Taavet Hinrikus is an Estonian businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder and former Chairman of Wise plc (LSE: WISE) (formerly TransferWise), a global leader in cross-border money transfer and fintech solutions. His career is rooted in technology, finance, and entrepreneurial disruption.

Hinrikus was Skype's first employee and held a B.S. in Business Informatics from a major Estonian university. His philosophical approach centers on technological excellence, transparency, and long-term commitment to low-cost financial services (pioneering the mid-market currency exchange model). He co-founded Wise in 2011 with his co-founder, Kristo Käärmann.

• Wise plc (Co-founder & Former Chairman): The core publicly traded asset, a global leader in cross-border money transfers (known for its low-fee, transparent pricing model).
• Fintech Pioneer: His success is built on scale software development and dominating the market for integrated, low-cost international remittances (a major disruption to traditional banking).
• Investment Strategy: His philosophy is rooted in long-term investment in fintech infrastructure and leveraging the massive global shift to digital finance (especially cross-border).
• Early Career: He was Skype's first employee (a foundational role in the technology industry).

Taavet Hinrikus's strategic genius was his commitment to solving his own currency problem. He co-founded Wise (originally TransferWise) in 2011 after realizing he and his co-founder were losing money on hidden bank fees for international money transfers. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the modern cross-border remittance model that brought transparency and low fees to the global financial system. The company successfully executed its IPO on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in 2021.

He stepped down as Chairman in 2021 to focus on venture capital (through Taavet + Sten investment firm) and philanthropy. His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global fintech and payment processing sector.

Taavet Hinrikus's social impact stems from Wise's role in providing essential low-cost financial infrastructure that facilitates transparent international remittances, benefiting millions of migrant workers and small businesses globally. His personal philanthropy supports various educational and community initiatives, often focused on technology and entrepreneurial education in Estonia and the Nordic region.

His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

Taavet Hinrikus maintains the professional, composed style of a technology executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring tailored suits. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and stability, typical of a pioneer in the specialized fintech sector.

Residing in Tallinn, Estonia, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to technology innovation, strategic management, and fintech entrepreneurship.