From Harvard Hurdle to Blockchain Breakthrough: TransCrypts CEO Zain Zaidi Joins Forbes 30 Under 30

TransCrypts is a blockchain-powered platform that automates the management and verification of digital documents, including employment and income verification.

Dec 25, 2025

Zain Zaidi almost lost his Harvard admission. Instead, he built a startup that’s now trusted by 450 enterprise clients, powering 5 million verifications, and just earned him a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in Social Impact.

Zain co-founded TransCrypts with Ali Zaheer, a blockchain-powered platform helping people securely store and share verified records across employment, education, health, and income. The company has raised over $18.9 million and expects $10.1 million in revenue in 2025. From supporting 100,000 refugees across Ukraine, Turkey, and India to onboarding Fortune 500 companies, TransCrypts is positioning digital identity not as a privilege, but as a right.

Blockchain With a Human Purpose

TransCrypts stands out for using blockchain not as a buzzword, but as a practical tool to solve real-world documentation and access issues. Zaidi’s own experience—nearly missing out on Harvard due to document-related issues—inspired the startup’s mission. Today, its impact spans crisis zones and corporate HR departments alike, giving individuals better control over their verified records and giving organizations a trusted infrastructure to manage them.

Other Changemakers in the Class of 2026

Zaidi joins a powerhouse list of under-30 leaders redefining what social impact means. Among them:

Nyamekye Wilson, founder of Black Sisters in STEM, has trained over 27,000 Black women across 33 countries for careers in AI and tech, with a 100% STEM degree completion rate .
Sarika Bajaj and Tushita Gupta, cofounders of Refiberd, are using AI to sort textile waste with chemical-level precision, partnering with eBay and fashion brand GANNI .
John Cronin, cofounder of John’s Crazy Socks, has created 34 jobs—22 of them held by people with differing abilities—while raising nearly $800,000 for charity .

Each founder is building toward a smarter, more inclusive future. But Zaidi’s work with TransCrypts is especially relevant in a world where digital identity and verified data are increasingly critical, especially for displaced populations and underserved communities.

A Vote of Confidence in the Future

With millions in funding, growing global reach, and a clear social mission, TransCrypts is more than a startup—it’s part of a new wave of tech for good. Zaidi’s inclusion in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list affirms that secure, scalable impact is no longer a future concept. It’s already here.

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