Taavet Hinrikus

Taavet Hinrikus is a highly influential figure in the European tech ecosystem, renowned as the co-founder of Wise (formerly TransferWise) and a prolific angel investor. His journey began at Skype, where he served as the director of strategy until 2008, gaining invaluable experience in scaling a global technology company. This operational background profoundly shapes his investment philosophy, positioning him as a founder-friendly investor who understands the intricacies of building and growing disruptive businesses.

Hinrikus transitioned from a successful operator to a significant capital allocator, initially as an active angel investor. He has personally backed over 100 companies, demonstrating a broad interest across sectors like fintech, SaaS, deep tech, and B2B solutions. His investments are often characterized by a focus on early-stage companies with strong technical foundations and ambitious founders. Beyond capital, he provides strategic guidance, leveraging his experience from Wise's journey to becoming a multi-billion dollar public company.

More recently, Hinrikus co-founded Plural Platform, a venture capital firm established in 2022 with a substantial fund of €250 million (approximately $270 million USD). Plural's mission is to back the next generation of European tech giants, primarily investing in seed to Series A rounds. Through Plural, the typical first cheque size ranges from €1 million to €10 million, translating to approximately $1.08 million to $10.8 million USD, reflecting a commitment to providing meaningful capital to early-stage ventures.

His investment approach, whether as an angel or through Plural, emphasizes deep engagement with founders, offering not just financial support but also mentorship, network access, and hands-on operational advice. This 'founders backing founders' ethos makes him a highly sought-after investor for startups aiming for global scale and impact.