Zeko Labs has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding round. The investment, led by UOB Venture Management, Signum Capital, and YBB Capital, marks a significant milestone for the company as it accelerates the development of Zeko Protocol, a cross-chain zero-knowledge scaling protocol.
Built on Mina and developed in collaboration with o1Labs and Mina Foundation, the protocol aims to empower developers with advanced zero-knowledge proof capabilities. These capabilities open up new horizons for the creation of both Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and non-EVM applications, promising to revolutionize sectors spanning finance, AI, gaming, and the broader internet.
Evan Kereiakes, CEO of Zeko Labs, said: “With this funding, we are well-positioned to accelerate the development of the Zeko Protocol and to inspire more developers to push the boundaries of what is possible with blockchain technology.”
The funding round saw participation from a consortium of early-stage investors, including Autonomy Capital, Cogitent Ventures, GBV, Tenzor Capital, 3Commas Capital, ArkGrow, AVID3, Cryptonauts, Nox Holdings, NxGen.xyz, SkyVision Capital (SVC), and Presto Labs. Their support underscores the industry’s recognition of Zeko Labs’ potential to reshape the future of decentralized applications.
At the heart of the Zeko Protocol are zero-knowledge applications (zkApps), which combine end-user privacy with recursive proof aggregation. These zkApps form the foundation for a wide range of transparent, decentralized services across various sectors.
By prioritizing scalability, data security, and interoperability, the Zeko Protocol aims to empower individuals globally while lowering barriers to entry for developers and enterprises.
The newly secured funding will be allocated towards expanding Zeko Labs’ team, accelerating product development, nurturing the developer community, and forging strategic partnerships within the blockchain and traditional software sectors.
Ambitious developers and forward-thinking institutions are encouraged to explore the recently released MVP and embark on building the next generation of zkApps that promise to redefine our way of life.