Taavet Hinrikus: The Man Who Helped Build Skype and Wise

Introduction

Taavet Hinrikus is an Estonian entrepreneur and investor. He is best known for co-founding Wise, formerly TransferWise, and being Skype’s first employee.

His career started in technology. Then came financial services. Today, he backs other startup founders through Plural, a European investment firm.

That journey is quite something.

He helped build Skype in its early years, started a money transfer business with Kristo Käärmann, and later stepped away from Wise’s leadership to focus on investing.

According to Forbes, his estimated wealth reached $1.1 billion in October 2026. Yet his story began long before the billionaire rankings.

Quick Facts About the Entrepreneur

Detail	Information
Full Name	Taavet Hinrikus
Date of Birth	2 June 1981
Age	45 years old (2026)
Birthplace	Tartu, Estonia
Nationality	Estonian
Profession	Entrepreneur and investor
Famous For	Co-founding Wise and joining Skype as its first employee
University	Tallinn University of Technology
Higher Education	MBA from INSEAD
Wise Co-founder	Kristo Käärmann
Wise Founded	2010
Wise Public Launch	2011
Former Roles	CEO and Chairman of Wise
Current Main Role	Partner at Plural
Other Investment Work	Founding partner at Skaala
Publicly Identified Partner	Silvia Fantauzzi
Children	Two, according to an earlier public profile
Residence	London, United Kingdom
Estimated Net Worth	$1.1 billion (Forbes, 23 October 2026)

Who Is Taavet Hinrikus?

Taavet Hinrikus is a businessman from Estonia. His name is closely connected with two major technology companies: Skype and Wise.

At Skype, he joined the founding team as its first employee. Years later, he started TransferWise with Kristo Käärmann.

The company grew into Wise.

It offered customers a different way to send money internationally. Instead of accepting expensive currency conversions without question, customers could see exchange rates and fees more clearly.

Hinrikus later became an active investor. He now works with founders building businesses in areas such as artificial intelligence, software, healthcare and robotics.

His career has mainly involved technology, financial services and startup investment.

Early Life and Childhood

He was born on 2 June 1981 in Tartu, Estonia.

At the time, Estonia was part of the Soviet Union. The country regained independence in 1991, when he was still a child.

His childhood took place during major changes in Estonian society and its economy.

Technology became an important part of his working life. By his early twenties, he was involved with Skype, a company that would become known around the world.

Public records confirm his birth date.

However, detailed information about his childhood home, early family routines and personal experiences remains limited. Those details should not be treated as established facts.

Education and Academic Background

Hinrikus studied at Tallinn University of Technology.

Wise’s official 2021 annual report confirms that he holds a bachelor’s degree from the university.

He later attended INSEAD, a well-known international business school.

He completed his MBA in 2010.

That business education came at an interesting time. He was moving from his Skype career towards starting a company of his own.

His educational background gave him experience in both technology and business management.

His INSEAD alumni profile also documents his later career as a company founder and angel investor.

How His Career Started at Skype

Before Wise, there was Skype.

Hinrikus joined Skype as its first employee during the company’s early development.

His Plural biography says he started in 2002. Some other profiles use 2003, so the dates differ slightly across sources.

He eventually became Director of Strategy.

Skype was changing how people communicated. Instead of relying entirely on traditional telephone services, users could make calls over the internet.

The company grew quickly.

Hinrikus worked there while it developed from a young startup into a widely used international communications service.

His time at Skype ended in 2008, according to official professional biographies.

But the experience stayed with him.

At Skype, he had seen how a small company could build a product for people in many countries. He had also learned about hiring, product decisions and managing growth.

Those lessons became useful when he started Wise.

How He Met Kristo Käärmann

The story behind Wise began in London.

Hinrikus and fellow Estonian Kristo Käärmann were both living in the United Kingdom.

Their financial problems were different.

Hinrikus received his income in euros but needed British pounds for everyday expenses.

Käärmann earned pounds. Yet he needed euros to pay a mortgage in Estonia.

Banks made those transactions expensive.

So the two friends found another method.

They agreed to exchange money between themselves using the mid-market exchange rate.

Rather than moving money internationally every time, they could arrange local transfers and settle the amounts between them.

It was a simple idea.

And it worked for them.

Soon, they began asking whether the same approach could help other people dealing with expensive international transfers.

That question led to TransferWise.

The Founding of TransferWise

Hinrikus and Käärmann began building TransferWise in 2010.

The first version launched in early 2011.

The original goal was straightforward: make international money transfers cheaper and easier to understand.

Many customers were paying high charges without knowing exactly how much they were losing through exchange-rate markups.

TransferWise offered an alternative.

Its pricing aimed to show customers the cost of sending money before they completed a transfer.

That approach attracted users.

The company grew from a startup into an international financial technology business.

Early investors included Peter Thiel and Richard Branson. Venture capital firms also supported its growth.

For Hinrikus, it was his first experience co-founding a business that would eventually become publicly traded.

Why TransferWise Changed Its Name to Wise

TransferWise became Wise in 2021.

The name changed because the company’s services had grown beyond international transfers.

Customers could use Wise to hold different currencies, receive payments and manage money across borders.

The shorter name reflected its broader business.

Still, the original idea remained.

Wise wanted international money services to be cheaper and more transparent.

Today, the company’s official website explains its history through the original money exchange arrangement between its two founders.

His Role as CEO and Chairman

Hinrikus served as the company’s chief executive during its early growth.

He remained CEO until 2017.

Then he moved into the chairman position.

Kristo Käärmann continued as CEO.

This change allowed Hinrikus to take a different role while remaining connected to the company’s direction.

Wise reached another milestone in July 2021.

It became publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange through a direct listing.

A few months later, Hinrikus stepped down from the board.

Wise officially announced his departure as chairman and director in December 2021, with David Wells taking over the chairmanship.

So, is he still Wise’s CEO?

No.

He remains one of its founders, but his executive leadership ended years ago.

Starting a New Career With Plural

Leaving Wise’s board did not mean leaving business.

Hinrikus moved further into startup investment.

In 2022, he helped establish Plural, a European venture capital firm.

The founding team included Sten Tamkivi, Ian Hogarth and Khaled Helioui.

Plural began with a €250 million fund.

Its purpose was to invest in early-stage technology businesses, particularly companies trying to solve difficult technical or commercial problems.

In January 2024, Plural announced another fund worth €400 million.

That gave the firm more money to support startups.

Hinrikus brings his own experience to the role. He has worked inside a growing technology business and helped build a public company.

That background allows him to discuss business decisions with founders from direct experience.

His Work at Skaala

Plural is not his only investment activity.

Hinrikus is also a founding partner at Skaala, an investment company with roots in his earlier startup investments.

According to Skaala’s official website, its history goes back to 2005.

At that time, he was working at Skype and had started investing in young businesses.

He created a holding company to manage those investments.

Over the years, the activity expanded.

Today, Skaala handles investment work across different asset classes.

Hinrikus participates in investment strategy and investment committee decisions.

His work at Skaala shows that his interest in backing companies began well before Wise became a public business.

Companies He Has Invested In

Hinrikus has backed many startups.

His INSEAD profile describes him as an angel investor with more than 100 investments.

Some publicly documented examples include:

• Bolt: An Estonian mobility and transport technology company.
• Veriff: A business providing online identity verification.
• Zego: A technology-focused commercial insurance provider.
• Cleo: A personal finance application.
• Meatable: A company working on cultivated meat technology.
• Starship Technologies: A developer of autonomous delivery robots.
• Mendeley: Software for managing academic research and references.
• Improbable: A technology company known for simulation and virtual-world software.
• Gideon Brothers: A robotics technology business.
• Farewill: A company offering services connected with wills and end-of-life planning.

These examples come from published investment and professional profiles.

Some were angel investments made personally. Others are associated with his later investment work.

His complete current portfolio is not available in one public record.

His Involvement With Certific

Hinrikus has also worked with Certific, a health technology company.

Certific’s official website identifies him as an advisor, investor and founding member.

The business works on remote medical testing and related healthcare technology.

Its company profile also highlights his earlier experience at Wise and Skype.

This connection shows his involvement in businesses beyond banking and payments.

Education Projects and Support for Young Founders

Technology education is another part of his public work.

Hinrikus helped co-found Jõhvi Coding School in Estonia.

The project aims to give more people opportunities to learn coding skills.

He has also been connected with the Good Deed Foundation Education Fund.

Earlier in his career, he supported young entrepreneurs through TransferWise’s 20 Under 20 programme.

He has advised on digital policy and participated in European innovation initiatives.

These activities sit alongside his commercial investments.

For him, supporting technology businesses has often included helping people learn the skills needed to build them.

Taavet Hinrikus Net Worth in 2026

His wealth comes mainly from his connection with Wise and his business investments.

Forbes reported an estimated net worth of $1.1 billion as of 23 October 2026.

The figure is an estimate.

It is not a published bank balance or guaranteed amount of cash.

His wealth can change as the value of Wise shares and other investments changes.

Forbes also identifies Hinrikus and Käärmann as Estonia’s first two billionaires.

The company’s public listing in 2021 marked an important financial milestone for both founders.

Exact figures for his present income, personal salary and the value of every private investment are not publicly established.

Wife, Partner and Children

Hinrikus keeps much of his family life private.

A published Founders Pledge profile identifies Silvia Fantauzzi as his partner.

The same profile describes the couple as living in London with two children.

It also mentions Silvia’s background in graphic design.

However, the profile is older and does not independently confirm their current relationship status.

There is no need to guess about a wedding date or other private family matters.

His public business career is much better documented.

Where Does He Live?

Forbes lists London, United Kingdom, as his residence.

He has strong professional connections with both Estonia and Britain.

Estonia is where he was born and where his early technology career developed.

London became an important base for his financial technology work, particularly during the creation and growth of Wise.

His current business activities also connect him with founders across Europe.

Major Career Achievements

Several events stand out in his career.

Year	Career Milestone
1981	Born in Estonia
2002	Joins Skype as its first employee, according to his Plural biography
2008	Ends his strategy leadership role at Skype
2010	Co-founds TransferWise and completes his MBA
2011	TransferWise launches
2017	Moves from CEO to chairman
2021	Wise becomes publicly listed
2021	Steps down as chairman and director
2022	Helps launch Plural
2024	Plural announces a new €400 million investment fund
2026	Continues investment work through Plural and Skaala

His recognition also includes association with the World Economic Forum’s Technology Pioneers programme, digital policy advisory work and European innovation initiatives.

What Is He Doing Now?

As of October 2026, Hinrikus works primarily as a partner at Plural.

He also remains involved with Skaala.

His focus has changed since the days of running Wise.

He now spends much of his professional time working with founders, assessing investment opportunities and helping younger businesses learn from his experience.

His interests cover several technology sectors, including artificial intelligence, robotics and healthcare.

Rather than leading the daily operations of one large company, he works across a number of businesses.

That is his main professional direction today.

What Makes His Business Story Interesting?

His career started with a growing internet company.

Then he helped create a financial service based on a problem he faced himself.

Later, he became an investor.

Each stage involved different responsibilities.

At Skype, he learned how technology companies grow.

At Wise, he experienced the challenges of starting and managing a business.

At Plural and Skaala, he works with people trying to build their own companies.

The common thread is practical problem-solving.

He has often supported businesses that use technology to make an existing service work better.

Final Thought

Taavet Hinrikus built his career through companies that reached customers far beyond Estonia.

Skype gave him early experience.

Wise made him a widely recognised entrepreneur.

His later investment work opened another chapter.

Today, his public work is focused on supporting technology founders and investing in new businesses. His story shows how experience gained at one company can help an entrepreneur take on very different roles later.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Taavet Hinrikus?

He is an Estonian entrepreneur and investor who co-founded Wise and worked as Skype’s first employee.

2. How old is he?

He is 45 years old as of October 2026. His birth date is 2 June 1981.

3. What is his net worth?

Forbes estimated his net worth at $1.1 billion on 23 October 2026.

4. Who founded Wise with him?

He co-founded Wise with fellow Estonian entrepreneur Kristo Käärmann.

5. Is he still involved with Wise?

He remains a co-founder but is no longer its CEO or chairman. He left the company’s board in December 2021.

6. Where did he study?

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Tallinn University of Technology and an MBA from INSEAD.

7. Who is his wife?

Silvia Fantauzzi has been publicly identified as his partner. Reliable sources reviewed do not establish his current legal marital status.

8. What does he do in 2026?

He works as an investment partner at Plural and is also a founding partner at Skaala.