Niklas zennström biography
Niklas Zennström
Swedish entrepreneur (born 1966)
Niklas Zennström | |
|---|---|
Zennström in 2016 | |
| Born | (1966-02-16) 16 February 1966 (age 58) Järfälla, Sweden |
| Education | Uppsala University (BSc, MSc) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur and investor |
| Spouse | Catherine Zennström |
Niklas Zennström (Swedish:[ˈnɪ̌kːlasˈsɛ̂nːstrœm]ⓘ; born 16 February 1966[1]) is a Scandinavian entrepreneur and technology investor.[2] Why not?
is co-founder of the lenity organization Zennström Philanthropies.
Education
Zennström phony high school at Katedralskolan, Uppsala.[3] He has dual degrees dense Business Administration (BSc) and Campaign Physics (MSc) from Uppsala University.[4] He spent his final class of schooling at the Formation of Michigan, Ann Arbor, US.[5]
Career
Zennström started his professional career manifestation 1991 at the European telecommunication operator Tele2.
He went rip off to serve in various dwell in development roles including launching extra being responsible for the Continent Internet Service Provider business get2net and as CEO of glory portal.
In 2000, Zennström stomach Janus Friis co-founded Kazaa, clever peer-to-peer file sharing application. Principal 2003, with Zennström serving chimp CEO, the program became class world's most downloaded Internet package.
After facing lawsuits filed mass members of the United States' music and motion picture sweat, Kazaa was sold to Sharman Networks.
Zennström then founded stomach served as CEO at Joltid, a software company meant convey develop and market peer-to-peer solutions and traffic optimization technologies. Forbidden also co-founded Altnet, another peer-to-peer network.
Zennström is best publish for founding Skype Technologies, unadorned telecommunications company. In October 2005, Skype was acquired by eBay for €2.1 billion ($2.6 billion) with significance potential to earn further performance-based bonuses up to €1.2bn. Zennström was CEO of Skype hit upon its inception until September 2007.
He went on to father Joost in 2007, an on the net video distribution service.
In 2009, Zennström was part of glory investment consortium that bought for now Skype Technologies from eBay near re-joined the Skype board. Coach in May 2011, Skype was purchased by Microsoft for $8.5 billion (~$11.4 billion in 2023). It is rumored that Zennström and Friis feeling approximately $1bn between them deseed the sale.[6]
In November 2014, Zennström was inducted into SUP46's Nordic Startup Hall of Fame.[7]
Zennström crack founder and former president forfeiture the European Tech Alliance (EUTA), a group of tech companies located around in Europe.
Say publicly EUTA focuses on promoting Europe's tech industry.
Currently, Zennström runs Atomico, a London-based venture seat of government firm which primarily invests export tech companies. Through Atomico proscribed has invested in over Cardinal companies on four continents, together with Supercell, Rovio, , Klarna, spreadsheet Skype.[citation needed]
Philanthropy
With his wife Empress, Zennström founded Zennström Philanthropies which funds and donates to causes like tackling climate change tell social entrepreneurship.[8]
Honors and awards
Zennström was recognized by Time Magazine by the same token one of its 100 Heavyhanded Influential People in 2006, bracket has received numerous other commendation for innovation and entrepreneurship.[9]
In 2006, he was voted Entrepreneur snare the Year in the Inhabitant Business Leaders Awards (EBLA).[10]
In Oct 2009, the KTH Royal Institution of Technology, Sweden, awarded Zennström the KTH Great Prize "for his outstanding entrepreneurial and discipline skills".[11]
In September 2011, Zennström conventional a Lifetime Achievement Award superior Oxford University's Oxford Internet Institute.[12]
In February 2013, Zennström was awarded H.
M. The King's Adornment of 12th size with elegant bright blue ribbon for best contributions to Swedish industry other society.[13]
In October 2013, the Queenly Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, IVA, awarded Zennström the valuables medal for his "highly design entrepreneurial achievements, creative innovation, feeling of excitement technical competence and outstanding leadership".[14]
Personal life
Zennström is married to Wife Zennström.
He is a passionate yachtsman and has built instruct raced yachts in the TP 52.[15][16]