Keshav Pandya - Leading Telecom Professional in Blockchain Innovation and Transformation

Keshav Pandya, COO, Co-founder, Zeebu

I am Keshav Pandya, the COO and Co-founder of Zeebu, a passionate innovator and an early player in the blockchain industry with close to a decade of experience. My journey into the world of blockchain and fintech began with a deep interest in technology and business. From a young age, I was captivated by the potential of technology to solve real-world problems, and this passion has guided my career ever since.

I started my professional journey managing one of the largest fintech and blockchain platforms in India, where I gained extensive experience in developing and implementing blockchain solutions. This role allowed me to build and onboard multiple organizations onto blockchain platforms, significantly enhancing their operational efficiency and technological capabilities.

As a serial entrepreneur, I have been involved in numerous blockchain initiatives, helping to shape the industry and drive technological advancements. My work has included building comprehensive tokenization strategies for various funds and assisting banks, mobile wallet providers, and crypto projects in their digitalization journeys. This has positioned me as a technological influencer, contributing to the rapid growth and adoption of blockchain technology across different sectors.

In addition to my professional achievements, I have played a pivotal role in establishing blockchain thought leadership in India and the broader Asian subcontinent. My influence has extended to mentoring new-age crypto projects, some of which have achieved significant success in remarkably short periods.

Despite my technical background, my heart has always been in business. From my early schooling days, I knew that my true calling was entrepreneurship. This clarity of purpose led me to embark on my entrepreneurial journey. Co-founding Zeebu with my co-founders Raj Brahmbhatt and Dr. Raghavendra Hunasgi has been one of the most fulfilling chapters of my career. Together, we identified a critical need in the telecom industry and have worked tirelessly to develop a blockchain-based platform that addresses this gap.

Could you provide an overview of Zeebu and describe the range of services it offers? 

Zeebu is a pioneering platform dedicated to revolutionizing the telecom carrier industry through the integration of blockchain technology. Our mission is to streamline and enhance the efficiency of settlement processes within the telecom sector, addressing critical challenges that have long hindered operational fluidity and financial management.

At its core, Zeebu provides an end-to-end payment service platform specifically designed for telecom carriers. Traditional settlement processes in this industry can take anywhere from 30 to 100 hours, causing significant delays and inefficiencies. Zeebu aims to transform this landscape by offering near-instantaneous settlement times, significantly reducing these delays to mere minutes.

Our platform's services are comprehensive and designed to cover all aspects of the settlement and billing cycle:

Zeebu enables carriers to generate and accept invoices seamlessly on the platform. This feature ensures that all invoices are transparent and verifiable, providing both parties with clear visibility into the transaction process. Carriers can raise invoices and their counterparts can accept them instantly, streamlining the initial stages of the billing cycle.

One of the key features of Zeebu is its ability to facilitate real-time settlements. By utilizing the Zeebu token (ZBU), carriers can settle their invoices in a matter of minutes, bypassing the traditional banking systems that often require several days for approvals and foreign exchange remittances. This not only enhances liquidity but also allows carriers to utilize their working capital more effectively.

To ensure long-term sustainability and effectiveness of ZBU tokens, Zeebu employs a deflationary token model. A portion of the tokens used in each transaction is burned, reducing the overall supply over time, governed by our innovative Auto-burning mechanism, ZBU Phoenix Protocol. This model helps maintain the value of the tokens and incentivizes their use within the platform.

Zeebu also offers loyalty and incentive programs to its users. Carriers using ZBU tokens for settlements can earn loyalty rewards, effectively reducing their operational costs. This approach not only encourages the adoption of our platform but also adds significant value to the carriers' bottom line.

By providing a one-stop interface for all settlement-related needs, Zeebu simplifies the financial management process for telecom carriers. The platform reduces the complexity of transactions, minimizes the need for multiple intermediaries, and offers a transparent, efficient, and secure method of handling payments and settlements.

The next phase for Zeebu is the introduction of our native liquidity protocol named “Zeebu Protocol.” It is designed to create a more decentralized, distributed, and liquidity-optimized payment infrastructure.

Overall, Zeebu is committed to transforming the settlement layer by addressing the most pressing challenges with innovative blockchain solutions. 

 

What inspired you to establish Zeebu, and how has your professional background shaped your vision for the company's future? 

The inspiration to establish Zeebu originated from Raj Brahmbhatt, our founder, who identified a significant inefficiency in the telecom industry during his time at Bankai Group. Raj observed that settlement processes within the telecom sector were plagued by delays, often taking up to 16 days to complete. This inefficiency not only tied up valuable working capital but also introduced substantial operational bottlenecks, affecting the overall productivity of telecom carriers.

Raj realized that blockchain technology had the potential to revolutionize these outdated processes by enabling faster, more secure, and cost-effective settlements. With this vision in mind, he set out to create a platform that would leverage blockchain to streamline telecom settlements.

Recognizing the need for strong technological leadership, Raj brought me on board to drive the operational and technological aspects of Zeebu. My background in managing one of the largest fintech and blockchain platforms in India, along with my experience in building and helping organizations transition to blockchain, made me a perfect fit for this role. I have always been passionate about blockchain's potential to solve real-world problems, and joining Zeebu provided an opportunity to apply this passion to a critical industry.

We've been determined ever since to streamline and enhance international financial transactions, initially focusing on the telecom sector. By eliminating intermediaries and leveraging blockchain's transparency, security, and speed, we aim to reduce costs and significantly enhance efficiency for businesses worldwide. Our long-term vision extends beyond telecom, encompassing a broader range of industries grappling with traditional international payment challenges.

 

Could you outline your professional journey, highlighting significant milestones and achievements?

My professional journey in the blockchain and fintech sectors has been defined by a series of significant milestones and achievements, driven by a passion for innovation and a commitment to leveraging technology to solve complex challenges. 

One of the earliest milestones in my career was managing one of the largest fintech and blockchain platforms in India. In this role, I spearheaded the implementation of blockchain solutions that streamlined operations and enhanced efficiency for numerous organizations. I played a key role in building trading engines for cryptocurrency exchanges, further establishing my expertise in the field.

As my career progressed, I embarked on an entrepreneurial journey that allowed me to apply my knowledge and skills to a wider array of projects. I have built and helped multiple organizations complete their onboarding onto blockchain. This work included guiding banks, mobile wallet providers, and various crypto projects through their digitalization journeys, setting up comprehensive tokenization strategies, and ensuring successful blockchain integration.

A pivotal moment in my career came when Raj Brahmbhatt, our founder, identified a critical inefficiency in the telecom industry’s settlement processes. Raj’s vision to leverage blockchain technology to address these delays and financial bottlenecks resonated with me deeply. He invited me to join Zeebu as a co-founder, and together, we embarked on creating a platform designed to revolutionize telecom settlements.

Since its inception, Zeebu has achieved remarkable success. Within our first year, we captured $3 billion in transactions in a market valued at $120 billion. This success reflects the effectiveness of our platform and the market’s trust in our solution. Looking forward, we aim to capture $48 billion over the next three years, demonstrating our ambitious growth plans.

One of our notable achievements at Zeebu has been developing a robust tokenomics model that balances supply and demand, ensuring stability even in volatile market conditions.

Another significant milestone was the introduction of our liquidity protocol, designed to support the scalability of transactions on the Zeebu platform. This protocol ensures sufficient liquidity for instant transactions and withdrawals, which is essential for the fast-paced telecom industry.

Throughout my career, I have been driven by a passion for innovation and a desire to solve real-world problems. The milestones and achievements I’ve reached, from managing major fintech platforms to co-founding Zeebu and assisting various organizations in their blockchain journeys, reflect my dedication to leveraging technology to create impactful solutions. 

Throughout this journey, I have been a staunch advocate for blockchain technology, recognizing its profound and transformative impact on processes and lives.

 

How did your role as Co-Founder & COO of Zeebu come about, and what are your primary responsibilities?

My role as Co-Founder and COO of Zeebu involves taking charge of the operational and technological aspects of the platform. 

As the COO, my primary responsibilities encompass guiding the operations and ensuring that our strategic vision is executed effectively. This includes managing the development and implementation of our blockchain solutions, coordinating with various teams to streamline business processes and workflows, and maintaining the technological infrastructure that supports our platform. 

I am also deeply involved in strategic planning, growth, and decision-making processes, working closely with Raj and our other co-founder, Dr. Raghavendra Hunasgi, to align our efforts with our long-term goals.

Another key aspect of my role is fostering relationships with our partners and stakeholders, ensuring that we maintain strong collaborations and continue to drive innovation within the telecom industry. Additionally, I oversee our tokenomics model and liquidity protocol, ensuring that these elements function seamlessly to support our growth and scalability.

In summary, my role as Co-Founder and COO of Zeebu is to translate our visionary goals into practical, operational realities, driving forward our mission to revolutionize the B2B settlement processes through blockchain technology.

 

Can you highlight some initiatives you have driven at Zeebu that have significantly impacted the company's growth?

One of the most significant initiatives I've driven at Zeebu is the development and launch of the Zeebu PSP, our groundbreaking payment and settlement platform. This journey began with a spark of inspiration during countless brainstorming sessions. From the initial ideation and prototyping phases to its full-scale launch for Alpha Trials, I was deeply involved every step of the way. 

Another key initiative was the launch of our token, ZBU. This event marked a pivotal milestone in our journey into the Web3 space. The ZBU token is the fuel for the entire Zeebu ecosystem. The ZBU token empowers seamless transactions and interactions within our platform and implements the loyalty and incentivization program.

Among several innovative initiatives, the introduction of the ZBU Phoenix protocol stands out. This auto-burn mechanism was developed to maintain the token's value and create a deflationary effect. The idea was born from numerous discussions about sustainability and balanced tokenomics, and it was gratifying to see it come to life. The Phoenix protocol ensures that a portion of ZBU tokens is burned periodically, reducing the total supply over time and stabilizing the token’s effectiveness as medium of settlement within the telecom carrier ecosystem.

Our latest initiative, the ZBU Protocol, represents a major leap forward. This liquidity protocol for the DeFi ecosystem supports the scalability of transactions on the Zeebu platform. It provides the necessary liquidity for instant transactions and withdrawals, allowing diverse stakeholders to participate in liquidity pools and staking. 

As the COO, I have been at the forefront of these initiatives, guiding their development and deployment. Each project required meticulous planning, coordination with our development teams, and stringent management of project timelines. My goal has always been to ensure that our solutions not only meet industry standards but also exceed user expectations.

 

How do you stay ahead of industry trends and ensure that your company remains competitive?

In a field like finance and blockchain, every day brings a new innovation, a new term is coined, and a new application emerges. In such a dynamic space, staying ahead is essential. To ensure Zeebu remains competitive, I employ several key strategies.

Firstly, I keep a close tab on industry news, new innovations, and emerging trends. Dedicating time to research the latest developments, attending industry conferences, and engaging with thought leaders allows me to stay informed about advancements and anticipate changes.

Fostering a culture of innovation within Zeebu is another priority. I encourage my team to participate in regular brainstorming sessions and innovation workshops to think creatively and explore new ideas. This collaborative environment helps us stay ahead of the curve.

Additionally, we prioritize strong industry partnerships and collaborations. Working closely with other leading companies and research organizations provides valuable insights into emerging trends and technologies.

We actively monitor market feedback and user experiences. By continuously collecting and analyzing user feedback, we can make informed decisions about product enhancements and new feature developments.

Lastly, we invest in research and development (R&D). Allocating resources to R&D ensures we are always exploring new technologies and methodologies, enabling us to develop advanced solutions that meet the evolving needs of our users.

By focusing on these strategies, we adapt quickly and deliver cutting-edge solutions, ensuring Zeebu remains at the forefront of the industry.