Klarna Group plc
Company History
Klarna History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2005 in Stockholm, Sweden
When was Klarna founded?
Klarna was founded in 2005 in Stockholm, Sweden by Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson, making it 21 years old.
- Founded
- 2005
- Founding place
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Founders
- Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson
- Headquarters today
- London, United Kingdom
- Milestones documented
- 12 (2005–2026)
- Current CEO
- Sebastian Siemiatkowski
- Acquisitions
- 7
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Founded as Kreditor |
| 2009 | Renamed Klarna |
| 2010 | Sequoia Capital Invests |
| 2014 | Acquires SOFORT |
| 2015 | US Launch |
| 2017 | Swedish banking licence |
| 2021 | $45.6 billion valuation |
| 2022 | Valuation reset and layoffs |
| 2024 | Return to net profit |
| 2025 | NYSE IPO |
| 2026 | FY2025 results |
| 2026 | Q2 profit and guidance cut |
- Where was Klarna founded?
- Klarna was founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 2005.
- Who founded Klarna?
- Klarna was founded by Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson.
- When did Klarna start?
- Klarna was founded in 2005.
- How old is Klarna?
- Klarna is 21 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson started the company in Stockholm in 2005 as Kreditor, while students at the Stockholm School of Economics. The idea was invoice-after-delivery: shoppers received goods first and paid later, while the company paid the merchant and took the risk. The pitch reportedly did poorly at the school's business competition, but angel investor Jane Walerud backed them and the business was renamed Klarna in 2009.
Founders
Sebastian Siemiatkowski
Sebastian Siemiatkowski, born in 1981 in Sweden to Polish immigrant parents, co-founded Klarna (originally Kreditor) with Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson in 2005. The pitch, receive goods first and pay later while Klarna takes the risk, reportedly did poorly at the school's business competition, but the founders went ahead with backing from angel investor Jane Walerud. As CEO he expanded Klarna across Europe and into the US, led it through the 2022 valuation reset, became one of the best-known corporate advocates of AI, and took the company public on the NYSE in September 2025.
Niklas Adalberth
Niklas Adalberth co-founded Klarna in 2005 with Sebastian Siemiatkowski and Victor Jacobsson and helped run the business during its expansion as Deputy CEO. After leaving his operating role he founded the Norrsken Foundation in Stockholm, which backs impact-driven entrepreneurs. Niklas Adalberth was born in 1981 in Gottsunda parish. Education: Stockholm School of Economics. Gustav Erik Niklas Adalberth was born in 1981. In 2016 he founded the Norrsken Foundation, a social impact organisation.
Victor Jacobsson
Victor Jacobsson co-founded Klarna in 2005 with Sebastian Siemiatkowski and Niklas Adalberth. He later stepped back from day-to-day management but stayed a major shareholder, and in 2023 publicly clashed with the board and Sequoia's Michael Moritz over governance. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
Founded as Kreditor
Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth and Victor Jacobsson launch an invoice-after-delivery service for Swedish online shops.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRenamed Klarna
Kreditor is rebranded as Klarna and expands across the Nordics and into Germany and the Netherlands.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquires SOFORT
Klarna completes its purchase of German bank-transfer payment provider SOFORT, giving it scale in the DACH region.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSwedish banking licence
Klarna receives a full banking licence from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority, operating as Klarna Bank AB.
Source: en.wikipedia.org$45.6 billion valuation
A SoftBank-led funding round values Klarna at $45.6 billion during the pandemic e-commerce boom.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgValuation reset and layoffs
Klarna cuts about 10% of staff in May and raises money in July at a $6.7 billion valuation.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgReturn to net profit
Klarna reports a $21 million net profit for 2024 on $2.81 billion of revenue.
Source: sec.govNYSE IPO
Klarna lists on the New York Stock Exchange as KLAR in September 2025, pricing at $40 per share.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFY2025 results
Klarna reports $3.51 billion of FY2025 revenue, $127.9 billion of GMV, $65 million of adjusted operating profit and a $273 million net loss.
Source: investors.klarna.comQ2 profit and guidance cut
Klarna posts a $9 million Q2 2026 net profit on $1.042 billion of revenue but lowers 2026 GMV guidance to $149-151 billion.
Source: klarna.comMajor Acquisitions
SOFORT
2014Bank-transfer payments in Germany and the DACH region.
BillPay
2017German invoice and installment payments provider acquired from Wonga.
Moneymour
2020Italian payments startup to support expansion in Italy.
APPRL
2021Influencer and affiliate marketing platform.
HERO
2021Live video and chat shopping software for retailers.
Stocard
2021Mobile loyalty-card wallet, adding in-store features to the Klarna app.
PriceRunner
2022Price comparison service, closed in 2022 after being announced in 2021.
Keep researching Klarna
Klarna Company History FAQ
When was Klarna founded and how did it launch in Sweden?
Klarna was founded in May 2005 in Stockholm, Sweden, by Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth, and Victor Jacobsson as Kreditor Europe AB, launching its invoice-payment service for Swedish e-commerce stores in autumn 2005.
When did the company rebrand from Kreditor to Klarna?
In 2009, the company officially rebranded from Kreditor to Klarna (meaning 'clear' or 'settle' in Swedish), expanding across the Nordic countries and establishing operations in Germany and the Netherlands in 2010.
When did Sequoia Capital make its landmark investment in Klarna?
In 2010, well-known Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia Capital invested $9 million in Klarna's Series A round, led by partner Michael Moritz, marking Sequoia's first major European fintech investment.
When did Klarna enter the US and launch its 'Smoooth' brand?
Klarna entered the US market in 2015 and launched its pink 'Smoooth' brand campaign in 2017, featuring Snoop Dogg.
When did Klarna obtain a full European banking license?
In June 2017, the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority granted Klarna a full European banking license, transforming Klarna from a payment service provider into Klarna Bank AB, enabling it to accept retail consumer deposits.
How did the Klarna app evolve?
Klarna expanded its app into a shopping destination with price comparison, deals, package tracking and payment management, supported by acquisitions such as PriceRunner and Stocard.
How has Klarna used generative AI?
Klarna said in February 2024 that its OpenAI-powered assistant handled two-thirds of customer chats, equal to about 700 agents. In 2025 it added human agents back after quality concerns.
What is Klarna's position today?
Klarna listed on the NYSE in September 2025. It reported $127.9 billion of GMV in 2025 and more than 120 million active consumers and 1.2 million merchants in Q2 2026.
How did Klarna start?
Klarna was founded in 2005 in Stockholm, Sweden, by Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Niklas Adalberth, and Victor Jacobsson. The founders pitched the idea of a service that let online shoppers receive goods before paying for them at a "Shark Tank"-style entrepreneurship pitch at the Stockholm School of Economics. Incredibly, the judges hated it and they placed dead last, but they launched it anyway and revolutionized global finance.
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