# Keenan Wyrobek (Co-founder/CTO, Zipline)

- Show: [Just Gonna Send It](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it)
- Published: 2026-07-29
- Length: 51m
- Episode: 18
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline

## Summary

Keenan Wyrobek, Co-founder and CTO of Zipline, recounts the company's journey from his early work on the ROS robotics platform to launching autonomous drone delivery in Rwanda. He details the rigorous prototyping process, including failed attempts like stunt airbags and the eventual adoption of an aircraft carrier-style launch and recovery system using fishing reels. Wyrobek emphasizes how deep customer engagement in public health logistics clarified engineering requirements, leading to a focus on reliability and weather-hardened testing over complex features.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline#t=0) Introduction and Zipline Overview
- [5:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline#t=338) Early Life, Education, and ROS
- [16:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline#t=992) Exploration Phase and Customer Discovery
- [29:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline#t=1748) Rwanda Launch and Fixed-Wing Strategy
- [34:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline#t=2091) Prototyping Landing Systems and Failures
- [40:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline#t=2401) Scaling, Testing, and Weather Challenges
- [44:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline#t=2654) Debugging Electrostatic Discharge
- [47:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-07-29-keenan-wyrobek-co-founder-cto-zipline#t=2824) Future of Robotics and Final Advice

## Topics

- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Zipline (company)
- ROS (other)
- Willow Garage (company)
- Sequoia (company)
- Johns Hopkins (other)
- Stanford (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Delivering the future in drones with Keller Rinaudo Cliffton of Zipline](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-07-13-delivering-the-future-in-drones-with-keller-rinaudo-cliffton-of-zipline) (How I Built This)
- [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)
- [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)
- [221: How to Go from Prototype to First Manufacturing Run](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-04-11-221-how-to-go-from-prototype-to-first-manufacturing-run) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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