Meet Our Team
Taina Mikkola
CEO, Founder
Filipe Wesley de Souza
Co-Founder, Head of Product and Operations
Mayra Alejandra Hoyos
Marketing Specialist
Sointu Koljonen
Growth Specialist
Who are we?
At Elina, we believe educators deserve tools that save time and spark creativity. Our mission is to empower teachers and childcare professionals with smart, intuitive support so they can focus on fostering meaningful learning experiences.
We’re a passionate team of innovators and creators who combine the power of AI with a deep understanding of early education. With Elina, we’re building more than just an app, we’re building a sidekick for everyday teaching.
Why We Built Elina
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Early childhood educators face growing demands, yet digital tools rarely meet their real classroom needs. Planning personalized activities is time-consuming. High-quality resources are scattered. And for many, technology feels more like a barrier than a support.
That’s where Elina comes in. Our AI assistant simplifies planning, sparks inspiration, and helps educators feel confident with tech, even if they’re not tech experts.
Elina isn’t just software. It’s a sidekick for educators, designed to ease teaching and make learning more dynamic, personal, and accessible.
For me, it’s simple: when educators have time and energy, children get the very best of them and that’s where real learning happens.
Taina, Founder & CEO
Our Vision & Values
We’re reshaping the teaching experience and building a world where every child benefits from education that’s personalized, engaging, and delivered by empowered, supported educators.
These values are at the core of Elina and our actions.
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Empower educators – giving teachers tools that save time and spark creativity.
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Keep it simple – making technology intuitive and approachable for everyone.
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Inspire learning – creating dynamic, personalized activities that excite children.
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Build together – listening to educators and evolving Elina with their needs.
What we believe in
Think Big
Bold ideas and continuous learning drive real change. By scaling impact and improving ourselves, we make educators’ everyday work easier so they can focus on children’s learning, well-being and growth.
Act Responsibly
We take responsibility for our work, aiming for sustainability, cost-efficiency, and thoughtful decisions that respect educators’ time and energy while serving their long-term well-being.
Collaborate to Make a Difference
Working closely with educators, we value their insights and build solutions together through partnerships to create meaningful impact.