What zekeng does

Zekeng is a Bulgaria-based engineering services firm and IoT product developer headquartered in Sofia, founded in 2007 as a PCB design studio and restructured into a joint stock company (ZEKENG JSCo) in 2022. The company operates a dual business: it sells custom engineering services spanning hardware design, embedded firmware, PCB manufacturing and assembly, prototyping, industrial design, custom software, dedicated development teams, and AR/VR development; alongside a proprietary product line comprising three hardware brands—ConnectedBin (IoT-enabled smart waste container sensors monitoring fill-level, GPS, temperature, position, and fire/vandalism alarms), Canary Air (indoor air quality monitoring stations measuring VOCs, CO2, PM2.5, PM10, ozone, humidity, and temperature), and Kyro Audio (compact audio amplifiers/pre-amplifiers).

Underlying technology centers on embedded systems with proprietary components such as a custom external watchdog timer consuming less than 1µA, designed for battery-powered IoT devices with multi-hour windowing. The IoT products integrate modular hardware with companion software and connectivity for real-time monitoring, with Canary Air explicitly integrating with smart-building automation systems. Zekeng's engineering services span the full product lifecycle from feasibility analysis and electronic design through prototyping, PCB manufacturing, enclosure finishing, and production transition.

The company monetizes through two primary streams: project-based and dedicated-team engineering services sold via direct enterprise sales, and proprietary IoT/hardware product sales through a mix of direct B2B relationships, government procurement (Sofia Municipality for 76 kindergartens), and telecom-channel distribution (A1 Bulgaria carrying Canary Air). Customers span enterprises (TEXAID for ConnectedBin), governments (Sofia Municipality), telecoms (A1 Bulgaria), and IoT device manufacturers (Shelly Group as long-term strategic co-development partner). The company employs 11-50 people, is privately held without institutional VC backing, and reported revenue exceeding 1 million BGN since restructuring, with management targeting 50% revenue growth for 2026 driven by smart-building IoT integration, telecom ICT solutions, and Sofia Municipality engagements.

Name

zekeng

Legal name

ZEKENG JSCo

Website

https://zekeng.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Services and IoT Hardware

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing (334)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial IoT/Edge Electronics Manufacturing (Gateways, Edge Controllers) (IMAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Air Quality & Emissions Management (BPAHAJAI)

Keywords

• Embedded systems engineering
• IoT hardware development
• PCB design services
• Industrial design
• Custom firmware development

Headquarters

HQ city

Sofia

HQ country

Bulgaria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Engineering Services: Custom software development, embedded firmware development, dedicated teams on demand, AR/VR development, hardware engineering and prototyping, PCB manufacturing and assembly
2. IoT Hardware Products: Proprietary product line including ConnectedBin (waste monitoring), Canary Air (indoor air quality), and Kyro Audio (audio amplifiers). Revenue from product sales to enterprise customers and distribution partners.
3. Co-development Services: Long-term hardware partnership with Shelly Group including co-development of future products. Strategic engineering services for international partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Zekeng is an integrated engineering company that designs, develops, and manufactures proprietary IoT hardware products (ConnectedBin smart waste monitoring, Canary Air indoor air quality monitoring, and Kyro Audio amplifiers) while providing comprehensive engineering services including custom software development, embedded firmware, AR/VR development, hardware engineering and prototyping, PCB manufacturing and assembly, industrial design, and dedicated development team staffing for enterprise clients.

Product overview

ZEKENG operates as an integrated engineering company offering both proprietary IoT/consumer hardware products and comprehensive engineering services. Their product portfolio includes three distinct proprietary products: Canary Air (indoor air quality monitoring station), Connected Bin (smart waste container IoT solution), and Kyro Audio (mini audio amplifiers). These are complemented by a full suite of engineering services spanning hardware engineering (PCB design, manufacturing, prototyping, industrial design), software development (custom software, embedded firmware, AR/VR), and dedicated team staffing. The company positions itself as a one-stop shop turning ideas into reality for hardware, software, or complete IoT solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kyro Audio: High-quality audio amplifiers product line combining engineering precision and cutting-edge technology. Won the 'Innovative Enterprise of the Year' award in 2023.
• Canary Air
• Connected Bin

Products and services

• Canary Air Complete indoor air quality monitoring system combining hardware and software for remote monitoring and storage of measured air quality data including VOCs, CO2, particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), ozone, humidity, and temperature, with internet connectivity and smart building automation integration.
• ConnectedBin IoT solution that makes waste containers smart through proprietary autonomous sensor devices, enabling real-time monitoring of fill-level, GPS location, temperature, upright position, last pick-up time, and alarms for fire and vandalism, supporting optimized waste collection routes for waste management operators and municipalities.
• Kyro Audio Mini size audio amplifier and pre-amplifier product line combining engineering precision with cutting-edge technology; won the 'Innovative Enterprise of the Year' award in 2023.
• Custom Software Development Design and build of complex, robust, and performant software solutions tailored to specific business needs for technology companies and enterprise clients.
• Embedded Firmware Development Development of world-class embedded systems, firmware, and software for hardware devices for clients needing specialized firmware engineering.
• Hardware Engineering & Prototyping Full hardware engineering services including electronic design (RF electronics, analog and digital design, high-speed layouts), research and analysis (requirements analysis, idea feasibility, signal integrity validation, thermal performance), and prototyping for hardware product development clients.
• PCB Manufacturing and Assembly PCB manufacturing, assembly, 3D enclosure printing, die casting, milling, and production transition services supporting product development through to manufacturing.
• Industrial Design 3D modeling, rendering, enclosure design, and aesthetic design services supporting product development with industrial design needs.
• Dedicated Teams On Demand Provision of dedicated development teams ranging from junior to senior level for hardware and software engineering projects on demand.
• Augmented & Virtual Reality Development Development of augmented and virtual reality products for various projects and applications including gaming for clients needing AR/VR product engineering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Canary Air reduces risk of viral and bacterial infections including COVID-19 by enabling timely ventilation and visitor limiting actions based on real-time CO2 and particulate matter monitoring
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Shelly GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2024Strategic partnership in hardware and IoT solutions. Zekeng strengthens its collaboration with Shelly Group and establishes itself as their long-term hardware partner, actively participating in the development of future products. Both companies are members of PARAi (Professional Association for Robotics, Automation and Innovations).
• Cleantech BulgariaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleantech Bulgaria provided funding and support for the development of ConnectedBin - an intelligent IoT module for real-time waste container monitoring.
• TEXAIDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnectedBin and TEXAID partnered to provide smart containers for the company, enabling real-time waste monitoring capabilities.
• PARAi (Professional Association for Robotics, Automation and Innovations)minorOthersBoth Zekeng and Shelly Group are members of PARAi. Representatives participate in the association's expert council, supporting innovation development in the sector at national level.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Estimote: Bluetooth beacon and sensor-based location/IoT platform for workplaces, healthcare, and retail. Comparable to Zekeng's ConnectedBin and Canary concepts in shipping low-power wireless sensors deployed at scale for enterprise and public-sector customers.

Direct peers

• Tibbo Technology: Embedded systems and IoT hardware/module vendor with its own programmable controllers and Tibbo Project System. Comparable to Zekeng as a smaller specialist designing and shipping proprietary IoT hardware plus supporting dev tools.
• Arduino: Open-source hardware and embedded platform serving makers, educators, and IoT developers. Comparable to Zekeng in its end-to-end PCB/firmware/tooling stack and its ability to monetize both a developer ecosystem and branded hardware.
• Rigado: Edge IoT gateway and connectivity platform serving smart-building and smart-retail customers. Comparable to Zekeng in deploying IoT hardware (gateways, sensors) for commercial building and enterprise use cases.
• Seeed Studio: Shenzhen-based open-source hardware ODM/EMS with an IoT and edge-AI product line (Grove, SenseCAP, reTerminal). Comparable to Zekeng as a hardware design-and-manufacturing services firm that also ships proprietary IoT modules globally.
• Particle Industries: IoT hardware-and-platform company building cellular/Wi-Fi modules and a device cloud. Comparable to Zekeng in combining custom IoT hardware with managed connectivity for enterprise customers and developer/builder communities.
• Witekio: European embedded-software and IoT engineering services firm (now part of Avnet). Comparable to Zekeng in offering firmware, connected-device, and end-to-end IoT engineering services to enterprise clients across hardware and software stacks.
• Shelly Group: European smart-home/IoT hardware brand and Zekeng's core co-development partner. Comparable because both design and ship IoT hardware at similar scale, target overlapping end-users, and now share engineering and product roadmaps under the 2024–2025 partnership.

Broad incumbents

• Espressif Systems: Larger fabless designer of the ESP32/ESP8266 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth SoCs that power a huge share of the global IoT device ecosystem, including many embedded/IoT products like Zekeng's ConnectedBin and Canary. Comparable as the upstream enabling silicon for Zekeng's class of hardware.
• Nordic Semiconductor: Larger fabless supplier of low-power Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellular IoT silicon (nRF52/53 series). Comparable to Zekeng as the upstream platform provider whose chips underpin comparable battery-powered IoT sensor products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/zekengjsc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zek-engineering-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about zekeng