T aavet Hinrikus is an Estonian technology entrepreneur who is the co-founder and former CEO of the fintech giant, Wise (formerly known as TransferWise). He was the very first employee of the pioneering video and voice-over-IP company, Skype, which was also founded in Estonia. His experience at Skype, which involved moving money between the UK and Estonia, exposed him to the high hidden fees charged by banks for international money transfers. This personal frustration became the inspiration for his next venture.

In 2011, he co-founded Wise with his compatriot, Kristo Käärmann. Their idea was to create a peer-to-peer money transfer platform that would offer a transparent, low-cost alternative to traditional banks. The service was a massive success, attracting millions of customers who were tired of high banking fees. Under his leadership as CEO, Wise grew into a major global fintech company, expanding its services to include multi-currency accounts and debit cards. The company's successful direct listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2021 made both founders billionaires.