About us
Meet the team
Behind every product we build is a global team united by purpose and field experience. From Silicon Valley to Africa, Asia, and Latin America, our people bring perspectives shaped by real communities and real challenges. We are technologists, economists, designers, and field practitioners, bound by a shared belief that innovation means little if it doesn’t reach those who need it most.
Together, we represent more than a company. We represent the bridge between technology and trust, building solutions from the ground up, across continents, cultures, and time zones.
Leadership Team
Henrik Esbensen, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Henrik is a software technologist with deep expertise in fintech, artificial intelligence, machine learning acceleration, compilers, and large-scale systems optimization. He holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and a B.Sc. in Mathematics and was previously a Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. He leads DreamStart Labs as Chief Executive Officer, guiding the organization’s strategic direction, technology vision, and global growth.
Premuditha Perera
Chief Technology Officer
Premuditha is a technology leader and product strategist specializing in scalable cloud and mobile platforms. He has led engineering teams delivering enterprise-grade solutions for global companies including PayPal and is a frequent speaker at international technology events. He serves as Chief Technology Officer at DreamStart Labs, leading engineering, product architecture, and technology strategy.
Ryan Webster
Chief Financial Officer
Ryan is a financial operations professional with expertise in accounting, compliance, and financial leadership. He holds a Finance degree from Temple University and a Master’s in Management Information Systems. At DreamStart Labs, he serves as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing accounting operations and supporting executive leadership.
Teresa Gailey
Business Manager
Teresa is an operations and program management professional focused on strengthening organizational systems and delivery. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Sociology. She serves as Business Manager at DreamStart Labs, supporting program delivery, financial oversight, partnership coordination, and internal operations.
Philip Acton
Growth Manager
Philip is a banking and microfinance specialist with extensive experience across financial inclusion initiatives in Africa. He holds a degree in Economics from Trinity College Dublin and a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Southampton. He serves as Growth Manager at DreamStart Labs, advising on strategy, partnerships, and sustainable expansion.
Grace Mureithi
Director of Customer Success
Grace is a customer success and operations leader with experience across product, implementation, and team leadership. Her background spans customer success, product management, and operational strategy. She serves as Director of Customer Success at DreamStart Labs, leading global adoption and partner engagement across the organization’s digital products.
Omotola Sanni
Marketing and Communications Manager
Omotola is a marketing strategist specializing in lifecycle marketing, content strategy, and product storytelling. She holds a background in engineering and brings a systems-oriented approach to brand growth and audience engagement. She serves as Marketing and Communications Manager at DreamStart Labs, leading global marketing, communications, and strategic storytelling.
Mathisha Karunaratne
Product Manager
Mathisha is a product professional with expertise in human-centered design, product strategy, and software development. He holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science with a concentration in Human-Computer Interaction from the University of San Diego. He serves as Product Manager at DreamStart Labs, leading product development and user experience across the organization’s digital platforms.
Regional Managers
Sarah Mwaitenda
Regional Manager – East and North Africa
Sarah is a regional operations and program management professional with expertise in technology-enabled service delivery. Her background includes economics and experience supporting operations across diverse markets. She serves as Regional Manager for East and North Africa at DreamStart Labs, overseeing regional operations, customer support, and CSR initiatives.
Elisha Motsamai Matale
Regional Manager – South and West Africa
Elisha is an IT and innovation consultant with experience across technology, healthcare, and fintech. His work focuses on advancing inclusive digital solutions that expand access to financial services. He serves as Regional Manager for South and West Africa at DreamStart Labs, supporting regional partnerships and program implementation.
Hope Luswata
Regional Manager – Asia and Latin America
Hope is a technology and customer support professional with expertise in technical troubleshooting, user support, and service delivery. Her background focuses on strengthening customer experience and operational support systems. She serves as Regional Manager for Asia and Latin America at DreamStart Labs, leading regional teams and overseeing operations and performance.
Technical Managers
Ashan Liyanachchi
Delivery Manager – Engineering
Ashan is a program and delivery professional with expertise in managing complex, cross-functional technology initiatives. His background includes leading large-scale programs and translating strategy into execution across international markets. At DreamStart Labs, he serves as Delivery Manager for all engineering and technical initiatives, ensuring on-time delivery, seamless execution, and adherence to budget.
Rashmi Mendis
Technical Lead – DreamLink
Rashmi is an engineering leader with expertise in Android development, system design, and event-driven architectures. His work focuses on building scalable, resilient applications and leading teams to deliver high-quality products. He serves as Technical Lead for DreamLink at DreamStart Labs, driving architecture, execution, and team mentorship to deliver reliable, user-focused solutions.
Heshan Karunarathna
Technical Lead – DreamSave
Heshan is a full stack developer with expertise in building scalable and reliable web applications. He holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science and has experience across telecommunications and fintech, contributing to impactful, real-world solutions. He serves as Technical Lead for DreamSave at DreamStart Labs, leading development and delivery of product features and systems.
Raneesh Gomez
Technical Lead – DreamInsights
Raneesh is a software engineering leader with expertise in scalable data platforms, distributed systems, and analytics-driven architectures. His work focuses on building high-volume data pipelines and systems that support decision-making at scale. He serves as Technical Lead for DreamInsights at DreamStart Labs, leading data architecture, engineering, and analytics systems.
Keshawa Thilakarathne
Lead – Quality Assurance
Keshawa is a quality engineering leader with expertise in software quality, test strategy, and product reliability within digital financial platforms. His background focuses on ensuring system accuracy, stability, and performance across products. He serves as Quality Assurance Lead at DreamStart Labs, driving quality across mobile and web platforms through testing, automation, and validation.
Ranga Weerasinghe
Lead Designer – User Experience
Ranga is a user experience designer with expertise in digital design, media, and multidisciplinary product development. He holds a Master’s in Creative Technology from Middlesex University, London, and a B.Des in Media & Communication Design. He serves as Lead UX Designer at DreamStart Labs, leading the design of intuitive and impactful digital experiences.
Indunil Hemathilake
Senior Business Analyst
Indunil is a business analysis professional with expertise in translating business needs into technical solutions. His background spans multiple industries, supporting cross-functional teams with structured analysis and problem-solving. He serves as Senior Business Analyst at DreamStart Labs, driving requirements definition, process improvement, and data-informed decision-making.
Kachinga Mulenga
Process Automation Engineer
Kachinga is a process automation engineer with expertise in workflow optimization and internal systems support. His work focuses on improving operational efficiency through streamlined processes and technical solutions. He serves as Process Automation Engineer at DreamStart Labs, supporting internal systems and organizational workflows.
Jean-Marie Lafia
Support Desk Manager
Jean-Marie is a support and customer operations professional with expertise in marketing, translation, and customer success. His background spans user support, knowledge management, and service operations. He serves as Support Desk Manager at DreamStart Labs, overseeing the support knowledge base, performance metrics, escalations, and team training.
Darsha Vishvanath
Customer Success Insights & Enablement Lead
Darsha is an IT professional with expertise in IT management, data analytics, business intelligence, auditing, cloud and hybrid environments, and risk advisory. His background focuses on strengthening operational insights and data-driven decision-making. He serves as Customer Success Insights & Enablement Lead at DreamStart Labs while also supporting the Customer Success team in Sri Lanka.
Our culture
At DreamStart Labs, culture isn’t a poster on the wall, it’s how we show up for each other and the people we serve. We laugh often, lead with empathy, and hold ourselves to the same standard of excellence we promise our communities.
We work across borders and time zones, bound by a shared belief in dignity over dependency. We design with people, not for them. And through it all, one thing remains constant: our joy in the work and our respect for those it’s meant to serve.
Because changing the world is serious work but it doesn’t have to be joyless.