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DR. MATTHEW ADENDORFF
CO-FOUNDER
Matthew completed his PhD in Computational Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), studying on an International Science & Technology Fulbright Award. His research focused on network analysis, multi-objective optimization, and the advanced simulation of highly-dimensional systems; sparking an interest in developing robust, adaptable, and powerfully predictive analytical methods for application in the unique data environment that is modern South Africa.
He oversees the design and implementation of computational infrastructure, web app deployment, data analysis pipeline construction, and the application of machine learning algorithms for insightful processing of information.
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When not working, Matthew enjoys spending time with his wife and their two sons. He is an amateur boxer and has competed in several charity events.
DR. HEIKO HEILGENDORFF
DIRECTOR
Heiko completed his PhD in Radio Astronomy at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), in Durban, South Africa. As an experimentation specialist, his research was focused on laboratory-based electronics, on-site deployment, testing and maintenance, remote operations, and data analysis. Upon completing his degree, Heiko continued with his research as a Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Postdoctoral Fellow at UKZN, while working for Tenji as a data scientist in a part-time consulting capacity.
Heiko joined Tenji on a full time basis in April 2020. He works on data analysis and machine learning, data pipeline automation, and research to keep abreast of the latest methods in data analysis and machine learning.
Outside of work, Heiko enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, gardening, reading and sport. Heiko is also an amateur boxer, having never competed in a single boxing event.
RICHARD GEVERS
CO-FOUNDER
Richard is a product leader and entrepreneur focused on building scalable data platforms that support better decision-making across infrastructure, government, and regulated industries.
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Alongside his work at Tenji, he currently serves in a senior digital delivery role within the South African government, where he leads multidisciplinary teams building national-scale digital public infrastructure. This experience informs his approach to product design — grounding Tenji’s work in systems that must operate reliably, securely, and at population scale.
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At Tenji, Richard focuses on shaping products end-to-end, aligning data architecture, analytics pipelines, user experience, team processes, and organisational strategy into cohesive, high-impact solutions that solve real user problems.
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He is also the founder of Open Cities Lab, a civic tech organisation that has played a significant role in advancing open data and digital governance in South African cities. Across his work, Richard is motivated by openness, interoperability, and the belief that well-designed digital systems can materially improve socio-economic outcomes.
When he finds spare time, he grows his beard, brews beer, appreciates good coffee, and maintains the fiction that most of his music is played on vinyl.
