Raj Brahmbhatt,
Founder & CEO, Zeebu
I'm Raj Brahmbhatt, the founder and CEO of Zeebu. My journey into finance and technology has been shaped by a blend of traditional and innovative experiences. Growing up in a family closely involved in the global telecommunications sector, I was immersed in the industry from a young age. This early exposure allowed me to learn from seasoned executives and sparked my passion for finding innovative solutions to business challenges.
After completing my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance, and Economics from the College of Charleston, I pursued various roles in project management and financial analysis. These experiences spanned traditional finance sectors such as securities and investments, as well as the emerging fintech landscape. In 2020, during the market crash, I delved into blockchain technology by investing in Bitcoin and Ethereum. This experience opened my eyes to the potential of blockchain to transform industries, particularly through utility-focused tokens like XRP.
This fascination with blockchain's practical applications led to the creation of Zeebu. Outside of work, I have a wide range of interests, including managing virtual asset portfolios, playing chess, and exploring mixology and astronomy. My leadership journey has been marked by involvement in organizations such as “The National Society of Leadership and Success” and the Finance Club at the College of Charleston, as well as serving on the Executive Board of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
At Zeebu, my focus is on bridging the gap between traditional finance and the innovative possibilities offered by blockchain technology, with a commitment to creating sustainable, practical solutions.
Could you tell us about your venture, Zeebu, and its services?
At Zeebu, we’re leading the charge in transforming traditional finance (TradFi), leveraging decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain technology specifically for the telecommunications industry. Our blockchain-powered payments and settlement platform addresses the significant inefficiencies in traditional telecom finance. Typically, a wire transfer in a developed market takes about three days, and in emerging markets, it can take between six and sixteen days. Zeebu revolutionizes this process by reducing settlement times to just 30 seconds to 10 minutes.
Our journey began when we noticed these inefficiencies and decided to leverage blockchain technology to solve them. We built our platform on Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain, creating a peer-to-peer transaction network that enables near-instantaneous settlements. This drastically improves operational efficiency, giving telecom companies immediate access to their funds. This liquidity allows them to execute more transactions and increase their annual volume.
Since our inception, we have onboarded 135+ institutional clients and facilitated $4.1 billion in transactions. We are now introducing our own liquidity protocol to enhance our platform further, making it even more robust and efficient. Also, we recently expanded to the Base Network to offer a more efficient, low-cost, and scalable blockchain solution. By streamlining these processes, we are helping telecom companies overcome the traditional delays and financial hurdles, driving real and impactful transformation in the industry.
What motivated you to create Zeebu, and how did your background influence your vision for the company?
The inspiration for building Zeebu came from firsthand experience in the telecom and finance sectors. My journey began at Bankai Group, a telecom company with a legacy of success spanning over three decades. Working there as a financial analyst exposed me to the significant inefficiencies in the telecom industry's settlement processes. Transactions often faced prolonged delays mainly due to the reliance on USD and EURO, combined with the need for permissions from central banks.
This experience highlighted a clear opportunity for innovation. Telecom companies were interested in using stablecoins for transactions, focusing on their stability and practical utility rather than speculative purposes.
The idea for Zeebu was born from recognizing a critical need in the telecom industry. I saw an opportunity to connect businesses directly on a decentralized layer where counterparties are KYC/KYB and AML compliant, facilitating secure and efficient peer-to-peer transactions. This approach aimed to eliminate the reliance on traditional banking intermediaries, reducing costs associated with bank fees and foreign exchange fees—particularly crucial for telecom companies in emerging markets, where profit margins have significantly decreased from 30% in the early 2000s to 4-5% today. The traditional settlement processes were not only costly but also time-consuming, leading to unnecessary delays.
At Zeebu, we are committed to creating a sustainable and practical solution. Our tokenomics are structured to ensure that our tokens are used for real-world consumption, not just speculation. We started with the telecom sector, but our vision extends beyond, aiming to adapt traditional business operations to the efficiencies offered by fintech and blockchain technologies. Zeebu's platform initially focuses on settlements, with plans to expand into billing and dispute resolution, providing an end-to-end solution for the industry.
Could you outline your professional journey, highlighting significant milestones and achievements?
My professional journey has been marked by several notable milestones and achievements. I began my career at Bankai Group, where I served as a financial analyst. Today, I am the CEO of Zeebu, a position that has allowed me to channel my passion for innovation and blockchain technology.
The first major milestone in my career was the eureka moment when the idea of Zeebu was born. The subsequent milestone was the successful launch of Zeebu and our native ZBU token. Since its launch, the platform has achieved significant traction, capturing $3 billion in transactions within its first year in a market valued at $120 billion. We are on track to capture $48 billion over the next three years, a testament to our platform's potential and growing market demand. Adding to these achievements, Zeebu was recently recognized as one of the top 100 crypto and blockchain companies of 2024 by the prestigious World Future Awards.
Another key milestone is our third and largest-ever token burn, which reduced the overall ZBU supply by 321 million tokens, and the introduction of our liquidity protocol, designed to support our growth and expand our service offerings. This protocol ensures the scalability of transactions on Zeebu PSP and further decentralizes the process by introducing community participation and governance.
To incentivize engagement, key participants in the Zeebu protocol—delegators, deployers, and On-Demand Liquidity Providers (OLPs)—receive a share of the platform's revenue. We allocate 2% of our total revenue to protocol rewards, ensuring fair compensation and a robust, community-driven ecosystem.
In addition to these achievements, I have been honored to participate as a panelist and speaker at leading industry events in both the Web3 and telecom sectors. I am also a proud member of the Forbes Council, which provides a platform for sharing insights and engaging with other thought leaders in the industry. I’ve recently been recognized in Forbes 30 Young Entrepreneurs to Follow in 2024 and named as the ‘CEO of the Year in the Blockchain-as-a-Service Industry’ by European CEO awards.
What are your responsibilities as Zeebu's founder and CEO, and how has your leadership impacted the company's growth?
As the Founder & CEO of Zeebu, my responsibilities encompass strategic direction, operational management, and innovation leadership. My approach has been to instill a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability within our team, aligning them with our mission to revolutionize telecom settlements through blockchain technology. Under my leadership, Zeebu has captured significant market share, optimized operational efficiencies for our clients, and consistently evolved our product offerings. This strategic focus has positioned Zeebu as a trailblazer in integrating DeFi solutions within the telecom industry, driving impactful and lasting transformation.
What advice would you give to aspiring financial executives who are interested in blockchain and decentralized finance?
For those stepping into the blockchain and DeFi world, my top advice is to keep a sharp eye on cash flow. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of new tech, but without solid financial management, even the most promising projects can stumble. Make sure you’ve got a firm grip on your liquidity and expenses right from the start.
Beyond the basics, prioritizing real utility over speculation is key. In the blockchain space, it’s tempting to chase the next big speculative wave, but sustainable success comes from creating models that deliver genuine value. Your tokens should serve a practical purpose, something that users need and use regularly. This consumptive value ensures that demand for your token remains steady, irrespective of market fluctuations.
Don’t forget about your monetization strategy. Diversify your revenue streams beyond just transaction fees. Consider things like staking, consulting, or licensing. This kind of strategic thinking will help ensure your financial health in the long run.
Building partnerships is another key piece of advice. Collaborate with established players in the industry. These relationships can provide valuable resources and open up new opportunities. Plus, being associated with trusted names can boost your credibility.
Finally, stay flexible and keep learning. The blockchain and DeFi landscape is constantly changing. Keeping up with the latest trends and being ready to pivot when necessary will keep you ahead of the curve.
I'm Raj Brahmbhatt, the founder and CEO of Zeebu. My journey into finance and technology has been shaped by a blend of traditional and innovative experiences. Growing up in a family closely involved in the global telecommunications sector, I was immersed in the industry from a young age. This early exposure allowed me to learn from seasoned executives and sparked my passion for finding innovative solutions to business challenges.
After completing my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance, and Economics from the College of Charleston, I pursued various roles in project management and financial analysis. These experiences spanned traditional finance sectors such as securities and investments, as well as the emerging fintech landscape. In 2020, during the market crash, I delved into blockchain technology by investing in Bitcoin and Ethereum. This experience opened my eyes to the potential of blockchain to transform industries, particularly through utility-focused tokens like XRP.
This fascination with blockchain's practical applications led to the creation of Zeebu. Outside of work, I have a wide range of interests, including managing virtual asset portfolios, playing chess, and exploring mixology and astronomy. My leadership journey has been marked by involvement in organizations such as “The National Society of Leadership and Success” and the Finance Club at the College of Charleston, as well as serving on the Executive Board of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
At Zeebu, my focus is on bridging the gap between traditional finance and the innovative possibilities offered by blockchain technology, with a commitment to creating sustainable, practical solutions.
Could you tell us about your venture, Zeebu, and its services?
At Zeebu, we’re leading the charge in transforming traditional finance (TradFi), leveraging decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain technology specifically for the telecommunications industry. Our blockchain-powered payments and settlement platform addresses the significant inefficiencies in traditional telecom finance. Typically, a wire transfer in a developed market takes about three days, and in emerging markets, it can take between six and sixteen days. Zeebu revolutionizes this process by reducing settlement times to just 30 seconds to 10 minutes.
Our journey began when we noticed these inefficiencies and decided to leverage blockchain technology to solve them. We built our platform on Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain, creating a peer-to-peer transaction network that enables near-instantaneous settlements. This drastically improves operational efficiency, giving telecom companies immediate access to their funds. This liquidity allows them to execute more transactions and increase their annual volume.
Since our inception, we have onboarded 135+ institutional clients and facilitated $4.1 billion in transactions. We are now introducing our own liquidity protocol to enhance our platform further, making it even more robust and efficient. Also, we recently expanded to the Base Network to offer a more efficient, low-cost, and scalable blockchain solution. By streamlining these processes, we are helping telecom companies overcome the traditional delays and financial hurdles, driving real and impactful transformation in the industry.
What motivated you to create Zeebu, and how did your background influence your vision for the company?
The inspiration for building Zeebu came from firsthand experience in the telecom and finance sectors. My journey began at Bankai Group, a telecom company with a legacy of success spanning over three decades. Working there as a financial analyst exposed me to the significant inefficiencies in the telecom industry's settlement processes. Transactions often faced prolonged delays mainly due to the reliance on USD and EURO, combined with the need for permissions from central banks.
This experience highlighted a clear opportunity for innovation. Telecom companies were interested in using stablecoins for transactions, focusing on their stability and practical utility rather than speculative purposes.
The idea for Zeebu was born from recognizing a critical need in the telecom industry. I saw an opportunity to connect businesses directly on a decentralized layer where counterparties are KYC/KYB and AML compliant, facilitating secure and efficient peer-to-peer transactions. This approach aimed to eliminate the reliance on traditional banking intermediaries, reducing costs associated with bank fees and foreign exchange fees—particularly crucial for telecom companies in emerging markets, where profit margins have significantly decreased from 30% in the early 2000s to 4-5% today. The traditional settlement processes were not only costly but also time-consuming, leading to unnecessary delays.
At Zeebu, we are committed to creating a sustainable and practical solution. Our tokenomics are structured to ensure that our tokens are used for real-world consumption, not just speculation. We started with the telecom sector, but our vision extends beyond, aiming to adapt traditional business operations to the efficiencies offered by fintech and blockchain technologies. Zeebu's platform initially focuses on settlements, with plans to expand into billing and dispute resolution, providing an end-to-end solution for the industry.
Could you outline your professional journey, highlighting significant milestones and achievements?
My professional journey has been marked by several notable milestones and achievements. I began my career at Bankai Group, where I served as a financial analyst. Today, I am the CEO of Zeebu, a position that has allowed me to channel my passion for innovation and blockchain technology.
The first major milestone in my career was the eureka moment when the idea of Zeebu was born. The subsequent milestone was the successful launch of Zeebu and our native ZBU token. Since its launch, the platform has achieved significant traction, capturing $3 billion in transactions within its first year in a market valued at $120 billion. We are on track to capture $48 billion over the next three years, a testament to our platform's potential and growing market demand. Adding to these achievements, Zeebu was recently recognized as one of the top 100 crypto and blockchain companies of 2024 by the prestigious World Future Awards.
Another key milestone is our third and largest-ever token burn, which reduced the overall ZBU supply by 321 million tokens, and the introduction of our liquidity protocol, designed to support our growth and expand our service offerings. This protocol ensures the scalability of transactions on Zeebu PSP and further decentralizes the process by introducing community participation and governance.
To incentivize engagement, key participants in the Zeebu protocol—delegators, deployers, and On-Demand Liquidity Providers (OLPs)—receive a share of the platform's revenue. We allocate 2% of our total revenue to protocol rewards, ensuring fair compensation and a robust, community-driven ecosystem.
In addition to these achievements, I have been honored to participate as a panelist and speaker at leading industry events in both the Web3 and telecom sectors. I am also a proud member of the Forbes Council, which provides a platform for sharing insights and engaging with other thought leaders in the industry. I’ve recently been recognized in Forbes 30 Young Entrepreneurs to Follow in 2024 and named as the ‘CEO of the Year in the Blockchain-as-a-Service Industry’ by European CEO awards.
What are your responsibilities as Zeebu's founder and CEO, and how has your leadership impacted the company's growth?
As the Founder & CEO of Zeebu, my responsibilities encompass strategic direction, operational management, and innovation leadership. My approach has been to instill a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability within our team, aligning them with our mission to revolutionize telecom settlements through blockchain technology. Under my leadership, Zeebu has captured significant market share, optimized operational efficiencies for our clients, and consistently evolved our product offerings. This strategic focus has positioned Zeebu as a trailblazer in integrating DeFi solutions within the telecom industry, driving impactful and lasting transformation.
What advice would you give to aspiring financial executives who are interested in blockchain and decentralized finance?
For those stepping into the blockchain and DeFi world, my top advice is to keep a sharp eye on cash flow. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of new tech, but without solid financial management, even the most promising projects can stumble. Make sure you’ve got a firm grip on your liquidity and expenses right from the start.
Beyond the basics, prioritizing real utility over speculation is key. In the blockchain space, it’s tempting to chase the next big speculative wave, but sustainable success comes from creating models that deliver genuine value. Your tokens should serve a practical purpose, something that users need and use regularly. This consumptive value ensures that demand for your token remains steady, irrespective of market fluctuations.
Don’t forget about your monetization strategy. Diversify your revenue streams beyond just transaction fees. Consider things like staking, consulting, or licensing. This kind of strategic thinking will help ensure your financial health in the long run.
Building partnerships is another key piece of advice. Collaborate with established players in the industry. These relationships can provide valuable resources and open up new opportunities. Plus, being associated with trusted names can boost your credibility.
Finally, stay flexible and keep learning. The blockchain and DeFi landscape is constantly changing. Keeping up with the latest trends and being ready to pivot when necessary will keep you ahead of the curve.
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