Our Team
Matt Mims, Co-founder and CEO
Matthew has worked in several globally significant banks in a number of roles, across both strategy and execution. Spanning investment, retail and wealth banking, his achievements have included designing and deploying bank-wide business critical applications, managing multimillion pound strategic partnership negotiations and leading the integration of a core banking platform with downstream regulatory and financial systems.
Having worked on several startups and social enterprises alongside his financial services career, Matthew has been advising Fintech startups since 2013.
Sofie Blakstad, Founder and CIO
Prior to founding hiveonline, Sofie has held senior roles in technology development, system architecture, infrastructure delivery and business transformation , having built technology and businesses for eight major international banks in more than 60 countries, with projects worth over USD 1bn. Sofie has written two books including Fintech Revolution (with Rob Allen) and multiple research papers, delivered 5 core banking systems, multiple payment systems and led transformation of Citigroup’s technology and retail operations.
Sofie advises international organisations on sustainable applications of blockchain. She is Chair of the Edinburgh Futures Institute FI and Fintech advisory board and holds an MSc in Informatics. Sofie has twice been included in the Innovate Finance’s Women in Fintech Powerlist.
Qusai Alfaki, Dev Team Lead
Having graduated with a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Tel Aviv, Israel, he had a stint in the automotive industry before deciding to pursue his passion for software development. Qusai is passionate about building software that impacts people’s lives positively.
Qusai is a software engineer with extensive experience in building high quality software solutions. He has worked on multiple customer-facing projects with great UI and straightforward user experience.
Jean Pierre Habinshuti, Lead Developer
Jean Pierre holds a Master’s Degree in IT from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Computer Engineering From National University of Rwanda.
Prior to joining hiveonline, Jean Pierre worked as head of research and development for a mobile money aggregating company where he designed and implemented distributed and reusable micro-services based software systems to extend services to last mile users.
Emmanuel Annor, Software Developer
Emmanuel holds a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering From Ashesi University.
He is a multi-faceted personality with immense curiosity with interest in areas like Software Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Organization & Architecture, Internet of Things, and Digital Systems Design. Emmanuel’s goal is to pursue a career that would be truly impactful.
Jean Paul Nishimirwe, Backend Developer & Security Engineer
Jean Paul Nishimirwe is an accomplished professional with a strong academic background and a passion for software and cloud DevOps engineering. He holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Rwanda.
With a focus on research and software development, Jean Paul’s experience includes his role as a research associate at Carnegie Mellon University, where he made significant contributions to projects such as the Digital Public Goods Interoperability platform, Open Data portal, and DHIS2 customization. His expertise lies in backend software development and ensuring software security.
Known for his commitment to delivering exceptional results, Jean Paul constantly seeks to enhance the value of his work.
Henintsoa Rakotoarisaona, Project Coordinator & Researcher
Henintsoa is passionate about sustainable sourcing and believes in empowering communities through entrepreneurial opportunities. She has a multidisciplinary background with experience in project management, scientific research, and in consulting with NGOs and tech companies. Henintsoa oversees projects relating to hiveonline’s products, as well as research and sales.
Henintsoa holds a Bachelors degree in Environmental Sciences and Management from Utah Valley University, a Master’s in Environmental Management and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco.
Lilian Muthoni Maina, Project Manager, Kenya
Lilian is deeply committed to empowering marginalised communities to attain self-sufficiency. With extensive experience in program management, training, and capacity building, she has worked with farmers and refugee clients in Kenya, overseeing grant disbursement, training, and monitoring and reporting program activities.
Lilian’s current role involves overseeing the effective execution of hiveonline’s projects by equipping partners with the necessary skills and knowledge to attain their desired milestones.
She holds a Master’s of Science in Finance from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor’s in Business Management with a major in Finance from Masinde Muliro University.
Our Board
Johanna Campion, Board Member
After graduating from Cass Business School in London with a BSc in Banking and International Finance, Johanna spent 25 years in investment banking providing strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and other capital raising with a particular focus on media and telecom.
She started her career with Merrill Lynch, and then worked for Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers. More recently she spent six years as Global Head of Telecom, Media and Technology for Societe Generale.
She now has a portfolio of activities including NED at Web Financial Group SA in Madrid and NED at The Conduit Club in London as well as Venture Partner at Aerospace Xelerated (formerly the ATI Boeing Accelerator) in London. She also mentors at various programs including Metro Xcel Hospitality Digital, Techstars, Ignite and Collider and is an active early stage investor.
Our Advisors
Rob Allen, IT / Blockchain Advisor
Following experience building Payments and Transactional Ledger Systems in some of Europe’s largest banks, Rob has built the Fintech practice and the innovative Vulcan Digital Asset Services business for PwC Australia. As well as leadership of large, complex programs and portfolios, Rob has extensive experience building engineering solutions in challenging environments and has a passion for promoting inclusion in developing economies. Rob, a Chartered Engineer, is also a committed conservationist with a focus on marine and shark conservation.
Rob is a board member of the Australian Payments Council and is industry advisor to the Australian Digital Commerce Association (ADCA). He is co-author of Fintech Revolution with Sofie Blakstad.
Our Investors
Torbjörn Nilsson, Sebbot Invest
Torbjörn Nilsson developed the family company Bandstål into a profitable steel service center with clients all over Scandinavia. Today he is the majority holder in a group of Swedish engineering companies with impressive track records.
Sebbot Invest is a holding company that acquires and develops companies.
Håkan Birging, Cryptowell
Cryptowell invests in companies, startups and projects related to fintech and blockchain technology. We believe in the arising blockchain revolution and its true disruptive powers. The distrubuted ledger aka blockchain has the capacity to support quantum leaps in areas like traditional financial markets, sustainability, green finance and socioeconomics.
Cryptowell is an atypical venture capital firm that emerged from the craft of mining Litecoin.
Knud Lundgaard-Karlshøj, Kigkurren 2
Kigkurren 2 invests in companies, digital startups and projects that strives to make a
positive difference in the world. This could be energy savings, improving health for elderly or services to create better access to finance for the unbanked population.
Knud, has an academic background within finance and IT and working experience from, consultancy, development finance and as an entrepreneur.
Techstars Accelerator
Techstars is a US based accelerator programme that consistently ranks #1 or #2 globally, to which less than 1% of applicants typically are accepted. hiveonline was honoured to be invited to apply for the Berlin cohort of 2019, helping to shape business and marketing strategy and introducing us to an enormous mentor and alumni network.
As well as Techstars’ investment in hiveonline, Techstars continues to support us through their network and as advisers.