Jan Tellef Thorleifsson served as the Chief Executive Officer of Norfund. See sector focus and contact routes.
Jan Tellef Thorleifsson served as the Chief Executive Officer of Norfund, Norway’s state-owned venture capital fund focused on private sector development in emerging markets, from October 2018 until stepping down in July 2026. Norfund’s investment thesis targets profitable impact investing to combat global poverty and climate change, with a focus on sectors like agribusiness, renewable energy, and fintech in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. While Norfund typically makes direct investments rather than following traditional venture check sizes, Thorleifsson previously co-founded Northzone in 1996, where he led early-stage venture investments including in Spotify and Kahoot. Notable portfolio companies linked to his earlier venture career include Spotify, Kahoot, and Gelato, for which he served as Chairman. Thorleifsson has emphasized “profitable impact investing” as a distinctive approach, arguing that sustainable development requires financially viable enterprises rather than aid alone. He also co-founded the Voxtra Foundation, which makes targeted grants and investments in agribusiness in East Africa, reflecting his long-standing commitment to developm
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