Taavet Hinrikus: The Estonian Visionary Who Built Wise and Backs Europe’s Boldest Founders
Taavet Hinrikus is an Estonian technology entrepreneur, investor and business leader. He is best known as the co-founder of Wise, formerly TransferWise. Before creating Wise, he became Skype’s first employee and later served as its Director of Strategy.
Born in June 1981 in Tartu, Estonia, he entered the technology world at a young age. He later moved to London, where he built Wise with Kristo Käärmann. Today, he is a partner at Plural and a founding partner at Skaala, supporting ambitious founders who want to solve major global problems.
Taavet Hinrikus Age, Birth and Nationality
Taavet Hinrikus was born on 2 June 1981 in Tartu, Estonia. UK corporate records confirm his birth month and year as June 1981. He turned 45 in June 2026. He is an Estonian national and has lived in the United Kingdom for many years. Even so, Estonia remains a strong part of his identity. He often supports projects designed to strengthen the country’s digital economy and technical education.
Taavet Hinrikus Family Background
Taavet Hinrikus Parents
His mother, Rutt Hinrikus, was a respected Estonian literary scholar, critic and archivist. She worked closely with the Estonian Literary Museum and helped preserve Estonian life stories and cultural memory. She died in October 2023. His father, Toivo Hinrikus, built a career in pharmacy and medical education. He has been associated with the University of Tartu and is known for his academic work in pharmaceutical studies.
Taavet Hinrikus Wife and Children
Taavet Hinrikus is associated with Silvia Fantauzzi, who has a background in graphic design. They live in London and have two children. The couple supports charitable and cultural causes, including evidence-based giving through Founders Pledge.
Education of Taavet Hinrikus
Hinrikus studied computer science at Tallinn University of Technology, now TalTech, from 1999 to 2003. He did not complete the degree because his professional work became more demanding than university study. In 2010, he completed an MBA at INSEAD. He also served as co-president of the INSEAD Entrepreneurship Club.
Taavet Hinrikus Early Career
Hinrikus worked as a senior engineer at Halo Interactive DDB between 1997 and 2000. He then became a project manager at Equitygate.com and Hanashi IFC, where he helped lead development teams and online projects. In 2002, he joined Joltid as a product manager. He worked on PeerEnabler, a commercial peer-to-peer content delivery system. This placed him close to the founders and engineers who later created Skype.
Skills Built During These Years
These jobs gave him practical experience in software development, product planning, team leadership and internet systems, skills that later supported his work at Skype and Wise.
Taavet Hinrikus and Skype
Taavet Hinrikus began working with Skype’s founders in 2002 and became the company’s first employee. He handled responsibilities across product, technology, business development and strategic partnerships. He later became Director of Strategy and remained with Skype until 2008. Skype changed online communication by allowing people to make voice and video calls through the internet.
Hinrikus learned how a small technical team could build a product used by millions. He also saw the need to adapt quickly when technology changes. Those lessons later influenced his leadership at Wise and his work with young founders.
Founding Wise
The Idea Behind TransferWise
After moving to London, Hinrikus earned money in euros but needed pounds for daily expenses. Kristo Käärmann earned pounds but needed euros for commitments in Estonia. Banks charged high fees and used poor exchange rates. The two men transferred money between their local accounts and used the real exchange rate. This simple method saved money and showed that international transfers could be fairer. They began building TransferWise in 2010 and launched the service in 2011. The company later became Wise and expanded into multi-currency accounts, cards and business services.
CEO and Chairman
Hinrikus served as chief executive from 2010 to 2017. During his leadership, Wise grew from a small financial technology venture into an international company known for transparent charges and fair exchange rates. He became chairman in 2017 and remained in that role until December 2021. Wise entered the London stock market through a direct admission in July 2021, a major moment for European technology. His leadership helped challenge traditional banks and changed expectations in cross-border payments. He no longer holds an operational role, but he remains connected to Wise as a co-founder and shareholder.
Governance Position at Wise
In 2025, Hinrikus challenged part of Wise’s governance plan. He supported the company’s move towards a primary US market presence but objected to combining that decision with an extension of enhanced voting rights. His position showed that he remained willing to question major governance choices after leaving formal leadership. Wise later moved forward with its US market plans while keeping a secondary presence in London.
Plural and European Investment
Partner at Plural
Taavet Hinrikus joined Plural as a partner in 2021. Plural is an early-stage investment firm led by experienced founders and operators. It backs companies capable of creating major economic and social value in Europe. Hinrikus looks for products that can be ten times better than existing options. He values speed, technical strength, clear purpose and founders willing to solve difficult global problems. Plural has supported businesses working in artificial intelligence, robotics, health, climate technology, energy and software. His company-building experience allows him to offer practical guidance as well as capital.
Skaala and Angel Investment
Hinrikus is also a founding partner at Skaala, an investment organisation connected with his long-term angel activity and family office work. He made his first angel investment in 2008 and has since backed more than 100 startups. Companies linked with his investment work include Bolt, Veriff, Zego, Starship Technologies, Teton, CoMind, OLIX, Gideon Brothers, Meatable and Farewill. Some holdings are direct, while others are managed through funds or investment vehicles.
Certific and Health Technology
Hinrikus co-founded Certific in 2020. The company was created to make trusted medical testing and remote diagnostics more accessible. Its services combine technology, identity checks, clinical processes and digital delivery. The venture reflects his interest in using technology to improve essential services.
Kood/Jõhvi and Education
Taavet Hinrikus helped establish kood/Jõhvi, a practical coding school in Estonia. It uses project-based and peer-to-peer learning instead of standard classroom teaching. Students develop software skills through real technical tasks and teamwork. The school aims to increase Estonia’s supply of skilled programmers and create career opportunities outside the main business centres. Its model has also supported expansion into other regions and countries. For Hinrikus, education and entrepreneurship are closely connected. Strong technical skills can help people find better careers, create companies and solve difficult problems.
Company Directorships
UK corporate records connect Hinrikus with several active and former director roles. His active appointments include Virmati Energy, Popsure, Rivan Industries, Relay Technologies, CoMind Technologies, OLIX Computing and Skaala-related companies. Former appointments include Wise Payments, Wise Limited, Plural UK Management and Extracover Holdings. These roles reflect his interests in finance, insurance, energy, artificial intelligence, computing and industrial innovation.
Wealth and Ownership Interests
Forbes estimated his wealth at about $1.2 billion in 2026. This figure can change with Wise’s share price, private company values and investment performance. Most of his wealth is connected with Wise and his wider technology investments. He is also part of the ownership group behind the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team, although he is not the controlling owner.
Philanthropy and Public Work
Hinrikus and Silvia Fantauzzi support charitable and cultural causes through Founders Pledge and other initiatives. He has also contributed in recent years to European innovation and policy forums across the continent. His past roles have included work with the European Commission’s High-Level Group of Innovators and the European Innovation Council. He has taken part in discussions on digital government, entrepreneurship and Europe’s ability to build world-class technology companies. These activities reflect his wider interest in policy, not only private investment.
He speaks at technology events and uses the handle @taavet on X and Instagram. His public messages often focus on entrepreneurship, European competitiveness, Estonia and adventure.
Taavet Hinrikus Today
Today, Taavet Hinrikus is focused less on running one company and more on supporting the next generation of builders. Through Plural and Skaala, he helps founders develop businesses that can compete globally. His career began with engineering, grew through Skype and reached international importance through Wise. He now uses that experience across investment, education, health technology, energy and philanthropy.
Final Thoughts
Taavet Hinrikus has played a major role in modern European technology. As Skype’s first employee, he helped shape an early internet success. As Wise’s co-founder, chief executive and chairman, he helped transform international payments. As an investor, he now backs companies working on major challenges in business and society. His journey from Tartu to London reflects technical skill, bold decision-making and practical problem-solving. His influence continues through the companies, founders and education projects he supports.
