Tagline
I am a veteran technologist and serial founder building Conexus, a platform that sparks real-world connections at events through AI-matched shared interests and experiences. I've led engineering and product teams at startups and public companies for over two decades, co-founded more than half a dozen ventures, and now focusing on solving the social disconnection crisis through tech that brings people face-to-face. Backed by deep technical expertise and a long-time co-founder, I am building for impact at scale, with privacy, simplicity, and human connection at the core.
Bio
I’m Johan Wikman, a serial founder and CTO with over two decades of experience leading engineering at early-stage startups, fast-growing SaaS companies, venture-backed tech firms and public companies. I’ve co-founded more than half a dozen ventures, some with my long-time collaborator of 30+ years. I’ve shipped consumer products at scale, built high-velocity engineering teams, and navigated the complex shift from MVP to mature platform more times than I can count.
Today, I’m co-founder and CTO of Conexus, a platform that helps people connect face-to-face at live events through AI-matched shared interests and experiences. Conferences and corporate gatherings are full of missed connections. We’re fixing that, not with more screen time, but with simple, meaningful in-person conversations. At the core of our product is a belief that technology should reduce loneliness, not amplify it.
I’ve been CTO of global firms, including Appen and Opteon Solutions, and have held technical leadership roles at companies like Autodesk, Zynga, Lithium, and Siterra. I’ve also run my own consultancy, helping startups architect for scale and hire their first technical teams.
Now I’m building a company that solves for social disconnection. Most tech makes it worse and drives our eyes down into an app. Conexus uses simple AI to facilitate people coming together, eyes up, face-to-face, not feed them more content. Because the future of connection needs to be more human, not less. I’ve seen what works at scale and what breaks when it gets real. Now I’m building for impact, speed, and trust, one real-world connection at a time.
Location
Bellevue, WA, USA
Last Active
an hour ago
Name / Logo
Elevator Pitch
Conexus helps people connect in real life at events, based on who they are, not just what they do.
We use AI to match attendees by shared interests and lived experiences, facilitating meaningful conversations.
It’s plug-and-play for organizers, easy for users, and designed to turn passive networking into real moments people remember.
We’re pre-launch with strong early interest and building what we believe is the missing layer of modern events: real connection, at scale.
Industry
Technology
Website
Team Size
Just Me/Co-Founders
Funding Stage
Pre-Seed
Funding Raised
$100k to $250k
Annual Revenue
$0 to $100k
Skill | Strength | Explanation |
---|---|---|
Entrepreneurship | 95 / 100 | Serial founder with experience in co-founding multiple ventures and running a consultancy to help startups scale. |
Founder | 95 / 100 | Co-founded more than half a dozen ventures, including Conexus, with over two decades of experience in leading engineering at startups and public companies. |
Technology | 90 / 100 | Extensive experience in the technology industry, leading engineering and product teams at tech firms and startups. |
Leadership | 90 / 100 | CTO of global firms like Appen and Opteon Solutions, and held technical leadership roles at companies like Autodesk, Zynga, Lithium, and Siterra. |
Software Engineering | 90 / 100 | Led engineering teams at early-stage startups, SaaS companies, and public companies. Built high-velocity engineering teams and shipped consumer products at scale. |
Product Management | 85 / 100 | Experience in navigating the shift from MVP to mature platform and building products that solve social disconnection. |
Networking | 70 / 100 | Building Conexus to facilitate real-world connections at events through AI-matched shared interests and experiences. |
Title
Technical Leadership Roles
Position Description
Held a technical leadership roles, contributing to product development and engineering management.
Accomplishment Notes
Contributed to significant product development and engineering strategies.
Title
Founder
Position Description
Ran a consultancy to help startups architect for scale and hire their first technical teams.
Accomplishment Notes
Assisted startups in scaling and building their initial technical teams.
Title
Co-founder and CTO
Position Description
Building a platform that helps people connect face-to-face at live events through AI-matched shared interests and experiences.
Accomplishment Notes
Developed a product focused on reducing social disconnection and enhancing real-world connections.
Title
Technical Leadership Role
Position Description
Held a technical leadership role, VP of Engineering, contributing to product development and engineering management.
Accomplishment Notes
Contributed to significant product development and engineering strategies.
Title
Technical Leadership Role
Position Description
Held a technical leadership role, contributing to engineering management.
Accomplishment Notes
Contributed to significant engineering strategies.
Title
CTO
Position Description
Led global technical teams and managed engineering operations.
Accomplishment Notes
Oversaw technical leadership and strategic direction for global operations.
Title
Global CTO
Position Description
Managed technical and product teams and directed engineering efforts.
Accomplishment Notes
Provided strategic technical leadership and innovation.