Fintech startup founded by Duke grad to add 100-job office in the Triangle

• It's a welcome sign for the Triangle's office market, which has struggled as remote work continues to put a chill on new office leases.

Zoom in: Plaid makes software that connects customers' bank accounts with financial applications like Venmo and PayPal. It also offers services for identity verification, lending services and anti-fraud protections.

• The company was nearly acquired by Visa for $5 billion in 2021, but the deal fell apart after regulators appeared likely to challenge it.
• Plaid has not yet selected a location for its Triangle office.

Driving the news: Plaid, which has more than 1,000 employees, said that the Triangle office would be its sixth hub in addition to San Francisco; New York; Washington, D.C.; London and Amsterdam.

• Plaid said it is hiring for all positions in the Triangle office, but the roles will primarily be sales at first. The goal is to hire around 60 to 70 workers here by the end of the year.

• The company cited the Triangle's talent pool, quality of life and cost of living as a reason for expanding here, in addition to Perret's familiarity with the region from his university days.

What they're saying: "The team on the ground will be focused on helping our customers build amazing products and shape the future of finance," a Plaid spokesperson told Axios of the Triangle office.