Our Team
Akoha is a startup project formed by a small team of web developers who are passionate about the power of play. We believe that we can use online communities to make the world a better place.
We really enjoy getting involved in grassroots activities. We participate in the local technology scene by helping with BarCamp, Montreal Python, and StartupCamp.
Because we think that sharing is so important, we use and contribute to lots of free and open source software. We intend to release many of our technologies back to the community.
We’re proud of our team who include entrepreneurs, troublemakers, developers and artists. Akoha was founded in 2006 and has come to include these crazy characters:
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Alex Eberts
Chaos Wrangler (VP Products and Co-Founder)
Alex has been starting companies before they started letting him vote. Equal parts lover and fighter, Alex can debate the finer points of social entrepreneurship while he puts you in an hiji-jime elbow lock. When he’s not knee deep in feature specifications and paper prototypes, Alex can be found watching documentaries and reading books about evolution and complex systems (though not usually at the same time). When nervous, Alex can be calmed with 80% dark Ecuadorian chocolate.
To stalk Alex you can friend him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
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Alain Wong
Community Caretaker
Fresh off his previous adventures — working at his first startup and then riding his bike down the Pacific coast — Alain will do anything to put a smile on your face. Having studied business, law and the art of gifting, he works hard everyday to keep the the Akoha team focused on you, the player. More than anything, Alain is a good listener — so don’t be shy!
In his spare time, you can find Alain cutting a rug to traditional jazz, teaching Lindy Hop, DJ’ing, and blogging about the swing dance scene.
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Austin Hill
Executive Instigator (CEO and Co-Founder)
Austin is a long time entrepreneur, avid reader, and likes to think of himself as an OK kind of guy. He’s an active speaker (he speaks in a loud voice every day). In between angel investing, trying to make the world a better place, and leading the Akoha team, he tries to find time to read voraciously and tame his inbox. He’s active in the Canadian technology community as an angel investor and venture advisor wearing many other hats (when not in his trademark Kangol).
Austin reads most everything with an interest in Business Books, Legal/Military/Crime Fiction, Anthropology, Sci-Fi, Biographies, Economics and books about Changing the World. He is also known to travel and watch movies.
You learn more about his adventurous life and his exploits and affiliations here.
He blogs at Billions with Zero Knowledge.
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Erik Wright
Geek Ringleader
Erik joined his first Internet startup at the tender age of 15 and hasn’t looked back. Over the years, he has developed a passion for good software development matched only by his desperate need for an after-lunch espresso. Along the way, for reasons that remain obscure, he has earned the nickname “Doctor”. In his next life, Erik would like to wear the polka dot jersey.
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Juan Pablo Di Lelle
Software Janitor
Juan has been writing software since The Monolith first appeared on Earth. When he’s not banging on source code with a stick, Juan rescues guinea pigs from testing labs and uncaring pet owners. Heeding his sifu’s advice, Juan often stays in the shadows. Yet, you can sometimes catch him demonstrating Chi Qong in Old Montreal, or at a local café enjoying organic Darjeeling green tea with some carrot cake.
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Mark Macleod
Chief Money Guy (CFO)
Hailing from the Isles of Scotland, Mark’s frugal nature makes him genetically programmed to be a CFO. Since 1998, Mark has been leading finance for venture-backed technology startups. His previous adventures include Silanis Technology (AIM: SNS), Hexago, Terrascale Technologies (bought by Rackable Systems - NASDAQ: RACK) and Mobivox. Currently, he is CFO for Tungle and Akoha. He also advises several other web startups.
When not chasing term sheets, closing deals or digging into operating stats, Mark likes to pop on his headphones and rock out. A former nightclub DJ (aren’t all CFOs?) Mark’s modeling prowess is enhanced by loud beats.
Mark combines his dual passions of writing and startups on his StartupCFO blog. He also hosts a social network for tech CFOs and entrepreneurs. You can find him on Twitter.
Mark is a Chartered Accountant and holds an MBA from McGill. He has also perfected the art of staring coldly over his glasses when people ask to spend money.
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Simon Law
Drunken Master
At Akoha, Simon Law does anything and everything that needs to get done. Simon Law has empirical proof that the Ballmer peak exists. Simon Law has too many clocks and not enough time. Simon Law hacks on free software when he can get away with it. Simon Law is unafraid of Google and is on too many social networks. Simon Law can’t stop writing in the third-person.
We’re also proud to have a small, but strong group of alumni.
