Participated · Series A · Jul 2023

Risc Zero is a Seattle, WA-based developer of general purpose zero-knowledge (ZK) virtual machine technology. Led by CEO Brian Retford, the company provides a zkVM that enables developers to build ZK-powered applications with conventional languages such as Rust and C++. Its zkVM leverages advanced features like continuations to run programs of arbitrary complexity while using off-the-shelf computing platforms. Risc Zero is developing Bonsai, a computing platform to support rapid application development and deployment in both cloud and decentralized environments. Bonsai is intended to offload proof orchestration and server infrastructure, bringing massively parallel ZK-proving functionality to developers in any language and on any chain. The company raised $40M in Series A to bring Bonsai to market. Risc Zero builds a scalable blockchain powered by zero-knowledge proof technology and a RISC-V zkVM. The zkVM enables any program to run in a verifiable manner with no trusted authorities and allows developers accustomed to Rust, Go, C++ and other standard languages to write on-chain decentralized applications. The company released its first open-source product, the RISC Zero zkVM, in March 2022. A developer-oriented preview of its new network was planned for Q3 2022 to let developers build on core innovations ahead of the blockchain launch. Risc Zero said it will use the seed proceeds to accelerate growth and expand development efforts. The company is based in Seattle, WA and had previously raised a $2M pre-seed.