Lars Dalgaard

Lars Dalgaard
Name	Lars Dalgaard
Birth date	1963
Birth place	Aarhus, Denmark
Occupation	Entrepreneur, investor, executive
Known for	Founder of SuccessFactors, co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz Fund for Europe
Nationality	Danish

Lars Dalgaard is a Danish entrepreneur, investor, and executive known for founding enterprise software companies and participating in technology investment and policy circles. He led a major software firm through rapid growth and acquisition, later focusing on venture capital, advisory roles, and public advocacy related to technology and workforce issues. Dalgaard's career spans software development, cloud computing, private equity, and philanthropic initiatives.

Early life and education

Born in Aarhus, Denmark, Dalgaard attended Danish primary and secondary schools before pursuing higher education at the University of Aarhus, where he completed studies in economics and computer science-related subjects. He continued graduate studies in the United States at Brigham Young University and later earned a doctorate-equivalent or advanced degree from the Copenhagen Business School milieu through research and executive programs. His early formative experiences included interaction with Scandinavian technology clusters, exposure to European Union market dynamics, and connections with academic research networks in Silicon Valley and Boston.

Business career

Dalgaard began his business career in software and enterprise applications, working with firms in Denmark and across Europe before relocating to the United States. He held executive roles that intersected with SAP SE-era enterprise software trends, Oracle Corporation competitive dynamics, and the rise of Software as a Service providers. His management trajectory included product development, sales strategy, and international expansion, positioning him amid commercial software transformations led by cloud-native companies in the early 2000s.

Founding and leadership of SuccessFactors and Sanctioned projects

He founded a human capital management software company that grew into a prominent cloud-based provider competing with incumbents such as PeopleSoft, Workday, and ADP. Under his leadership, the company executed an initial public offering that placed it on exchanges alongside firms like Salesforce, NetSuite, and Concur Technologies. The company later became the target of a major acquisition by SAP SE in a transaction emblematic of consolidation in enterprise software and cloud computing. Dalgaard subsequently launched and supported follow-on initiatives and "sanctioned" projects—internal startups, incubators, and spinouts—aligned with talent management, analytics, and platform integrations that engaged partners such as Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, and regional accelerators in Europe.

Venture capital and investment activities

After his exit from leading the software company, Dalgaard shifted into venture capital and angel investing, collaborating with firms and funds including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, Accel Partners, and independent angel networks. He co-founded or advised Europe-focused growth funds that sought to bridge Silicon Valley capital with startups in cities such as London, Berlin, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. His investments spanned enterprise software, fintech, healthtech, and data analytics startups, often syndicating with investors from Index Ventures, Balderton Capital, and Northzone. Dalgaard has been associated with later-stage rounds in companies addressing human resources, payroll, and recruitment technologies competing with LinkedIn, Indeed, and specialist HR platforms.

Board memberships and advisory roles

Dalgaard has served on corporate and nonprofit boards and advisory councils, engaging with technology companies, venture funds, and policy organizations. His board roles have connected him to firms and institutions such as SAP SE-related advisory groups, European startup accelerators, and academic-industry collaborations involving Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University-affiliated initiatives. He has advised government and quasi-government bodies on innovation policy in contexts involving the European Commission, national ministries in Denmark, and regional economic development agencies. Dalgaard's advisory portfolio also includes mentorship roles with startup programs associated with Techstars, Y Combinator, and pan-European entrepreneurship networks.

Philanthropy and public policy advocacy

In philanthropy and public advocacy, Dalgaard has focused on workforce development, technology education, and policies promoting startup ecosystems. He has partnered with philanthropic actors and foundations engaged in digital skills training, collaborating with institutions like OECD, World Economic Forum, and regional educational NGOs. Dalgaard has publicly supported immigration and talent mobility proposals relevant to technology labor markets, interacting with policymakers associated with European Council discussions and transatlantic dialogues involving think tanks such as Brookings Institution and Atlantic Council.

Personal life and recognition

Dalgaard is a private individual who has maintained residences and professional ties across California, Denmark, and United Kingdom. He has been recognized in business and technology communities through awards, industry listings, and speaking engagements at conferences including Web Summit, Mobile World Congress, and World Economic Forum events. His career is noted in profiles and analyses alongside entrepreneurs and investors such as Marc Benioff, Larry Ellison, Peter Thiel, and Ben Horowitz for contributions to cloud enterprise software and European venture linkage.

Category:Danish businesspeople Category:Technology company founders Category:Venture capitalists