Harnessing the power of digital platforms to enable hundreds of millions of children to learn

TEAM

We're a diverse, impact-focused team with a shared vision to deliver high-quality education to the poorest. Meet our team below!

CEOs and support roles

Arne Bleckwenn

CEO

Arne Bleckwenn

Prior to EIDU, Arne founded internet companies such as Wimdu, which attracted $90mm of investment and scaled to over 15 countries. Arne also founded GameGoods and GratisPay (now Fyber). His prior work experience includes McKinsey, and coaching social entrepreneurs with Ashoka Network. MBA from WHU in Germany.

“I love working with a team of inspiring people that really want to change the world.”

Bernd Roggendorf

Founder

Bernd Roggendorf

Before starting EIDU, Bernd was the CTO and co-founder of Ableton, the global market leader in music creation software, today worth more than $100m. Bernd was an early investor in SoundCloud. Bernd studied computer science and philosophy in Hamburg and lived in Barcelona and New York.

“Having a realistic chance to solve one of the biggest problems mankind is currently facing is mind blowing. Doing this with super smart and dedicated people is an amazing honor.”

Petr Vilím

Finance, Data & Fundraising

Petr Vilim

Before joining EIDU, Petr worked as a consultant in McKinsey & Co. on operations and data-related topics across various industries. In EIDU, he gets to develop his passion for education. He is responsible for finance, fundraising and making EIDU more data-driven.

“Digital technology holds an enormous promise for solving one of the largest global problems – and it’s exciting to be contribute to the team making that happen”

Saskia Teske

HR & Office Management

Saskia Teske

Degree in law and as a foreign trade merchant. Worked voluntarily for 5 years as a teacher’s assistant with primary school students before joining EIDU in 2017. Responsible for Recruiting and the whole back office management.

“With EIDU, I have the opportunity to support those children who need it most. I believe I can help to make the world a better place for the children – they are our future.”

Operations

Ann Somoina

Field Officer

Ann Somoina

I reflect varied personality including ambition and the qualities of generosity and thoughtfulness,well determined and vigorous individual yet pleasantly calm.Worked with Telkom, Kenya as a Sales Agent and also as Customer Service Assistant at Samsung,Makarim Ltd.
Holds a diploma in Business Managment from St Paul’s University.
As a Field Officer I am responsible for trainings,field visits,follow ups and data collection.

“The society has thirst for digital education and am happy to see Eidu program greatly having an impact to millions of children in the society”

Jeniffer Onkomba

Field Officer

Jeniffer Onkomba

Worked as an ECD teacher in Kibera for over 18 years before joining EIDU in 2016 as a field agent. Responsibilities include field visits, teacher follow ups, technical support, sales, customer service, and trainings.

“I love giving back to the community, especially the community where l come from: Kibera. As EIDU, we target working with 6 million children from the poorest backgrounds, and that is very exciting.”

Jide Ayegbusi

Head of Nigeria

Jide Ayegbusi

Jide is a passionate advocate of quality and affordable education in Africa. He strongly believes in the power of technology in rewriting the future of education and preparing the next generation of Africans for amazing opportunities ahead. He is a graduate of Psychology from Adekunle Ajasin University and holds MSc. Degree in Marketing from the University of Lagos.

Mackline Migai

Tech Field Officer

Mackline Migai

Worked as a teacher and supporting NGO peace initiatives in Kibera for over 3 years. As a field officer with EIDU, experience includes data collection, tech support, teacher training, and user testing.

“I love working with EIDU because I am so passionate about the helping the children and society. Along with the fact that eidu helps in academic growth, it also promotes National Cohesion which is a key thing to our Schools and the society at large.”

Maria Mwangi

Office Administrator

Maria Mwangi

Maria holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Community Resource management from Kenyatta University. She has experience working in Admin and Sales in various companies in Kenya. At EIDU she coordinates with the team to implement operational activities, manage relationships with suppliers and service providers and support the rest of the team in company activities within the budget constraints.

“EIDU provides a lasting and sustainable solution of rebuilding societies through providing quality education to the less fortunate child. I am happy to be part of achieving this great cause.”

Max Dohna

Head of Growth Africa

Max Dohna

Max built up EIDU in Kenya and will be driving the expansion to other countries. He studied Economics, founded an international pre-school, and holds a Ph.D. in Psychology.

“EIDU provides an unparalleled opportunity to help millions of children lead healthier and happier lives. It’s one of the biggest challenges humanity faces and one of the most rewarding to solve.”

Mercy Robert

Sales & Operations Manager

Mercy Robert

‘Sales is not about selling anymore, but about building trust and education’- Siva Devaki-

Worked in sales and marketing for 5 years at Safaricom, rising up the ranks from brand ambassador to account relationship manager in the enterprise business unit. Bachelor’s in Science from Kenyatta University, with Diploma in Marketing & Advertising from Zetech University. I love learning how to integrate adaptive and agile processes and operational execution to meet and surpass targets.

“I long for a society that creates an equal opportunity for every individual, no matter the background you come from, to thrive and be the best versions of themselves. I personally believe education is one of the ways of achieving this and hence my decision to join EIDU.”

Victoria Madeda

Field Officer

Victoria Madeda

Worked as a teacher in Kibera before joining EIDU in 2015 working in sales, training, and technical support to customers in the field.

“Always happy to see learners, especially the less privileged, exposed to digital experience and be victorious in their education.”

Product

Bassem Elshaer

Product Manager

Bassem Elshaer

Started working in software development and analytics, before shifting to product management and design. Bachelor’s in software engineering, Master’s in business management and digitalization. International work experience includes Malaysia, Denmark, Germany, and Kenya. I have a strong passion for design and bridging multicultural gaps.

“I love working for EIDU as we are working every day on one of the biggest global challenges of achieving global equality utilizing cutting edge technologies and Innovation methods. Working closely in Kenya with teachers and students, I am able to dig into their daily problems and witness the positive impact we are driving for them”

Frankline May

UI/UX Designer

Frankline May

Energetic, creative problem-solver with over 8 years of experience in UI/UX design. Prior work experience includes Jubilee Insurance and SafeBoda. Responsible for shaping the user experience by applying design thinking methodologies to discover user needs and ultimately define solutions that help make people more successful.

“Our goal is not to create a deliverable at EIDU. It’s to change something in the world; To make an impact in early childhood education.”

Kellen Makumi

Customer Service Agent

Kellen Makumi

Kellen supports the Product team as a consultant. In her own classes, she witnessed how EIDU can help develop the talents of children and impart useful skills. She is therefore always eager to work with new schools and takes pride in furthering EIDU’s mission. Her passion for teaching led her to graduate in ECDE at the Premise Africa Development Institute.

Marc Trompetter

Freelance Visual Designer

Marc Trompetter

Degree in Media Design and Bachelor in Visual Communication. Started freelancing at the age of 17. His humorous and playful work has been exhibited in galleries and art-festivals all over the world. He can master classic drawing techniques as well as animation and moving images.

“At EIDU, I can combine what I love: Illustration, Animation, Graphic Design and explore other fields like UI and game design. Also it’s super interesting and challenging to design for a totally different continent.”

Maximilian Brehm

Product Manager

Maximilian Brehm

MSc in Computer Science at Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI). Training in human-centered design at HPI School of Design Thinking. Joined EIDU as a Developer in Berlin, and shifted to a Product Manager in Nairobi.

“We are developing a digital learning solution that I would have wanted when I went to school in Germany. Pioneering it in the slums of Kenya, where it is most needed, makes working on it even better.”

Morris Ndungu

Customer Service Agent

Morris Ndungu

Customer service professional for 4 years working for a Kenyan m-commerce company. Bachelor’s in Commerce from the Multimedia University of Kenya. I enjoy using a customer focused approach to solving teacher’s complex problems in the field.

“EIDU gives you a positive cause that you can always believe in, every day that you wake up. As someone on the frontline, I have the privilege of seeing the impact EIDU makes and I am proud to be part of this digital revolution.”

Education

Nina Bolte

Educational expert

Nina Bolte

Over 6 years of experience heading a Kindergarten, and 2 years of experience as an early childhood teacher in Germany. Experience includes training teachers and early childhood consultancy. Masters in developmental psychology from the University of Amsterdam, and Master’s in pedagogical science from the University of Modena. Her passion is ensuring better opportunities and increased learning for the most vulnerable of groups: the young child.

“I love helping EIDU achieve its goals, which means supporting children to reach theirs. Nothing can beat that. I also love working in a truly multicultural team, which is a gift that keeps on giving.”

Data science

Aidan

Data Scientist

Aidan

MA in Mathematics and Political Economy. Started out as an econometrician before delving into the world of machine learning, working in a variety of industries and settings, interspersed with volunteering with educational projects in the UK and Tanzania.

“Despite it being fundamental to society, it is still surprisingly unclear how we can effectively measure and evaluate improvements in education. It is a complex problem that we can solve for the benefit of everyone through EIDU’s work.”

Engineering

Felix Engelhardt

Tech Lead

Felix Engelhardt

Felix has worked in software engineering all his life, but also has a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development. He strongly cares about global social justice and the environment.

“I am driven by making products that help people, and EIDU gives me the perfect environment to do it. With EIDU, I have found an opportunity to utilise my skills toward a purpose I believe in.”

Jonas

Head of Engineering

Jonas

Diploma in Comparative Religious Sciences. Experience working in IT, development and management with a focus on people processes. Responsibilities are to facilitate communication and adjust processes for increased efficiency and happiness in the workplace. He has a weakness for cities starting with B, and has worked in Bonn, Bremen, Barcelona and Berlin.

“I love to see my work have a direct purpose and meaningful impact for the better.”

Kennedy I. Wesley

QA Specialist

Kennedy I. Wesley

An experienced Software Quality specialist who takes pride in providing the best software possible. Masters Degree in Project Management from the University of Nairobi. When not keeping busy with work, you can find him enjoying the cool breeze on the sandy beaches of Diani, in Kenya.

“At EIDU, one gets to witness first-hand the impact of technology on the vulnerable in society. I am proud of my contributions towards advancing a cause with such a great impact!“

Krste Tashonov

Senior Software Engineer

Krste Tashonov

Works in software development with a focus on programming for 10 years. Experience from across the spectrum from low level libraries to serverless infrastructures. BSC degree in Computer Sciences and Technologies. From Northern Macedonia, currently living and working in Berlin for EIDU. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, hiking and snowboarding.

“I enjoy figuring out the building blocks of society and rearranging them to do better for all. I believe that problems in education are the root cause of today’s problems, and I love that I have the opportunity to fix them.”

Maxim Modestov

Senior Software Engineer

Maxim Modestov

10 years of professional experience in developing multiplayer video games, with many released titles on various platforms. From his first line of code, his passion is programming. At EIDU he loves having the opportunity to apply his skills to improve society.

“For me, EIDU is a nice team that has fun solving complex problems and working on an ambitious goal of enhancing the education process.”

Merlin Pahic

Senior Software Engineer

Merlin Pahič

Merlin particularly enjoys functional programming and has a passion for clean code and TDD. In his spare time he volunteers with BridgeTroll, tutoring programming. He enjoys singing and playing the ukulele.

“I’m really excited to work on the EIDU apps and glad to be a part of improving many children’s access to education.”

Rose

Head of Customer Service

Rose

10 years of experience in client relationship management and sales in the banking and telecommunications industry, with prior experience co-founding a pre-school and secondary school. MBA in Marketing from the University of Nairobi and B.Ed from Kenyatta University. I have a strong passion for Education.

“Working for EIDU is not just another job. It is doing something I love. It is a joy dealing with teachers everyday and hearing how EIDU program has transformed the lives of the learners and made work easier for them. We are truly making a difference.”

Anne Ayot

Office Administrator

Anne Ayot

Worked as a teacher in Kibera for 9 years before joining EIDU as a customer service representative, training manager, and field team manager.

“I love working with children. Quoting mother teresa: “It’s not about how much you do, but how much love you put into what you do” For me, that is making children enjoy learning through EIDU.”