Meet the Team

At the heart of Octoco.AI is a team with deep expertise in technology, entrepreneurship, and product innovation. With decades of combined experience across AI, software engineering, and business strategy, our team brings a track record of building impactful solutions and scaling ventures across diverse industries.

Nolan van Heerden

CEO

Nolan van Heerden, our CEO, is an accomplished entrepreneur with expertise in system engineering, architecture design, algorithm development, and startup strategy. He holds a degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Pretoria, providing a robust technical foundation. Nolan co-founded iKubu, the Stellenbosch-based company behind the Garmin Varia Bike Radar, acquired by Garmin Ltd. in 2015. Passionate about innovation and mentorship, he has guided over 30 entrepreneurs and supported startups in EdTech, BioTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, and IoT. At Octoco AI, Nolan's leadership drives transformative business solutions through artificial intelligence.

Heinrich de Lange

Co-Founder & Fractional CTO

Heinrich, our Co-Founder and Fractional CTO, is an experienced software engineer with a background in electronic engineering and over 10 years of experience leading software teams. Specializing in designing robust software architectures and scalable systems, he focuses on creating efficient, maintainable solutions, solving complex technical challenges, and guiding our team toward innovation and growth in software development.

Herman Lintvelt

CTO

Herman Lintvelt, our Chief Technology Officer, is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience in software development, product innovation, and building high-performance engineering teams. His career spans agile startups and enterprise-scale solutions, with a recent focus on generative AI and intelligent agent systems. As CTO of Octoco AI, Herman brings deep technical expertise and visionary thinking to deliver transformative outcomes for clients. An entrepreneur at heart, he co-founded Augmental Technologies and Wilderness Software Co., and has held senior leadership roles at LifeQ, WeThinkCode, and Custos Media Technologies. Herman's passion for innovation, which began in childhood, continues to drive impact across industries today.

Michael van der Linde

CPO

Michael van der Linde, our Chief Product Officer, is a seasoned product leader and technology entrepreneur with over 14 years of experience building and scaling global products across startups, scale-ups, and enterprise environments. His leadership spans diverse industries including HealthTech, InsureTech, Consumer, and Tourism, with a strong focus on driving innovation and product impact. Before joining Octoco AI, Michael held key roles at Augmental Technologies (as Co-founder and CPO), LifeQ, and MiX Telematics. Recognized in 2023 as one of the Mail & Guardian's 200 Young South Africans, he continues to lead with vision, helping shape transformative, AI-powered solutions for clients.

Tiaan Van der Merwe

Senior Data Scientist

Tiaan Van der Merwe is a seasoned data scientist and statistician specializing in time series modelling and computational systems biology. He has led diverse teams across industries like digital health and banking. As former Chief Data Scientist at HealthQ Technologies, Tiaan drives innovation through advanced machine learning and probabilistic modeling. A Stellenbosch University graduate with a Master's in Mathematical Statistics, he is passionate about fostering collaborative environments and leveraging data science to enhance business outcomes and human wellbeing.

Ben van Huyssteen

Software Engineer

Ben van Huyssteen, our Software Engineer, has a strong foundation in both mathematics and computing. He holds a BSc in Mathematical Statistics and Computer Science from the University of Cape Town, followed by a BSc (Hons) in Statistics. Before joining Octoco AI, he worked in computer vision, building applied systems at the intersection of data and real-world problems. He is excited to be working at the forefront of AI and AI engineering, learning from the team while building useful, impactful software. Ben brings a thoughtful approach to problem-solving, often considering challenges from multiple perspectives and contributing well-reasoned ideas and questions that help strengthen technical decisions. His honours work focused on the fisheries industry, and he is particularly interested in conservation and ecology, with a growing curiosity in AIOps, DevOps principles, product ownership, and system design, especially where these disciplines can intersect.