It was illegal to fly autonomously in U.S. airspace when Keller Cliffton started Zipline, so the company went somewhere that would let it prove the technology worked: Rwanda. A decade later, Zipline has made more than 3 million deliveries and is bringing its autonomous delivery network to the U.S.

Keller joins Sophia Dew on The Method to explain why Zipline started by delivering blood to hospitals, how operating in the real world shaped the company, and why almost everything has to be reinvented every time the business grows 10x.

They also discuss Zipline’s expansion into U.S. home delivery, how the company organizes teams more like special forces than a traditional hierarchy, and why Keller believes demand could eventually reach 50 billion instant deliveries a year in the U.S.

Resources:

Originally published by The Method.

Watch the original episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQSsqVGJpWA

Follow Keller Cliffton: https://x.com/Keller

Follow Sophia Dew: https://x.com/sophiadew

Stay Updated:

Find a16z on YouTube: YouTube

Find a16z on X

Find a16z on LinkedIn

Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify

Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.