# Delivering the future in drones with Keller Rinaudo Cliffton of Zipline

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2023-07-13
- Length: 38m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline

## Summary

Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, co-founder and CEO of Zipline, recounts the company's evolution from a failed smartphone-robot startup to a global autonomous delivery leader. He details the technical and regulatory challenges of launching drone logistics in Rwanda, specifically the initial failure to reliably deliver blood to hospitals, and how Zipline pivoted to build a robust infrastructure for medical supplies. Cliffton explains how Zipline is now expanding into the US commercial market with Walmart, developing new silent, high-precision aircraft for home delivery of consumer goods.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline#t=0) Introduction: Keller Rinaudo Cliffton and Zipline
- [1:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline#t=81) The Origin: Remotive and the iPhone Robot
- [6:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline#t=399) Pivoting to Logistics and the Rwanda Opportunity
- [18:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline#t=1082) Early Struggles: Delivering Blood in Rwanda
- [22:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline#t=1323) Scaling the System: Range, Cost, and Infrastructure
- [27:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline#t=1629) Expanding to the US and Regulatory Hurdles
- [32:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline#t=1971) The New Home Delivery Platform and Walmart Partnership

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Zipline (company)
- Remotive (company)
- Kiva Robotics (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Walmart (company)
- FAA (other)
- Nevant Healthcare (company)
- Intermountain (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Keenan Wyrobek (Co-founder/CTO, Zipline)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline) (Just Gonna Send It)
- [348: Flop Onto the Bouncy Castle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-10-15-348-flop-onto-the-bouncy-castle) (Embedded.fm)
- [A look at Zipline's future & the design of the Zip's Droid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2024-02-07-a-look-at-ziplines-future-the-design-of-the-zips-droid) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Episode 103: Delivering medicine by drone - Keenan Wyrobek](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2024-12-20-episode-103-delivering-medicine-by-drone-keenan-wyrobek) (Robot Talk)
- [Garrett McCurrach and Canon Reeves (Co-Founders, Pipedream Labs)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2025-12-17-garrett-mccurrach-and-canon-reeves-co-founders-pipedream-labs) (Just Gonna Send It)

## Citing this page

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