Zebec Operations
We Operate Globally, Across All Time Zones
Meet our team of finance experts, tech entrepreneurs and world-class problem solvers
Our core team has over 50 years combined experience in business and technology. With vast experience in both Web3 and Web2 realms and distributed across the world, the team blends varied cultural and perspectives and global worldview to work in sync to advance our mission. We are also guided by distinguished leaders and experts across various industries, each bringing unique expertise and insights.
As Zebec’s co-founder, Simon brings 10+ years of leadership experience from senior roles in private equity and advisory at Breyer Capital, Parthenon, and Oliver Wyman
Simon Babakhani
CEO
German-Iranian entrepreneur and investor. Built Germany’s first altcoin exchange. Leads Zebec’s product innovation at the Web2 - Web3 frontier.
Kian Schreiber
CTO
Communications and marketing strategist with leadership roles across Fortune 100s, startups, and global policy groups. C-suite advisor, published author, and award-winning brand builder.
Elena Solovyov
CMO
Duke University graduate with a decade in investment banking at Apollo, BlackArch, and Northlane. Neal leads Zebec’s acquisition strategy and deals pipeline.
Neal Padhye
Head of M&A and Capital Markets
University of Central Florida graduate with 4 years in fintech, HCM, blockchain payments, and M&A.
Parth Shah
Director, Corporate Development
Product and systems leader with over 20 years of building systems and teams across different sectors, including travel, banking, payments, blockchain) Formerly with the London Stock Exchange Group, RBS, and Expedia.
Stelios Gerogiannakis
Senior Product Lead
Founding team member. Experienced full-stack engineer with deep expertise in building decentralized applications across the Solana and Ethereum ecosystems.
Ashish Shrestha
Web3 Product Lead
Crypto native with 5+ years in sales, marketing, and business development across top blockchain startups and protocols.
JJ Ortiz
Head of Ecosystem
Serial entrepreneur and technologist with multiple patents in blockchain and AI. Advisor and investor supporting Zebec and the broader ecosystem.
Sam Thapaliya
Founder
Design leader with cross-industry experience, including with leading global brands like BMW, Volkswagen Group, Lucid Software, and Kraft Heinz.
Eike Reichert
Head of UI/UX
Specialist in crypto and Web3 business development with more than 5 years of experience in building strategic partnerships, expanding markets, and scaling ecosystems.
JV Vink
Senior Business Development Lead
With a Master’s degree from Fordham University, Viara brings strong organizational insight, clear communication, and a proactive approach to supporting executive leadership and Team.
Viara Vladimirskaya
Office Manager
Our Advisors
Founder, CEO & CIO of Asymmetric, a crypto fund backed by top investors including Marc Andreessen and the founders of Solana. Brings over 20 years across Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and venture-backed startups.
Joe McCann
Asymmetric
A 37-year ADP veteran who held leadership roles including CFO for major segments such as Mid‑Market Payroll, Global Money Movement, and Compliance at the world’s largest payroll business.
Lisa Robbins
fr. CFO, ADP
Seasoned executive with leadership experience in secure transport, data services, HR outsourcing, and technology; served as Interim CEO of The Brink’s Company, President at Dun & Bradstreet and ADP, and held advisory and board roles with firms including Theragenics, Onvia, and Juvo360.
George Stoeckert
fr. ADP C-suite
Payroll technology expert and payroll business owner with deep experience in HCM systems, client service, and scalable payroll operations. Founder of PayBridge (acquired by Zebec in 2023).
Tony Chiviles
CEO, PayBridge
Veteran payroll industry leader with executive tenure at ADP and founder of Summit Payroll Services, bringing deep operational and strategic expertise in workforce payments and HRIS systems.
Tom Lutz
fr. ADP Sales
Fintech veteran, former VP at Amundi and Global Head of Engineering & Ops across 36 countries. Architect of BLIK and co-founder of Gatenox. Deep expertise in payments, compliance, and regulatory infrastructure.
Wojtek Zatorski
Founder, Gatenox
Founder and former CEO of Science Card (acquired by Zebec in 2025). PhD in Biomedical Engineering from UCL. Co-founder of Magic Carpet AI (acquired by Blockchain.com). Brings experience at the intersection of AI, science, and Web3.
Daniel Baeriswyl
Co-Founder, Science Card
Biomedical researcher with a DPhil from Oxford. Held senior roles at INSERM, UCL, and Leeds. Led product at Science Card. Expertise in DeSci, EdTech, and mission-driven finance.
John Vardakis
Co-Founder, Science Card
Former CEO of Strata Global and former Wells Fargo director with decades of experience across banking, fintech, infrastructure, and crypto compliance.
Nick Andrews
Co-Founder, Strata Global