Dan Olofsson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dan Olofsson
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| Born | 24 September 1950 Ekenäs, Finland
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| Nationality | Swedish |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, business leader and philanthropist |
| Spouse(s) |
Christin
(m. 1973) |
| Children | Johan Andreas Hanna |
Dan Olof Olofsson, born on September 24, 1950, in Ekenäs, Finland, is a Swedish businessman and someone who helps others. He is known as an entrepreneur, which means he starts and runs businesses. He is also a philanthropist, meaning he gives money and time to help people and good causes.
Contents
Dan Olofsson's Life Story
Dan Olofsson was born in Ekenäs, Finland. He was the second of five children. His family moved to Malmö in southern Sweden when he was one year old. He grew up there and still lives in Malmö today.
He went to a technical high school in Malmö. Later, he earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering in 1974. After finishing his studies, Dan Olofsson started working in technology consulting. He worked at VBB, which is now called Sweco. He also became a manager at Scandiaconsult.
The Danir Group: A Family Business
Dan Olofsson started his family business, Danir, in 1986. He built this group of companies over time with his son, Johan Glennmo. They focused on long-term growth. By 2024, the Danir Group had 10,000 employees. These employees worked in 29 different countries. The group earned about SEK 13.5 billion (Swedish Kronor) in revenue. The company grew mostly by hiring new people and starting new businesses.
The main part of their business is helping other companies with their digital needs. This work is done through companies like Sigma, Nexer, A Society, and PION Group. The Danir Group also invests money in other businesses.
Thanda and Star for Life: Helping People and Nature
In 2002, Dan Olofsson decided to create a safari place called Thanda Safari. It covers more than 14,000 hectares of land in South Africa. This safari park helps protect animals that are in danger. It has won awards as "The World's Leading Luxury Lodge" many times. In 2016, a luxury island resort called Thanda Island opened near Tanzania. It has been named "The World’s Leading Exclusive Private Island" every year from 2016 to 2023. In 2024, Thanda partnered with a famous hotel group called Jumeirah. Now, they use the names Jumeirah Thanda Safari and Jumeirah Thanda Island.
Dan Olofsson and his wife, Christin, also started a charity called Star for Life in 2005. This organization helps young people. So far, 500,000 young people have joined a four-year program. This program teaches them how to live a healthy life and avoid HIV/AIDS. It works in South Africa, Namibia, and Sri Lanka. Since 2013, Star for Life also helps young people in Sweden. This program is called ‘Motivationslyftet’. It helps young people feel more confident and hopeful about their future. In 2021, Star for Life started in Jerusalem. It focuses on improving life for people in East Jerusalem. They do this by investing in education and jobs.
Uppstart Malmö and Project Kaxås: Creating Opportunities
In 2011, Olofsson helped start "Uppstart Malmö". This group aims to create more jobs in poorer areas of his hometown, Malmö. They offer advice, support, and money to local business owners. These businesses then create more jobs. The group also helps young people and immigrants find work. More than 3,500 people have found jobs through this effort.
To help a small village called Kaxås in northern Sweden, Project Kaxås began in 2019. The goal was to stop people from moving away and to keep the village school open. The idea was to encourage young families to move there. These families want a safe life close to nature. They can also work from home. By bringing in new families, the number of people in Kaxås grew from 100 to about 260. The number of children increased by over 60. An eco-village called Ladriket is an important part of Project Kaxås.
Supporting Ukraine
In 2006, Dan Olofsson’s company, Sigma, bought a large part of an IT company in Kharkiv, Ukraine. This company, Sigma Software, had 60 employees then. Since then, it has grown to 2,000 employees. It has offices in many major Ukrainian cities. Its clients are in the USA, Europe, and Ukraine.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Dan Olofsson and his companies have helped Ukraine a lot. They have given direct aid to the army. They also support groups that help people in Ukraine. They help Ukrainian businesses sell their products. They speak up for Ukraine in Sweden. They provide homes for Ukrainian refugees in Sweden. They also run the Star for Life program for children in Ukraine.
Other Activities
In late 2012, Dan Olofsson's book Mina tre liv ("My three lives") was published. In recent years, Olofsson has often spoken publicly. He talks about what helps businesses grow. He also discusses how people should be able to choose their own welfare services. He believes in policies that support businesses and social responsibility.
Awards and Honors
Dan Olofsson has received many awards for his work:
- 2001 – Named the Greatest Entrepreneur in Skåne, a county in southern Sweden.
- 2004 – Became the City of Malmö Ambassador of the Year.
- 2008 – Received The Pegasus Prize.
- 2008 – Won The Community Philanthropy Award in New York.
- 2011 – Recognized as an Entrepreneurial Role Model of the Year by Founders Alliance.
- 2011 – Awarded H.M. The King's Medal for his important work in Swedish business and charity.
- 2012 – Received The Royal Patriotic Society Business Medal for his amazing business skills.
- 2012 – Given the Social Capitalist Award by Veckans Affärer magazine. This award is for people who use business to solve problems in society.
- 2015 – Honored by the Swedish Region Skåne for his great efforts to develop Skåne.
- 2015 – Given an honorary doctorate by Malmö University. This was for helping solve problems using technology.
- 2015 – Awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of FASTA in Argentina. This was for his good citizenship and charity work in Africa and Sweden.
- 2015 – Received The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise's Nicolin Prize. This was for helping people understand how important businesses are.
- 2018 – Became a member of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Leadership Council.
- 2019 – Named the Growth Entrepreneur of 2019 in Malmö, Sweden.
- 2021 – Received the Jerusalem Mayor's Medal of Honor. This was for his long-term support and work to improve life for people in East Jerusalem.
- 2025 – Awarded a medal by the Ukrainian army for his significant support.
- 2025 – Awarded a medal by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for his outstanding commitment to Ukraine.
See also
In Spanish: Dan Olofsson para niños
