San Francisco, United States, October 28th, 2024 – In a remarkable achievement, the winners of the EasyA hackathon, known as “gigabrains,” are now set to join the prestigious Y Combinator. Artemiy Malyshau and Jeevan Juttla, who participated in the EasyA x Polkadot hackathon two years ago, have developed their project, Gecko Sec, which has gained recognition and secured a spot in the renowned Y Combinator accelerator. Y Combinator has previously supported successful Web3 companies like Coinbase and Filecoin.
Gecko Sec aims to assist Web3 developers in building secure and efficient code without wasting time on ineffective tools or relying solely on outdated human pentests. The team is currently focusing on deploying their groundbreaking software for teams working on Polkadot. Security is a major concern for Web3 developers, who spend millions of dollars each month on security audits.
The success of Jeevan Juttla and Artemiy Malyshau can be attributed to their involvement in EasyA. The EasyA hackathon served as a springboard for their venture, and they credit Phil and Dom, the founders of EasyA, for pushing them beyond their comfort zones and helping them achieve this milestone.
Both Jeevan Juttla and Artemiy Malyshau possess impressive professional and educational backgrounds. Jeevan graduated with a First Class Degree in Electrical Engineering from King’s College London and has worked for the UK government’s National Cyber Security Centre and Binance as a Security Engineer. Similarly, Artemiy graduated with First Class Honours in Electrical Engineering from King’s College London and holds a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Applied Computational Science and Engineering from Imperial College University.
Gecko Sec joins the list of successful companies launched by EasyA hackathon winners in the blockchain industry. Another notable winner is Axal, founded by Harvard graduate Ashlan Ahmed, who received backing from a16z and plans to announce their latest fundraising round soon. Overall, EasyA alumni have already established companies valued at nearly $3 billion.
The success of EasyA hackathon winners can be attributed to the exceptional guidance provided by the company’s co-founders, Phil and Dom. With over 10 years of experience in blockchain, they have been instrumental in identifying and nurturing young talent. Phil previously worked at prestigious law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, while Dom worked at The Blackstone Group, the world’s largest Private Equity firm. Their educational backgrounds from Cambridge University and the Wharton School have also contributed to EasyA’s access to a talented pool of founders across the US and Europe.
EasyA has garnered interest from venture capitalists who are eager to invest in its gigabrain community and hackathon winners. While the details remain undisclosed, EasyA plans to launch a fund exclusively for these startups in the near future.
Dom Kwok, Co-Founder of EasyA, expressed his admiration for the talent within the EasyA community, stating, “Seeing our EasyA gigabrains go from launching at our hackathons to getting accepted into YC is testament to the talent density and founder spirit within the EasyA community. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”
EasyA’s journey is far from over, with several high-profile fundraising announcements expected in the coming months from their community.
About EasyA:
EasyA is a popular Web3 app that enables users to learn about Web3 directly from their smartphones. Learners are rewarded for mastering new skills and have the opportunity to participate in in-person hackathons in leading hubs such as San Francisco, London, and Singapore to launch their startups. EasyA alumni have founded startups valued at nearly $3 billion and have received investments from renowned venture capital firms such as a16z, Founders Fund, and Y Combinator.
Founded by brothers Phil and Dom Kwok, both accomplished graduates from the University of Cambridge and The Wharton School, EasyA has garnered over 1 million users and has been recognized as Apple’s App of the Day.
For more information, please visit: https://www.easya.io/
Contact:
Dom Kwok
[email protected]
