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Daniel Ek

locationStockholm, Sweden

Daniel Ek, passionate about music, tech, and business from a young age, built his first company at 13. He later revolutionized music with Spotify and is now tackling health with Neko Health. His mission: back moonshot tech that benefits humanity and the planet.

thought-iconThought of the day

InterestsInterests

Entrepreneurship
Digital Transformation
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Wellness
img_music.jpg
Creativity / Innovation

Impact

678m

Spotify Users

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100,000+

People on waitlist for Neko Health

124

Ventures Launched by Spotify Alumni

5

Companies founded

180+

Markets Spotify Serves

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180+

Markets Spotify Serves

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5

Companies founded

124

Ventures Launched by Spotify Alumni

$60bn+

Amount Spotify generated for Music Industry

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4

Sectors disrupted

Life Story
Background

Born & Raised

Daniel was born on the 21st February 1983 to a nursery worker mother in Rågsved, south of Stockholm.

Born & Raised

Daniel was born on the 21st February 1983 to a nursery worker mother in Rågsved, south of Stockholm.

1983
1988
1989
1999
2002
2005
2006
2008
2016
2018
2019
2020
2022
2024

mapWorld Map

quote

We believe that speed of iteration beats quality of iteration, which is why we're not big on bureaucracy

The Tim Ferriss Show, 6th December 2020external-link-icon

Testimonials

martin lorentzon
Martin Lorentzon

Co-founder - Spotify

I got a very strong feeling when I met Daniel. To partner up I have to like the person like a brother, because we’ll face so many problems. The value of a company is the sum of the problems you solve together.
Sean parker
Sean Parker

Co-founder - Napster

He’s the only tech entrepreneur who’s had the patience to achieve what he has with the record business. He has this Zen-like patience and an ability not to crack under pressure or get frustrated. Over and over again he puts himself in a situation where a normal person would have thrown in the towel.
Dara k
Dara Khosrowshahi

CEO - Uber

Daniel looked at me with his cold, Scandinavian eyes and said, ‘You know Dara, since when is life about being happy? It’s about having impact. You have to make an impact.

gallery-iconGallery

Daniel Ek photo
Daniel Ek photo

presPress

Far OutFar Out

Spotify CEO, Daniel Ek, becomes chairman of AI military start-up...

20th June 2025

Daniel Ek

CNBCCNBC

Spotify’s Daniel Ek leads $694 million investment in defense startup H

17th June 2025

Daniel Ek

MusicbusinessworldwideMusicbusinessworldwide

Spotify has reached 100m paying subscribers in Europe

27th May 2025

ek1

MusicbusinessworldwideMusicbusinessworldwide

Daniel Ek has now cashed out $800m+ in Spotify stock

6th May 2025

ek1

Tech RadarTech Radar

'Our existing subscriptions are plenty enough for us'

30th April 2025

ek21

MusicbusinessworldwideMusicbusinessworldwide

Spotify Q1 2025 earnings call: Daniel Ek talks growth, pricing

30th April 2025

Ek 1

SpotifySpotify

Spotify Reports First Quarter 2025 Earnings

29th April 2025

ek2

Music Business WorldwideMusic Business Worldwide

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek continues share sale streak

17th April 2025

ek9

The TimesThe Times

Spotify’s co-founder backs a hit with preventive body scans

11th April 2025

ek22

Music Business WorldwideMusic Business Worldwide

Daniel Ek has made $724m so far from selling Spotify shares

20th March 2025

ek21

BloombergBloomberg

Spotify CEO Urges EU to Hit Apple for Flouting Big Tech Law

26th February 2025

ek

www.ft.comwww.ft.com

Daniel Ek’s Neko raises $260mn in push to be Apple of healthcare

23rd January 2025

ek11

FortuneFortune

Daniel Ek’s body scanning startup hits £1.4 billion valuation

23rd January 2025

ek

NekohealthNekohealth

Neko Health raises $260m Series B

23rd January 2025

ek3

MusicbusinessworldwideMusicbusinessworldwide

Daniel Ek has cashed out over half-a-billion dollars in Spotify stock

9th January 2025

ek

The TimesThe Times

Spotify’s Daniel Ek: ‘I thought, why am I not saving lives?’

5th September 2024

ek12

TechcrunchTechcrunch

Neko Health opens in London

3rd September 2024

ek

MusicTech.comMusicTech.com

Daniel Ek confirms “deluxe version” of Spotify is coming soon

24th July 2024

ek13

musically.commusically.com

Daniel Ek signals plans for ‘a much better version of Spotify’

24th July 2024

ek27

CBS NewsCBS News

Spotify CEO explains issue of artists' pay

9th March 2023

ek6

SeekingalphaSeekingalpha

Spotify Technology S.A. (SPOT) CEO Daniel Ek on Q2 2022

27th July 2022

ek7

SpotifySpotify

Spotify Shares Our Vision To Become the World's Creator Platform

8th June 2022

ek8

mediaMedia

    career-milestoneCareer Milestones

    Co-founder
    Prima Materia

    Prima Materia

    ​P​rima Materia is a European company ​founded by Daniel Ek and Shakil Khan that builds and develops new companies for the long term​, leveraging technology to drive progress in areas that matter most to society.

    caelndar

    2021 – Present

    Co-founder
    Neko Health

    Neko Health

    A Swedish healthtech company using sensor-based full-body scans and AI to detect early health risks and support preventive care.

    caelndar

    2018 – Present

    Co-founder
    Spotify

    Spotify

    A global audio streaming subscription service.

    caelndar

    2006 – Present

    Chief Executive Officer
    µTorrent

    μTorrent

    Popular software for downloading and sharing files using peer-to-peer technology
    caelndar

    2006

    Founder
    a.png

    Advertigo

    An adtech start-up helping customers track and measure digital marketing. Acquired by Tradedoubler

    caelndar

    2005 – 2006

    Chief Technology Officer
    Stardoll

    Stardoll

    A fashion and entertainment community for pre-teens

    caelndar

    2005 – 2006

    Executive
    Tradera

    Tradera

    A Nordic online auction site, acquired by eBay in 2006
    caelndar

    2005 – 2006

    investmentEarly Stage Investments

    advisory
    Advisory & Mentoring
    Brilliant Minds

    Brilliant Minds Foundation

    Advisor

    calender-icon2015 – Present

    location-iconStockholm

    Brilliant Minds

    Brilliant Minds Foundation

    A global platform for creative individuals, formed to support founders with transformative ideas

    calender-icon2015 – Present

    location-iconStockholm

    Learn moreexternal-link-icon
    Spotify

    Spotify

    Advisor

    calender-icon2008 – Present

    location-iconStockholm

    Spotify

    Spotify

    A global audio streaming subscription service.

    calender-icon2008 – Present

    location-iconStockholm

    Learn moreexternal-link-icon

    philanthropy-iconPhilanthropy

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