Artemiy Malyshau and Jeevan Juttla, the founders of Gecko Sec, are the latest winners from the EasyA hackathon to secure a spot in the prestigious Y Combinator accelerator, known for nurturing some of the world’s most successful Web3 companies, including Coinbase and Filecoin.
Having participated in their first EasyA x Polkadot hackathon nearly two years ago, Malyshau and Juttla began experimenting with concepts that would eventually evolve into Gecko Sec. Their platform enables Web3 developers to quickly create secure code without relying on ineffective tools or outdated human penetration tests. As they continue to enhance their innovative software, the team is focusing on deployment for developers building on the Polkadot network. The demand for secure coding in the Web3 space is critical, with millions spent monthly on security audits.
Reflecting on their journey, Juttla and Malyshau credit EasyA for providing the initial inspiration and support that propelled them forward. “What started off at an EasyA hackathon has led to us getting backed by Y Combinator. Big shoutout to Phil and Dom for pushing us out of our comfort zone and getting us here!” stated Malyshau, Co-Founder of Gecko Sec.
Both co-founders boast impressive educational and professional backgrounds. Juttla, the CEO of Gecko Sec, graduated with First Class Honours in Electrical Engineering from King’s College London. He previously worked at the UK government’s National Cyber Security Centre, securing government data, and later served as a Security Engineer at Binance. Malyshau also graduated with First Class Honours in Electrical Engineering from King’s College London and earned a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Applied Computational Science and Engineering from Imperial College.
Gecko Sec joins a growing list of EasyA hackathon alumni who have achieved notable success in the blockchain industry. Other winners, such as Axal, founded by Harvard graduate Ashlan Ahmed and backed by a16z, are set to announce their latest fundraising round later this month. Collectively, EasyA alumni have founded companies valued at nearly $3 billion.
EasyA has garnered interest from venture capitalists eager to tap into its startup pipeline. While specific details remain under wraps, EasyA plans to launch a fund dedicated to investing in its community of founders and hackathon winners.
“Seeing our EasyA gigabrains transition from hackathon participants to Y Combinator acceptances is a testament to the talent and entrepreneurial spirit within the EasyA community. I’ve never seen anything quite like it,” remarked Dom Kwok, Co-Founder of EasyA.
Much of the success of EasyA hackathon winners can be attributed to the founders, Phil and Dom, who have a knack for identifying and nurturing emerging talent. Both co-founders have extensive backgrounds in blockchain; Phil previously worked at the prestigious law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, while Dom was with The Blackstone Group, the world’s largest private equity firm.
Phil and Dom’s academic credentials further enhance their ability to cultivate talent, with Phil being a top scholar at Cambridge University and Dom graduating Cum Laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania as a Joseph Wharton and Benjamin Franklin Scholar.
As they look to the future, Phil and Dom emphasize that this is just the beginning. The EasyA community can expect numerous high-profile fundraising announcements in the coming months.
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