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ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness, co-founded by Ross Buhrdorf in 2015, is a venture-backed platform for LLC formation, compliance, and business banking.
ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness was founded in 2015 by Ross Buhrdorf — previously an executive at HomeAway, which he helped take public — and Shanaz Hemmati. The company was built on the premise that small-business formation and compliance are unduly complex, and that a software platform could streamline the process. It has raised venture capital from investors including Greycroft, Accel, and others. The company offers LLC formation, registered agent service, EIN acquisition, ongoing compliance (annual reports, amendments), domain registration, website building, business banking (via Thread Bank, Member FDIC), and bookkeeping. Its AI assistant, Velo, automates filings, tracks deadlines, and can connect users to human experts. Packages start at $0 plus state fees, with tiered upgrades for faster processing and additional services. ZenBusiness covers all 50 US states and the District of Columbia, with state-specific guides on its site. ZenBusiness reports having helped over 900,000 businesses as of 2026, a figure from its own website. The executive team includes CEO Ross Buhrdorf, CFO Katie Royce, CTO Alex Victoria, CCO Mitch Wilde, CLO Courtney Dickey, and CMO Zachary Rippstein. The firm has invested over $3 million in grants and programs supporting small-business owners, and partners with organizations that expand access to entrepreneurship. ZenBusiness is a venture-capital-backed technology company, not an asset manager or family office. Its structural differentiator is its all-in-one, software-driven approach to business formation and compliance, combining a low-cost self-service model with optional human support and an AI guide. It does not manage third-party capital or make direct investments.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
2015
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Austin
Corporate office
Austin, TX, United States
Principals
Ross Buhrdorf
Founder and CEO
Shanaz Hemmati
Co-Founder
Katie Royce
CFO
Alex Victoria
CTO
Mitch Wilde
CCO
Courtney Dickey
CLO
Zachary Rippstein
CMO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who founded ZenBusiness and what is their background?
Ross Buhrdorf and Shanaz Hemmati co-founded ZenBusiness in 2015. Buhrdorf was previously an executive at HomeAway, where he helped take the company public. Hemmati's background is not detailed on the firm's website.
How does ZenBusiness make money?
ZenBusiness generates revenue by selling business formation and compliance services on a subscription and per-service basis. Its packages start at $0 plus state fees, with higher tiers offering faster processing, EIN acquisition, registered agent service, and advanced compliance monitoring. It also offers domain registration, website building, and banking services through a partner bank.
Is ZenBusiness a family office or an investment firm?
No. ZenBusiness is a venture-capital-backed technology company that provides software and services to small businesses. It does not manage capital for external investors or operate as an asset manager or family office.
What is Velo, and how does it work?
Velo is ZenBusiness's personalized AI business assistant. It automates state filings, tracks deadline compliance, helps build a business website, and can connect users to a human expert. The firm promotes Velo as a way to reduce the administrative burden on entrepreneurs.
Which investors have backed ZenBusiness?
While the firm's website does not list specific investors, publicly available sources indicate that ZenBusiness has raised venture capital from firms including Greycroft, Accel, and others (per Crunchbase, PitchBook). The company is not publicly traded.
Does ZenBusiness provide banking services directly?
No. ZenBusiness partners with Thread Bank, which is FDIC-insured, to offer business banking and bookkeeping services. ZenBusiness itself is a financial technology company, not a bank.
How many businesses has ZenBusiness helped form?
According to the firm's website as of 2026, ZenBusiness has helped over 900,000 businesses get started. This figure is self-reported and includes LLC formations and related services.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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