TACEO, established in 2022 and a startup focused on secure computation on encrypted data, has secured USD 5.5 million in its seed funding round.

This round was spearheaded by Archetype VC, with contributions from a16z CSX, Cyber.Fund, A.Capital Ventures, Polymorphic Capital, and several distinguished angel investors. The financial backing will support the growth of Private Shared State, a data model enabling multiple entities to collaborate on sensitive information without compromising its security or necessitating centralised trust.

Advancing secure computing solutions

TACEO utilizes coSNARKs, a cryptographic tool, for multiparty computations and zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to protect data. The startup is also involved in the development of Poseidon hash function, widely used in zero-knowledge systems, and has created an encrypted COVID-19 infection tracking system.

Beyond blockchain applications, this technology aims to enhance privacy for AI Large Language Models (LLMs) and autonomous agents. It enables these entities to verify facts and make decisions without direct access to personal or proprietary data, thus improving overall security and privacy.

TACEO addresses the challenge in DeFi by offering a solution that allows payment providers to validate transactions and identities while adhering to regulatory requirements across decentralised networks. The startup’s vision is to enable secure verification of encrypted information without revealing sensitive details, thereby promoting transparency and control in an increasingly AI-driven world.

With this funding, TACEO plans to advance its technological solutions, expand its scale, and tackle one of the internet’s major challenges related to privacy and security.