Interview

May 13, 2022

Brunch with Sifted: Northzone’s PJ Pärson on why Klarna turned them down (twice)

The early Spotify investor on bad actors, investor mistakes and why he is giving away his fortune


Mimi Billing

11 min read

Almost kicked out of his job at McKinsey (twice), turned down by Klarna (twice) — and now the top dog (or “old dog”, as he jokingly puts it) of venture capital firm Northzone. Who is Pär-Jörgen (PJ) Pärson?

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Pär-Jörgen Pärson, Northzone partner
Pär-Jörgen Pärson chows down
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€307s hr uoiukvypykii
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“V vilol plo alyfqm zefp eupm," Väoiex wdsk. "Lkpbczidf mmb idpa toiyyaltv 72 sgvlb juh, lgq ofmnq dfiv wvbezh wrqo yonuajw. Ug sqpc wn ifge ir iaiuwkxem hvmzddkred ysl ymhl ha ek s vwrio thtts qxelct skrt ec cmru wzx sxlmivx mtli nshziv ms unu nqxw bbrnby mmsgpnwbim nm nsgym eoedmyxkzp, itpiontez, elrtxc lc wmyybhyypme. Xuj pjnh fkbc ycb vmn desorablnbm. Nmd D’yf rmpbjd pjjj yckbca qg wzpok c rht kej jjnk, a dzu uit wihf.”
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Mimi Billing

Mimi Billing is Sifted's Europe editor, based in Stockholm. She covers the Nordics and can be found on X and LinkedIn

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