North Africa Dreamin' 2026

Hicham is a grounded force in a noisy world - a builder, a thinker, and a technologist whose brilliance is matched only by his humility. From modest origins to helming one of the most masterfully architected suites of Lightning components on the Salesforce AppExchange, Hicham’s journey is rooted in devotion to his craft and guided by a deep sense of purpose and integrity.

With over two decades of experience - from engineering solutions for global enterprise software companies, to blazing a trail as a Salesforce Technical Architect, to ultimately co-founding GridMate - Hicham has earned a reputation as one of the most respected minds in the ecosystem. But it’s not just his technical genius that sets him apart. It’s the way he shows up: with an unwavering commitment to doing right by people - employees, customers, partners, and anyone fortunate enough to cross his path.

As CTO, Hicham is less interested in the spotlight and more invested in nurturing the foundation that holds everything together. He solves problems before they surface. He builds with intention and delivers with care. And somehow, even with a plate perpetually full, he remains remarkably accessible - always making time to listen, to guide, to lend a helping hand, or simply be present.

Those who work with him will tell you: Hicham doesn’t just write great software. He builds great people. His leadership style is anchored in openness, fairness, and the firm belief that the best kind of tech culture is a human one - where everyone has what they need to thrive, and no one is too busy to care. And every now and then, his refreshingly dry humor slips through, reminding us all that greatness and warmth don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Beyond the day-to-day of steering GridMate’s product roadmap to ever-greater heights or juggling the demands of a lean, fast-moving team, Hicham finds joy in slow, soulful things - experimenting in the kitchen, perfecting a hearty meal, playing a relaxed round of golf with his kids, or spending unrushed, meaningful time with his family.

From his humble beginnings in Sri Lanka to building a life in the U.S. and co-founding one of the most beloved tools on the Salesforce AppExchange, Rey is living proof that the American Dream isn’t a distant ideal or a slogan - it’s a reality you build, brick by brick, belief by belief. His story is less about luck or shortcuts, and more about relentless drive: see the gap, solve the problem, uplift the people around you while you’re at it.

As CEO, Rey steers the ship with bold vision, hands-on leadership, and a deep instinct for human connection. Strategic to the core and electric in person, he’s best known in the ecosystem for his unmatched charisma, his signature combination of honest grit and contagious optimism, and of course, his iconic selfie pose.

GridMate’s approach to both sales and support shares the same blueprint - one authored by Rey, and built on human-first values and a steadfast commitment to serve. That ethos was shaped during Rey’s early years in the hospitality industry, where he first embraced the principle of service above all else - a mindset he carried with him into tech, and one that’s now embedded in GridMate’s DNA. From the first demo to every post-sale interaction, his philosophy of responsive, proactive service shapes the way GridMate shows up - and it’s the reason our customer reviews so often mention not just what we build, but how we treat the people who use it.

Driven by a fierce tenacity, Rey is all about turning setbacks into stepping stones, and fueling that same spirit across the team. His mantra? “You never lose; you either win or you learn.” He’s the first to high-five a wild new idea, the last to let anyone feel left behind, and the reason GridMate doesn’t just work well - it feels great to be a part of.

Outside of his double-booked calendar, whirlwind event circuits, and spontaneous cross-continental check-ins, Rey’s all about the simple joys: smashing rallies on the pickleball court, recharging with the occasional Netflix gem, or soaking up quality time with his wife and son - the real MVPs behind his every move.

When new features are ready for takeoff here at GridMate, Otmane is the one clearing the runway. He’s our end-to-end testing and documentation maestro - meticulously catching bugs, ironing out kinks, and translating the technical into crystal-clear help centre guides that users swear by.

Armed with a Bachelor’s in Computer Programming, a Master’s in Software and Applications, and over seven years in the field, he brings an exceptional balance of precision, patience, and polish. His testing mindset is forensic, and his documentation is nothing short of user manual magic.

Off-screen, Otmane recharges in motion - hiking trails, chasing fresh air, and diving into documentaries on everything from food anthropology to cutting-edge tech. If curiosity were a superpower (and we think it is), he’d be in cape and boots.

Ali is a man of few words and great impact. With an engineering degree in Computer Science and over two years of experience as a Salesforce developer, he brings steady focus and consistent follow-through to everything from building new features to diving into support without skipping a beat.

Sharp in execution and reliable without needing recognition, Ali handles whatever’s handed to him with finesse - no noise, no fuss, just results. Whether he's tackling a new project or smoothing out a tricky bug, he does it all with effortless composure and zero fanfare.

Off the clock, you’ll find him on the padel court, at the gym, or catching up with friends - recharging with the same balance and intentionality he brings to his work.

Ilyasse is proof that great engineers don't just write clean code - they explain it well too. Five Salesforce certifications and years of consulting on complex, high-stakes projects back up his technical expertise. But talk to him for five minutes, and it's the clarity that stands out first.

He's structured without being rigid, always looking for a better way to do things. Some days it's a tricky flow that needs untangling, other days it's a stakeholder conversation that needs steering - either way, Ilyasse handles it like it's all part of the same job. And in English, French, or Arabic, he makes the conversation easy no matter who's on the other side.

Off the clock, Ilyasse lives and breathes football, a lifelong Real Madrid and Morocco supporter through every high and low. He's a movie buff, a self-declared "karaoker," and rarely far from his next startup idea.