Niklas Adalberth (Norrsken)

Overview

Niklas Adalberth is a renowned Swedish entrepreneur and philanthropist, widely recognized for co-founding the successful fintech company, Klarna, and later establishing the Norrsken Foundation. Known for his significant contributions to the intersection of technology and social impact, Adalberth has become a pivotal figure in leveraging venture capital to drive positive global change. The Norrsken Foundation, founded in 2016, aims to solve some of the world's most pressing challenges by supporting entrepreneurs focused on areas such as climate change, health, and education.

Recent Developments

Niklas Adalberth and his Norrsken Foundation have been actively expanding their reach and impact globally. Here are some key developments:

August 2025: Norrsken launched Norrsken Evolve, a €57 million fund to support early-stage startups across Europe focusing on biotechnology, renewable energy, logistics, and health technology. The fund is an evolution of the Norrsken Accelerator and plans to significantly increase the capital allocated to each startup.
June 2025: The foundation pledged €300 million to invest in AI startups addressing challenges in climate, health, and food security, reinforcing its commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable solutions.
March 2025: Opened Norrsken House Brussels, a new hub intended to connect impact-driven innovators with EU policymakers, enhancing collaboration on sustainability and entrepreneurship in Europe.
April 2025: Norrsken announced Impact/Week 2025, bringing together leading thinkers and entrepreneurs to advance discussions on sustainable futures and impactful technologies.
November 2024: Niklas Adalberth received the Esade Award for his innovation in the financial sector and his dedication to social entrepreneurship through Norrsken.

Personal Information

Attribute	Information
Full Name	Gustav Erik Niklas Adalberth
Born	October 19, 1981, Uppsala, Sweden
Nationality	Swedish
Occupation	Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
Known For	Klarna, Norrsken Foundation
Net Worth	Not publicly disclosed
Education	Stockholm School of Economics

Early Life and Education

Born and raised in Gottsunda parish, Uppsala, Sweden, Niklas Adalberth showed entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. He spent a year as an exchange student in Connecticut before returning to Sweden. After some time working and traveling, including a stint in Switzerland, he graduated from the Stockholm School of Economics. It was here that he, along with childhood friends Sebastian Siemiatkowski and Victor Jacobsson, developed the concept for Klarna during a business competition. Despite initial rejections, their idea of simplifying e-commerce payments through invoice-based transactions paved the way for Klarna's success.

Career and Notable Achievements

Niklas Adalberth's career trajectory can be summarized in several major phases:

Klarna (2005-2015): Co-founded the now-ubiquitous Klarna, which revolutionized online payments by allowing consumers to buy now and pay later, thus easing the checkout process for e-commerce.
Norrsken Foundation (2016-present): Driven by a desire to focus on social impact, Adalberth founded the Norrsken Foundation. The foundation has since launched various successful initiatives, including the Norrsken Accelerator and multiple venture capital funds dedicated to "tech for good."
Board and Investments: Adalberth is known for his angel investment activities, supporting various sectors such as fintech and consumer technologies, particularly in Sweden and South Africa.

Current Work and Impact

Currently, Niklas Adalberth is deeply involved with the Norrsken Foundation. Under his leadership, the foundation has become one of the largest impact investors in Europe, significantly supporting sustainable business models across several continents. The foundation's initiatives, like the Norrsken Accelerator and Norrsken Evolve, continue to attract substantial investments, contribute to economic resilience, and support impactful startups tackling global challenges.

Norrsken Foundation

The Norrsken Foundation, founded by Adalberth, functions as both a venture capital fund and a social entrepreneurship hub. It features co-working spaces in Stockholm, Kigali, and Barcelona, hosting numerous startups focused on solving critical global issues. The foundation has announced a commitment of hundreds of millions in funding to support startups leveraging AI for positive impact.

Klarna

Klarna, co-founded by Adalberth, has grown to become one of the world's foremost fintech firms, specializing in BNPL services. Despite stepping down from his operational role in 2015, Adalberth's vision for innovation remains a backbone of the company's strategic orientation.

Conclusion

Niklas Adalberth is a transformative figure in both the fintech and social entrepreneurship spheres. His work through Klarna and the Norrsken Foundation illustrates a unique blend of business acumen and altruistic intent, supporting ventures with the potential for substantial societal impact. As Norrsken evolves, Adalberth's influence will likely continue to shape perceptions and practices around sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship on a global scale.