Silicon Valley Innovation
Our founders have built and scaled multiple world-class technology products and companies in Silicon Valley.
Developing World Experience
We spent several years running a successful micro-finance bank in Africa, so we understand the challenges and opportunities of the developing world first-hand. The financial inclusion apps we designed to run our own financial institution won industry awards for innovation, and changed the game for aspiring entrepreneurs throughout Africa.
Changing the Game
We created DreamStart Labs to bring the innovation of Silicon Valley to the world of global poverty alleviation with unparalleled excellence, impact and scale.
Leadership Team
Wes Wasson, CEO
Wes has 20+ years experience building and growing successful technology companies. Prior to co-founding DreamStart Labs, he served as a senior executive and board member at several large public tech companies and fast-growing startups. Wes is a frequent industry speaker and was voted “Top Executive Leader in Silicon Valley” by the San Francisco Bay Area News Group in 2010. He also lead an award-winning micro-finance institution in West Africa, where he helped hundreds of entrepreneurs access affordable loans to start small businesses.
Wes has 20+ years experience building and growing successful technology companies. Prior to co-founding DreamStart Labs, he served as a senior executive and board member at several large public tech companies and fast-growing startups. Wes is a frequent industry speaker and was voted “Top Executive Leader in Silicon Valley” by the San Francisco Bay Area News Group in 2010. He also lead an award-winning micro-finance institution in West Africa, where he helped hundreds of entrepreneurs access affordable loans to start small businesses.
Henrik Esbensen, PhD, CTO
Henrik has 20+ years of experience building advanced software systems. Prior to co-founding DreamStart Labs, Henrik helped create multiple successful products with a focus on deep learning, data analytics, and high-performance computing. He holds a PhD in computer science from Aarhus University in Denmark where his research includes a world record, and post-doctoral studies at UC Berkeley in advanced algorithms.
Henrik has 20+ years of experience building advanced software systems. Prior to co-founding DreamStart Labs, Henrik helped create multiple successful products with a focus on deep learning, data analytics, and high-performance computing. He holds a PhD in computer science from Aarhus University in Denmark where his research includes a world record, and post-doctoral studies at UC Berkeley in advanced algorithms.
Steve Shema, Head of Digital Banking
Steve is a leading innovator of digital banking technology for emerging markets. In 2016, he led the world's first comprehensive survey of all informal savings groups in an entire country, documenting more than 1 million unbanked individuals across Rwanda. Inspired by this experience, he founded Exuus, an innovative FinTech with an award-winning digital wallet platform called SAVE. DreamStart Labs acquired a majority interest in Exuus in 2019.
Steve is a leading innovator of digital banking technology for emerging markets. In 2016, he led the world's first comprehensive survey of all informal savings groups in an entire country, documenting more than 1 million unbanked individuals across Rwanda. Inspired by this experience, he founded Exuus, an innovative FinTech with an award-winning digital wallet platform called SAVE. DreamStart Labs acquired a majority interest in Exuus in 2019.
Premuditha Perera, Head of Engineering
Premuditha is a seasoned technology architect and product leader with a proven track record building scalable enterprise-class cloud and mobile solutions. He is also a frequent speaker at industry events around the world.
Premuditha is a seasoned technology architect and product leader with a proven track record building scalable enterprise-class cloud and mobile solutions. He is also a frequent speaker at industry events around the world.
Baptiste Ndayisba, Head of Customer Success
Baptiste leads a global team of Customer Success representatives providing local training, support, and market development for customers across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Prior to DreamStart Labs, he was Chief Operating Officer for a leading communications agency.
Baptiste leads a global team of Customer Success representatives providing local training, support, and market development for customers across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Prior to DreamStart Labs, he was Chief Operating Officer for a leading communications agency.
Global Presence
DreamStart Labs has a global development team with extensive experience building secure successful cloud-scale systems. Our field teams are based close to customers in multiple countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
