RISC Zero
RISC Zero is a technology company specializing in decentralized identity verification and boundless computation on blockchains, offering tools like zkKYC, Bonsai, and a general-purpose zkVM that are compatible with a wide range of Rust crates and designed for rapid, cost-effective development.
Services
RISC Zero offers various services aimed at revolutionizing decentralized identity verification and blockchain computation. Notably, the company provides a zkKYC demo to unlock decentralized identity verification. Their service Bonsai promises boundless computation on any blockchain. The company excels in enabling easier and faster entry into the market with a general purpose zkVM, aimed at lowering development costs. Applications built with RISC Zero also ensure significant gas fee savings, depending on protocol design.
Products
RISC Zero develops a general purpose zkVM that allows for rapid market entry and is compatible with a large percentage of Rust crates, facilitating rapid prototyping. The zkVM version 0.20 upgrade enables proof composition, unlocking the design of applications that involve multiple parties. Applications built on RISC Zero use existing computer standards, making them highly auditable by third parties and easily upgradeable through typical software development cycles. This technology demonstrates the ability to hash 10K bytes through SHA-256 in 30 seconds, achieving a 1000x faster ZK development timeline on average.
Open Source Development
RISC Zero is dedicated to an open-source model, building in the open to foster community-driven development and growth. This approach allows for public auditing and contributions, enhancing the reliability and security of their services and products. Being fully open source, the company supports the broader community in utilizing and improving their technologies.
Partners
RISC Zero collaborates with a broad range of industry giants, including Amazon, Chainsafe, Coinbase, Google, Intel, Meta, Microsoft, Mina Foundation, O(1) Labs, Ripple, SoFi, and Uber. These partnerships highlight the company's credibility and influence in the decentralized technology sector.
Leadership Team
The leadership team at RISC Zero comprises industry veterans and experts. Brian Retford serves as CEO, with Frank Laub as CTO, and Jeremy Bruestle as CSO. Joe Restivo takes on the role of SVP of Operations, with Kevin Nassery as Head of Security. Manasi Vora is the VP of Product Growth, Nicole Doyle is VP of People Ops, Tim Carstens is Principal Engineer, Brett Carter is VP of Product, and Claire Kart is the Head of Marketing. This diverse team brings extensive experience and expertise to drive the company forward.
Funding
RISC Zero successfully raised a $40 million Series A funding round, which is a significant milestone for the company's growth and development. This funding will support further advancements in their products and services, enabling them to scale their operations and broaden their market presence.