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:

• Alex Eberts

  Chaos Wrangler

  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.

  

• Austin Hill

  Executive Instigator

  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 and books about Changing the World.

  A full list of exploits and affiliations is here.
  He blogs at Billions with Zero Knowledge.
  Follow him on Twitter. Friend him on Facebook.

  

• Benoit Domingue

  Frontend Ninja

  In between two espressos, Benoit is working hard to build a dynamic experience for Akoha users! When he’s not trying to get that perfect crema, he’s using his kung-fu to change the way we think of a web page. Offline, he can be found riding on some steep slope or hiking some faraway peak.

  

• Daniel Cuenca

  Frontend Apprentice

  Daniel is a student at the École de technologie supérieure who loves everything about software architecture. When he is offline, he plays guitar or basketball, maybe doing some outdoor activities or just taking the time to relax.

  

• Eric St-Jean

  Chief Geek and Lead Bug Assigner

  Éric hates the third person or using an uppercase “i” to refer to himself. Having spent most of my time dabbing in aerospace electronics, systems and software, my love for Python, for startups and for dark office spaces brought me to Akoha. The awesome team, our engaging project, easy access to Coco-Rico chicken and our red Swingline stapler keep me there. Offline, i like biking in to work in a blizzard cursing all the drivers who cut me off, playing with PICs, reading geeky magazines and hacking my HVAC system. i do blog, but only sporadically, and you can also find me on that other social network.

  

• Georges Duverger

  Frontend Pirate

  Georges moved from the old continent to express his love of simplicity, freshness and usable user interfaces. Hopefully, you will find that love throughout Akoha! If he’s not meditating at his desk, your best chance to find him is the nearest cinema, whether in the audience or behind the projector.

  

• Harlene Weijs

  Taskrobat

  Formally trained as a trapeze artist in the Art World circus, Harlene is fresh on the 9–5 adventure circuit. Famous for her ambitious and enthusiastic scheduling acrobatics, she exhibits remarkable skill as she dares to juggle a multitude of fiery appointments and razor-sharp meetings. Her performances are sure to amaze as she performs incredible feats of calender contortion. Her stunts include: cannonballing herself head first into projects, walking the timeline tightrope, and making office supplies and croissants aux amandes appear from thin air. She can be found clowning around under the Akoha big top, taming the lions of the executive world, and miming her way through the day.

  

• Malini Das

  Apprentice Ninja

  Malini is a student of the University of Waterloo, who’s training to be a Python ninja. When not hacking at code with mad dual-wielding keyboard skills, she enjoys wearing sunglasses at night, taking excessively sleazy pictures, and playing guitar to progressive death metal.

  Feel free to e-mail her

  

• Martin Paquette

  Python Charmer

  Martin finished his Bachelor of Computer Science in 2006 at Sherbrooke University. When he’s not trying to wrestle vicious constrictors on the backend or reading some Django stuff, he likes to play hockey, snowboarding, skiing and wakeboarding. He also likes to go fishing to relax under the sun while listening to the waves (which is a good excuse to drink beer with friends!)

  He can be found on Facebook.

  

• Maxime Dupuis

  Apprentice Frontend Code Wrangling Ninja Instigator

  Maxime is a self-learner who finds interests in the open source world. He’s a student at the University of Sherbrooke. When not using his micro to code efficiently, he plays video games, takes photographs or just has a beer with friends.

  Take a look at his virtual life.
  Follow his blog.
  Follow him on Twitter.
  Friend him on Facebook.

  

• Rosalie Zegarelli

  Assistant Controller

  Rosalie will gladly endure forty minutes of morning traffic any day to work with an energetic and positive team. With practical software and her trusty pocket calculator, Rosalie hustles to tackle Akoha’s monthly accounting cycle. At the end of the day, she meets imposing deadlines, handles administrative requests, and answers employee inquiries, all with an affirmative smile. When she is not surrounded by mountains of paperwork, Rosalie indulges in her pastime of cooking (and eating) new recipes. She enjoys the occasional run and a great read. Most of all, she appreciates any quality time with her daughter (even though it can get loud).

  

• 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.

  

• Todd Brown

  El Luchador Financiero

  Heavyweight champion in tech finance and administration circuits since the age of the Aztecs. His specially crafted woollen mask is meant to keep his head warm for mind numbing spreadsheets. The abacus is his weapon of choice, but is only used when investors question his assumptions. Despite all this brute force, he masterfully finesses his graphs and always makes the board of directors go “ooohhhh”. His hobbies include, but are not limited to, taking Polaroids, surfing couches, and general tomfoolery.