Klarna Founder Turned ESG Purist Slams Obsession With Growth

Niklas Adalberth, one of the founders of buy-now-pay-later firm Klarna Bank AB, has criticized the venture capital industry for what he says is a narrow focus on growth that doesn’t take into account the wider costs to society.

“When I was building Klarna there was no consideration whatsoever if they were net positive to people and the planet,” Adalberth, 40, said in an interview. “It was just growth, growth, growth. And this is how we have valued startups for decades now.”