Zipline

Co-founded Redwood Robotics, a startup focused on making robotic arms safer and more accessible, before co-launching Zipline. Previously worked on autonomous systems at Stanford's AI Lab, where his research centered on robotics and real-time control. Holds a PhD in computer science from Stanford. Has described his engineering philosophy as building systems that must work reliably at scale in the real world — not just in demo environments — reflecting Zipline's operational focus on thousands of daily autonomous deliveries across multiple countries.

Before Zipline, Keller co-founded Romotive, a robotics startup that built a smartphone-controlled robot (Romo), raised venture capital, and was eventually acquired. Prior to that, he worked at Kiva Systems, the warehouse robotics company later acquired by Amazon. He studied at Harvard University, where he was also a classically trained guitarist — a background he has cited as informing his approach to discipline and team rhythm. A distinguishing aspect of his leadership is an unusually patient, long-horizon orientation: Zipline spent years operating exclusively in Rwanda and Ghana before expanding into the U.S. and Japan, reflecting a conviction that impact infrastructure requires deep local partnership rather than rapid scaling.

Co-founder of Zipline alongside Keller Rinaudo Cliffton and Will Hetzler. Oksenhorn leads the software and autonomy engineering behind Zipline's drone logistics platform. Prior to Zipline, he was a software engineer at Microsoft, where he worked on developer tools. He holds a degree in computer science from the University of Washington. Oksenhorn has been the engineering backbone of the company from its earliest days, focusing on the reliable, real-time control systems that enable Zipline's long-range autonomous deliveries at scale.

Co-founded Zipline in 2014 alongside Keller Rinaudo and Keenan Wyrobek, serving as the company's technical and hardware engineering lead. Hetzler designed Zipline's fixed-wing drone platform and the proprietary electromagnetic launch and retrieval systems that enable the company's remote, autonomous operations. Prior to Zipline, he worked in aerospace and robotics engineering, bringing deep hardware expertise to the venture. Unlike Zipline's CEO, Hetzler maintains a low public profile and is rarely seen in media appearances, instead focusing on the aircraft design and system architecture that underpins the company's long-range logistics network.