Niklas Zennstrom | Founders File

Thought of the day

Interests

Impact

$11.2bn

Combined exit value

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Companies founded

Philanthropic initiatives

10,000

People employed

$6bn

Atomico AUM

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$6bn

Atomico AUM

10,000

People employed

Philanthropic initiatives

36+

Companies founded by ex-employees

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Countries operated in

Life Story

Born & Raised

Niklas was born on February 16th, 1966 in Järfälla, Sweden. Summers spent sailing and swimming at the family’s cottage sparked his lifelong love for the Baltic Sea.

Born & Raised

Niklas was born on February 16th, 1966 in Järfälla, Sweden. Summers spent sailing and swimming at the family’s cottage sparked his lifelong love for the Baltic Sea.

1966

1986

1991

2000

2003

2005

2006

2007

2009

2011

2024

World Map

I have had so many companies pitching to me that they have these great solutions, but the cost equation doesn't really make it. If you factored in the real cost of emitting, all of a sudden these green solutions would work

Alliance Magazine Interview, 1st June 2010

Gallery

Press

sifted

Atomico raises $1.24bn to back European startups from Series A and bey

9th September 2024

CNBC

Skype founder’s VC firm raises $1.24 billion to back European tech sta

9th September 2024

Atomico

$1.24 billion as European technology comes of age

9th September 2024

TechCrunch

European VC Atomico closes $1.24B across two funds for early- and grow

8th September 2024

techfundingnews.com

Amidst market slowdown, Atomico closes $1.1B to break the Silicon Vall

4th October 2023

Media

9th June 2025 • 9:18 AM

Looking forward to speaking at hashtag#LondonTechWeek today! I'll be joined by Victoria van Lennep and Ilkka Paananen to discuss the next 25 years...

Career Milestones

Founder & CEO

Atomico

A European Venture Capital firm that invests in transformative technology startups.

2006 – Present

Co-founder

Zennström Philanthropies

An organisation supporting human rights and environmental initiatives.

2007 – Present

Founder

Race for the Baltic

A foundation for a well-managed and sustainable Baltic Sea.

2013 – Present

Co-founder & CEO

Joltid

A software company developing peer-to-peer (P2P) solutions and traffic optimisation technologies.

2003 – Present

Co-founder

Altnet

The world's first secure P2P network promoting commercial content.

2001 – Present

Co-founder & CEO

Kazaa

A second-generation peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing application.

2000 – Present

Co-founder

Rdio

A subscription-based music-streaming service.

2010 – 2013

Co-founder

Joost

An online video distribution service that used peer-to-peer TV (P2PTV) technology to distribute content to their Mozilla-based desktop player.

2006 – 2009

Co-founder and CEO

Skype

A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application offering free basic telephone service over the Internet.

2003 – 2007

CEO

Get2Net

A satellite-based broadband connection providing high-speed Internet, telephone, and television services through a dish and modem.

1997 – 2000

Business development

Tele2

A Swedish telecommunications firm, providing mobile and fixed connectivity, telephony, data network services, TV, and streaming services, among others.

1991 – 1999