaigning for yourself
bruh, I was reading the genealogy and I was like "yes, keep coming". He did the top 10, and I thought "almost there". Got to Emmanuel I'm like "yes yes, I'm right after him. Do me next", and my guy just went off to quote Karl Max or some shit kmt
Lmaooooooooooo. Now that you mention it, I wonder what an ecosystem family tree would look like though.
😂
This is quite detailed and I like your writing style.
Thank you Kelvin!
This was a beautiful read. It was highly inspiring and enlightening. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story, Fu'ad. You are the best.
Thank you Abdulbasit!
I totally enjoyed reading this. It's only Fuad that can make this story enjoyable with his Impeccable skill. I almost thought I'd lose interest at some point. I'm glad I was glued all through. I particularly love the angle you wrote the story from. It is fantastic!
Thank you so much Azeezah!