Zuma Labs
Zuma Labs is a London-based B2B technology company that builds hybrid voice-and-electronic OTC trading software (Venetian) and team communication tools (Squawk) for Forward Freight Agreement brokers, commodity traders, and maritime industry participants, acquired by Clarkson PLC in January 2026.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Zuma Labs does
Zuma Labs is a London-based B2B technology company founded in 2020 that builds software for "systemically important industries" — principally shipping, commodities, and maritime markets underserved by mainstream enterprise software vendors. Its flagship product, Venetian, is a hybrid voice-and-electronic OTC trading platform for Forward Freight Agreement (FFA) and commodity markets, converging traditionally fragmented broker workflows (live pricing collection, recording, distribution, and execution) into a single AI-enabled application powered by a proprietary AI engine called Prism. The company also offers Squawk, an instant push-to-talk audio chat application for team collaboration distributed via direct software downloads for Windows and MacOS, and integrates TradingView charting and technical analysis tools across its product suite.
Zuma Labs sells primarily through enterprise field sales targeting FFA brokers, commodity traders, and maritime industry participants, with a subscription/recurring licensing revenue model. Reported FY2024 revenue of $7.4 million (up from $5.2 million in FY2023) reflects organic growth from a small base of 1-10 employees. The company was acquired in January 2026 by FTSE 250-listed Clarkson PLC for £1.2 billion and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary under its own brand, with the acquisition intended to accelerate distribution of the Venetian platform across Clarkson's shipping industry relationships.
The company's competitive position rests on deep domain specialization in bespoke FFA and commodity trading workflows, a proprietary AI technology (Prism) embedded into its core trading platform, and workflow-converged product design that adapts to broker processes rather than forcing process change. Its narrow vertical focus and small team limit scalability independent of strategic partners, which the Clarkson acquisition explicitly addresses.
Zuma Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zuma Labs
- Legal name
- Zuma Labs Limited
- Website
- https://zumaltd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Zuma Labs is a London-based B2B technology company that builds hybrid voice-and-electronic OTC trading software (Venetian) and team communication tools (Squawk) for Forward Freight Agreement brokers, commodity traders, and maritime industry participants, acquired by Clarkson PLC in January 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zuma Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- OTC Trading Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (51321)
- SIC
- Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Institutional Multi-Asset Trading Platforms (OTC/RFQ) (FSAFAEAB)
Keywords
Where Zuma Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Zuma Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Platform Subscription/Licensing: Revenue generated from licensing the Venetian platform to FFA market participants and commodity traders. Reported 2024 revenue of $7.4 million, up from $5.2 million in 2023.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Zuma Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zuma Labs develops and sells the Venetian platform, a converged hybrid voice and electronic OTC trading application powered by proprietary Prism AI technology, delivering real-time pricing data, liquidity management, and workflow-driven market execution for Forward Freight Agreement (FFA) and commodities brokers and traders. The company also offers Squawk, an instant push-to-talk audio chat application for team collaboration, distributed via direct downloads on Windows and MacOS.
Product overview
Zuma Labs offers a portfolio of technology solutions for systemically important industries, centered on two core products: Venetian (a hybrid voice and electronic OTC trading platform) and Squawk (an instant team audio chat application). Venetian is enhanced by an integrated TradingView charting feature. The Venetian platform converges voice and electronic trading for FFA and commodities markets, powered by the proprietary Prism AI technology for real-time pricing and liquidity management. Squawk provides team communication via instant push-to-talk audio. All products are designed for mission-critical business workflows in shipping, commodities, and maritime industries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Venetian: Hybrid voice and electronic trading application powered by AI technology called Prism, offering real-time pricing data and liquidity management to FFA market participants.
- Squawk
- TradingView
Products and services
- Venetian A converged hybrid voice and electronic OTC trading platform providing real-time pricing data, liquidity management, and workflow-driven market execution. Built for Forward Freight Agreement (FFA) and commodities brokers, traders, and maritime market participants, and powered by Zuma Labs' proprietary Prism AI technology.
- Squawk An instant push-to-talk audio chat application for teams offering real-time voice communication with mute-by-default, invite-only groups, and end-to-end encryption. Distributed via direct downloads on Windows and MacOS as an alternative to Slack messaging and Zoom video calls for remote and hybrid teams.
Quantifiable outcome
- Revenue growth from $5.2 million (2023) to $7.4 million (2024)
Companies that use Zuma Labs
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Zuma Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
Zuma Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Zuma Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Baltic Exchange: Provides shipping market data, indices, and freight derivatives infrastructure for FFA and freight markets—the core market Zuma Labs' Venetian platform addresses.
- Trayport: Operates OTC electronic trading platforms connecting brokers, exchanges, and buy-side firms in energy and commodities—an adjacent OTC trading infrastructure model comparable to Venetian.
- Slack (Salesforce): Dominant team collaboration platform that Zuma's Squawk product competes with for the same audio/chat-based team communication use case.
- ION Group: Provides electronic trading and market-making platforms across FFA, commodities, and fixed income, directly competing with Zuma's Venetian in the same institutional OTC workflows.
- Imarex: Dry cargo FFA broker and exchange operating in the same Forward Freight Agreement market Zuma Labs serves, representing both a potential partner and competitive channel.
- Discord: Real-time audio chat platform with comparable push-to-talk functionality to Squawk, targeting similar team and community communication workflows.
Broad incumbents
- LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group): Operates broad financial market infrastructure including Refinitiv trading platforms and benchmarks across multiple asset classes, overlapping with Zuma's institutional OTC positioning.
- CME Group: Largest derivatives exchange operator globally, including freight and commodity products—operates in the same OTC/listed derivative ecosystem Zuma targets, but at vastly greater scale.
- ICE (Intercontinental Exchange): Operates global exchanges and clearing houses for commodities and derivatives; competes indirectly with Zuma's OTC trading platform through its electronic marketplaces and data services.
Emerging players
- Tradeweb: Operates institutional electronic trading platforms across rates, credit, and equities—analogous institutional electronic trading model, though focused on different asset classes than Zuma's FFA niche.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Zuma Labs social profiles
Digital presenceZuma Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zuma Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Zuma Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zuma Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zuma Labs
What does Zuma Labs do?
Zuma Labs develops and sells the Venetian platform, a converged hybrid voice and electronic OTC trading application powered by proprietary Prism AI technology, delivering real-time pricing data, liquidity management, and workflow-driven market execution for Forward Freight Agreement (FFA) and commodities brokers and traders. The company also offers Squawk, an instant push-to-talk audio chat application for team collaboration, distributed via direct downloads on Windows and MacOS.
Is Zuma Labs a public or private company?
Zuma Labs is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Zuma Labs founded?
Zuma Labs was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Zuma Labs based?
Zuma Labs is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Zuma Labs make money?
One revenue line is on record: platform Subscription/Licensing.
Who are Zuma Labs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Baltic Exchange, Trayport, Slack (Salesforce), ION Group, Imarex and Discord. Broad incumbents are LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), CME Group and ICE (Intercontinental Exchange). Tradeweb is listed as an emerging player.
Does Zuma Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zuma Labs.
What industry is Zuma Labs in?
Zuma Labs's product category is OTC Trading Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAFAEAB, Institutional Multi-Asset Trading Platforms (OTC/RFQ). Its NAICS code is 51321 and its SIC code is 6200.