Klarna's First CFO
He co‑founded Klarna as a student. He left daily work in 2012. He stayed a top shareholder.
Victor Jacobsson helped start Klarna while he was a student.
He later became a major shareholder.
His story shows how founders can stay influential.
Childhood and Hometown
Victor Jacobsson was born in Kungsbacka.
Kungsbacka is outside Gothenburg, Sweden.
No public details exist about his parents.
Education and Early Service
He earned a Master of Science in Business and Economics.
He majored in Accounting and Financial Management.
He graduated from the Stockholm School of Economics in 2007.
He also studied philosophy at Stockholm University.
He served as a deputy platoon commander in the Swedish Armed Forces.
Founding Klarna
In 2005 he co‑founded Klarna with classmates Sebastian Siemiatkowski and Niklas Adalberth.
The company was first called Kreditor.
The idea was born for a university startup competition.
Their pitch was rejected at the competition.
Angel investor Jane Walerud gave them $60,000.
She also connected them with engineers to build the platform.
They began by cold‑calling small Swedish merchants.
The company rebranded as Klarna in 2009.
Growth and Milestones
Klarna grew across the Nordics.
It later expanded to the rest of Europe.
It entered the United States market.
In 2014 Klarna acquired SOFORT.
In September 2025 Klarna listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The IPO raised $1.4 billion.
The valuation was $15 billion.
By late 2025 Klarna served 118 million active consumers.
It worked with 966 000 merchants in 26 countries.
Later Roles and Controversies
Jacobsson left day‑to‑day work at Klarna in 2012.
He stayed on the board until 2016.
He kept increasing his shareholding.
He remained a significant shareholder after the IPO.
In 2024 his board representative Mikael Walther was voted out.
The vote was 87 percent.
His stake‑building and opposition to bonus size drew scrutiny.
He won a court dispute about a Södermalm luxury apartment in January 2026.
Today he works as an independent advisor.
He is an active angel investor in fintech, enterprise software, and Nordic startups.
He backed Aloi in November 2025.
He backed Mercanis in June 2025.
He continues to hold a large interest in Klarna.
Founding Story
Victor Jacobsson grew up in Kungsbacka, near Gothenburg.
He studied at the Stockholm School of Economics.
He earned a Master of Science in Business and Economics.
His major was Accounting and Financial Management.
He also studied philosophy at Stockholm University.
Before school, he was a deputy platoon commander in the Swedish Armed Forces.
In 2005, Victor and two classmates entered a startup competition.
The idea was to help online shoppers pay later.
The pitch was rejected, but an angel investor saw promise.
Jane Walerud gave them $60,000.
She also linked them to engineers.
Together they built a platform called Kreditor.
Later they renamed it Klarna in 2009.
First Customers and Product
Klarna started by cold‑calling small Swedish merchants.
The first merchants liked the buy‑now‑pay‑later model.
It let shoppers get goods first and pay later.
Merchants did not have to take payment risk.
Customers could shop without a credit card.
The service grew across the Nordics quickly.
Early Struggles and Key Turning Points
The early team faced cash flow problems.
They relied on the angel investment to survive.
In 2012 Victor left daily operations at Klarna.
He stayed on the board until 2016.
A major turning point came in 2014.
Klarna bought the German payment firm SOFORT.
The acquisition expanded its reach in Europe.
Another turning point was the 2024 boardroom fight.
Victor’s representative Mikael Walther was voted out.
The vote was 87 % in favor of removal.
Growth with Real Numbers and Funding
After the SOFORT deal, Klarna grew fast.
By late 2025 it served 118 million active consumers.
It worked with 966 000 merchants.
It operated in 26 countries.
The company raised many funding rounds.
Angel money started the journey.
Later venture capital poured in.
The firm kept adding new investors.
Victor stayed a major shareholder.
He also became an active angel investor.
He backed fintech and mobile startups.
In November 2025 he invested in Aloi.
In June 2025 he backed Mercanis.
IPO and Recent Issues
In September 2025 Klarna listed on the NYSE.
The ticker is KLAR.
The IPO raised $1.4 billion.
The market valued Klarna at $15 billion.
Victor kept his large shareholding after the IPO.
In 2024 his stake‑building drew controversy.
He opposed bonus size and voting‑right changes.
A court case about a luxury apartment ended in his favor in early 2026.
Victor now works as an independent advisor.
He focuses on fintech, enterprise software, and Nordic startups.
He stays out of daily Klarna management.
His public profile remains low.
Setbacks
Victor Jacobsson faced boardroom loss in 2024. His representative Mikael Walther was voted out on Oct 24 2024. 87 % of votes removed him. The board said Walther was no longer suitable. The vote hurt Jacobsson’s influence.
Criticism and Controversy
In early 2024 Jacobsson built special vehicles to increase his stake. He opposed large bonuses and voting‑right structures. Critics said his moves threatened governance. The dispute drew public scrutiny. Courts later ruled in his favor over a luxury apartment case in Jan 2026. The case was separate from Klarna but kept his name in headlines.
What Changed Recently
Jacobsson stayed a major shareholder after leaving daily work in 2012. He turned to angel investing. He backed Aloi in Nov 2025 and Mercanis in Jun 2025. His investments stay in fintech and Nordic startups. Klarna’s IPO in Sep 2025 gave the company a $15 billion valuation. Jacobsson kept his shares through the listing.
Where He Is Now (2026)
Victor Jacobsson works as an independent advisor. He helps fintech and enterprise software founders. He still owns a large block of Klarna stock. Klarna serves 118 million consumers and 966 000 merchants in 26 countries.
Why the story matters
Founders can stay powerful as owners after they leave day‑to‑day work. Jacobsson shows that holding shares can keep influence alive. He also shows that governance fights can affect even silent shareholders. Young builders learn to watch board politics. They also see that investing in new ideas can extend a career. Persistence pays off.
The Record
Studied: Stockholm School of Economics (MSc Business & Economics)
Major: Accounting and Financial Management
Philosophy: Stockholm University
Military: Deputy platoon commander, Swedish Armed Forces
Co‑founder: Klarna (2005)
Early role: CFO, board member until 2016
Shareholder: Major owner as of 2026
Investor: Angel in fintech, enterprise, Nordic startups
Timeline
2005 to Co‑founds Klarna (originally Kreditor) with classmates.
2007 to Graduates MSc from Stockholm School of Economics.
2009 to Klarna rebrands from Kreditor.
2012 to Steps away from daily operations at Klarna.
2014 to Klarna acquires SOFORT.
2016 to Leaves Klarna board.
2024 to Boardroom loss after Walther vote; governance dispute.
2025 to Klarna IPO on NYSE, raises $1.4 billion.
2025 to Invests in Aloi (Nov) and Mercanis (Jun).
2026 to Wins court case over Södermalm apartment; continues as advisor.