Zennström

Zennström is a Swedish surname. The name is most prominently associated with Niklas Zennström (born 1966), a Swedish entrepreneur and investor who has played a leading role in the development of online communication technologies.

Niklas Zennström co-founded KaZaA, a peer-to-peer file-sharing application, with Janus Friis in the early 2000s. The project helped popularize decentralized media sharing on the Internet and established the pair as notable figures in the European tech scene. In 2003, Zennström and Friis launched Skype, a voice-over-IP service that expanded into a global platform for internet-based communication.

Skype was acquired by eBay in 2005 and later sold to Microsoft in 2011, where it continued to operate as a major communications product. Following its successes, Zennström established Atomico in 2006, a venture capital firm focused on investing in technology startups. Atomico is based in London and maintains a broader European and global investment footprint, supporting companies across various stages of growth.

Beyond his entrepreneurial activities, Zennström has been involved in various leadership and advisory roles within the technology sector, contributing to the development of startup ecosystems in Europe. He is recognized for his influence on how digital communications and peer-to-peer technologies have evolved and for his continued role in backing innovative technology ventures.