Bold missions become reality with a capable team. SmartCap is run by professionals with investment, legal, risk management, compliance, and supervisory backgrounds.
Patrik Louko and Mari Kuhi make up our management board.
SmartCap’s Supervisory Board has five members: Ursel Velve, Ahti Kuningas, Priit Põldoja, and Matias Kaila, with Kärt Siilats serving as Chairman.
Thomas Bouvier, Mislav Tolusic, Alan Chelko and Troy A. Weeks are our Investment Committee’s external partners.
Patrik Louko
CEO & CIO
CEO & CIO
Patrik Louko has been serving as the CEO and Fund Manager of SmartCap since September 2026. He has more than 20 years of experience in investments, venture capital, and technology companies, having previously served as the Chief Investment Officer at the University of Jyväskylä, as well as in various roles across venture capital and the start-up ecosystem.
Mari Kuhi
COO
COO
Mari Kuhi joined SmartCap as head of operations and member of the management board in 2024. She brings extensive experience in the financial sector, having previously served as head of operations and member of the management board at Tuleva, an asset management company for pension funds. She also held the position of CFO at Hepsor AS. Additionally, Mari has significant expertise in financial auditing, gained during her tenure at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Maris Prii
Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff Maris Prii joined SmartCap in November 2025. She previously served as an Investment Manager at Invest New Zealand and, from 2020 to 2024, led Estonia’s investor relations and foreign direct investment (FDI) activities in the United States at the Estonian Investment Agency (Invest Estonia). Maris brings hands-on experience working with international investors and supporting the growth of ambitious, high-potential companies across different markets. She holds a degree from Tallinn University of Technology.
Robert Martin
Investment Manager
Investment Manager
Investment Manager Robert Martin joined SmartCap in 2023. Having graduated from Aarhus University, Robert has developed a strong foundation in finance and investment analysis. Prior to joining SmartCap, he worked with private loans at LHV Pank and as an Investment Analyst at a family office.
Marili Merendi
Investment Advisor
Investment Advisor
Marili Merendi, an Investment Advisor, joined SmartCap in 2025. Her prior venture capital experiences are from Karma Ventures focusing on direct investments and a family office Ambient Sound Investments leading fund-of-funds portfolio.
She holds a Master’s degree in Business Economics from University of Amsterdam.
Gioia Pucci
Investment specialist
Investment specialist
Gioia Pucci is an Investment Specialist at SmartCap, having joined the team in 2024 as an intern. She holds a degree from the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, where she built a strong foundation in economics, finance, and investment analysis. Prior to joining SmartCap full-time, she gained experience in deal advisory and financial controlling.
Maido Lillemets
Head of Legal
Head of Legal
Maido Lillemets joined SmartCap as the Head of Legal Department in 2025. He has an in depth knowledge and long term excperience from asset management sector, having previously served as in-house counsel for both pension fund managers as well as PE/VC/Infrastructure fund managers . He holds a Master’s degree in LAW from the University of Tartu.
Kristi Nurmeste
Head of Risk and Compliance
Head of Risk and Compliance
Head of Risk and Compliance Kristi Nurmeste joined SmartCap in August 2026. She has over 17 years of experience in the banking and financial sector, including at Swedbank and Luminor. Kristi has experience across industries, including pension funds, investment firms, and insurance, having held roles as a member of the management board, head of risk management, and head of legal. She holds a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Tartu.
Eva-Triin Kubpart
Lawyer
Lawyer
Lawyer Eva joined SmartCap’s team in 2024. She has previous experience as a transactional lawyer, having worked at a leading Estonian law firm where she specialised primarily in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), corporate law, and dispute resolution. Eva holds a master’s degree from the University of Tartu’s Law Faculty.
Helen Kapp
CFO
CFO
Helen Kapp, CFO, joined SmartCap team in 2023. Helen has a long term experience in financial management, acting as CFO both in public and private sector companies. Prior to joining SmartCap she worked over 10 years as CFO at Foundation KredEx, which dealt with loans and loan guarantees.
Keiro Nurme
IT and AI Manager
IT and AI Manager
Keiro Nurme joined SmartCap as Head of IT and AI in September 2026. Previously, he worked at the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, where he was responsible for IT support and administrative services and developed an organisation-wide AI strategy and training programme. Keiro has more than eight years of experience in IT and AI, as well as hands-on experience implementing artificial intelligence and training employees across both business and support functions.
