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ZOKO
YC W21Bengaluru, IN · Founded 2021 · 18 employees · 9 known investors
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Zoko integrates WhatsApp messaging capabilities with Shopify stores, allowing merchants to sell products, market to customers, and provide support through WhatsApp conversations.
Also known as Bourbon Science, Inc. · Bourbon Science Inc · Zoko
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (W21)
ZOKO was founded in 2021 by Arjun Paul.
Investors · 9
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · pioneerfund.vc · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Xeed Ventures's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: the Y Combinator directory · parsers.vc · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: parsers.vc · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Y Combinator's founder network · Not right? Tell us
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements- Undisclosed amountSeedJan 2026Source ↗
Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Zoko provides a WhatsApp-based commerce and customer engagement platform designed specifically for Shopify stores. The product syncs a merchant's Shopify catalog with WhatsApp so products can be sold directly inside WhatsApp conversations, and lets merchants send WhatsApp broadcasts to engage and convert customers at scale. A shared-inbox/CRM capability allows multiple agents to work on a single WhatsApp business number to handle customer inquiries, positioning WhatsApp as a replacement for conventional ticket-based support.
A visual automation builder, Zoko Flows, lets merchants construct workflows ranging from cash-on-delivery order confirmations to multi-step sequences that connect Shopify with third-party apps such as Judge.me. Zoko is an Official Meta Business Partner and advises customers on qualifying for the WhatsApp verified blue tick mark. The company operates under the entity Bourbon Science Inc, with listed addresses in Buford, Georgia (United States) and Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka (India).
Business model
Software-as-a-service sold directly to Shopify merchants, with a 7-day free trial that requires no payment card and a published pricing page.
Subscription pricing for the WhatsApp commerce platform, entered via a 7-day free trial.
Traction
The company states that thousands of Shopify merchants use the platform, and publishes testimonials from brands including Green Soul Ergonomics, Chemist at Play, Petsy, CuidaMiMascota, WaterScience, Juicy Chemistry and Postcard.in.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Positions itself as a purpose-built WhatsApp solution for Shopify stores and an Official Meta Business Partner, claiming thousands of Shopify merchants as users; it notes that 93 of the top 100 Shopify brands in WhatsApp-first markets such as India and Brazil offer WhatsApp support.
Technology
WhatsApp Business integration layered on Shopify, including catalog sync with AI tools that sell products inside WhatsApp, broadcast messaging, a multi-agent WhatsApp inbox, and the Zoko Flows automation canvas with connectors to Shopify and apps such as Judge.me. A developer API is also offered.
Go-to-market
Self-serve sign-up and free trial from the company website, distribution through the Shopify app ecosystem, hands-on demo and onboarding support from the Zoko team, and content assets including case studies, a blog and comparison pages. Status as an Official Meta Business Partner is used as a trust signal.
Growing Shopify brands seeking to drive repeat revenue and provide support on WhatsApp, including merchants in "WhatsApp-first" markets such as India and Brazil. Named users span gardening, furniture, cosmetics, pet food and services, water filtration and snack-box categories.
Geography
Listed offices in Buford, Georgia, United States and Koramangala, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, with customers referenced in WhatsApp-first markets including India and Brazil.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Related companies · 10
Companies working in the same space as ZOKO.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structureIn the news
▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- ZOKOzoko.io · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does ZOKO do?
- Zoko is a WhatsApp marketing, sales and support platform built for Shopify merchants.
- Who founded ZOKO?
- ZOKO was founded by Arjun Paul in 2021.
- Who are ZOKO's investors?
- ZOKO's investors include Callapina Capital, Pioneer, Xeed Ventures, Y Combinator, iSeed, Musha Ventures, Unpopular Ventures, Utsav Somani and 1 more.
- Where is ZOKO headquartered?
- ZOKO is headquartered in Bengaluru, IN.