André NevesCo Founder

United States - Los Angeles, California

I'm a software engineer and the CTO & founder of ZBD. Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, my life has been a blend of global experiences, but my professional heart belongs to the Web, Open Source, and the world of Bitcoin.

While in NYC prior to ZBD, I led the engineering team at Big Human, a digital product studio renowned for developing advanced web and mobile applications and systems. The portfolio during my leadership included prominent clients like TD Ameritrade, Michael Kors, Gemini, and Snapchat, allowing us to consistently leverage the latest technologies available.

My journey with Bitcoin began around 2013/2014 as an enthusiast, but already deeply involved in open source software development around it. This enthusiasm led to my selection for the exclusive Chaincode Labs Lightning Network residency in 2018, alongside prominent figures like Rene Pickhardt and Pierre Rochard.

The insights gained from the residency culminated in the formation of ZBD. Within months, I was actively seeking funding, and by October 2019, ZBD was launched. Our mission is to empower developers, users, and businesses to engage with the new global digital economy powered by Bitcoin.

In line with my career background, I have also co-founded Vinteum, an R&D non-profit focusing on supporting and fostering Bitcoin development in Brazil through various initiatives like education, conferences, and grants. Moreover, NBD, a project from the core ZBD team, exemplifies our commitment to creating open source software without any commercial intent, and has already released giants such as Lightning Address and Nostr.

As of 2024, ZBD has become a driving force in the internet money landscape, empowering millions of users and developers across over 100 countries. Our platform caters to a diverse range of needs - from game developers eager to integrate Bitcoin rewards into their games, to newcomers exploring zaps in social media, and developers seeking to incorporate global payments into their apps and modern fintech experiences. At ZBD, we're committed to making Bitcoin accessible and functional for everyone, everywhere.