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Skype Co-Founders Raise $165 Million For New Fund—Short Of Initial Goal

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Skype cofounders Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis have raised $165 million for their second venture fund which will mainly back European high growth tech startups. Zennström and Friis—who also started Kazaa and Joost—had initially aimed to raise $266 million for the fund a year ago but downplay the shortfall telling the Financial Times, “when we started we had a flexible number” and “we think we have exactly the right amount of money.”

Zennström and Friis started their investment comapny—Atomico Ventures—four years ago. Over the last year, it has backed several startups, including mobile gaming firm Zattikka, music service Rdio, and social games site Playfire.

In its announcement, Atomico loosely lays out the criteria for how it will use the new cash. Zennström: “We will seek to invest in exceptional entrepreneurs who are building exceptional businesses. We will target companies that we believe have the potential to generate significant growth, transform their industries, and deliver strong returns.”

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Mar 21, 2010 11:05 PM ET

Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis Photo: Corbis

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Posted In: Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Venture Capital

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  • Hey Barney,

    Why would you trust analysts and bankers that 1) generally opine about other people's money, and 2) have had zero predictive capacity regarding our current collapse. Who gives a sh^^ what analysts think? They are looking to get a paycheck every 2 weeks. Nick Denton, and I barely like him, has to make rational economic decisions on his capital to ensure his survival.

  • Advertising will be off 40%—in what category? For independent Internet companies, or should the NY Times brace itself further?

  • Marty

    Well I think I would take the forecast of a publisher over that of a banker or analyst any day!

  • Barney

    since when did denton become an authority on the financial projections of this industry?

    hes not a banker… hes not an analyst.
    its is a great way to generate PR but come on.

    by posting comments like this you only do the industry a disservice.

    this behavior reminds me of 1999.

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