No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups

Founder Stories: What’s behind the largest commercial autonomous system on earth? With Zipline’s Keller Rinaudo Cliffton

Feb 20, 2023

Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, co-founder and CEO of Zipline, shares insights into pioneering instant medical supply deliveries using autonomous drones. He discusses the transition from simple robotics to transforming healthcare logistics, emphasizing adaptability and user feedback. Cliffton delves into the innovative acoustic detect-and-avoid system that enhances flight safety and the company's remarkable expansion efforts. He also reflects on the challenges of scaling operations while emphasizing the importance of building for underserved regions globally.

46:17

Creator website

Episode guests

Keller Rinaudo Cliffton

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Diverse Paths of Technology Enthusiast

00:44

The Importance of Launching a Simple Product in the Autonomous Industry

01:12

The Future of American Entrepreneurship

00:53

Customer Care in Robotics

00:31

Intro

4min

From Simple Robots to Transforming Logistics

3min

Navigating Healthcare Drone Logistics

18min

Innovative Approaches to Autonomous Flight Safety

4min

Innovative Logistics Solutions in Global Healthcare

4min

Scaling Zipline: Challenges and Vision

12min

This is a special bonus episode from our Founder Stories series, where entrepreneurs share the story of their startup journey.

A delivery with Zipline is the closest thing we have to teleportation. It sounds like science fiction, but Zipline delivers life saving medical supplies such as blood and vaccines to hospitals, doctors and people in need around the world with the world's largest autonomous drone network.

This week on the podcast, Sarah Guo talks to Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, the co-founder and CEO of Zipline, about building a full-stack business that involves software, hardware and operations, how a culture of ruthless engineering practicality enabled them to do unlikely things, the state of autopilot in aircraft, their AI acoustic detect-and-avoid system, and why founders should build for users beyond the "golden billion."

Show Links:

Show Notes:

[2:07] - Keller’s earlier projects and early inspiration for Zipline and transforming logistics

[7:40] - Why Zipline focused on healthcare logistics and Zipline’s early near death experiences as a company

[15:32] - How Zipline iterated on the hardware while being ruthlessly practical with getting products in the customers’ hands

[21:52] - The difference between AI and Autopilot

[25:51] - How Zipline developed AI acoustic-based detect and avoid system

[31:30] - Zipline’s partnership with Rwanda’s public health system

[34:25] - Challenges in the business model

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