I’m Karan. I write code that flies drones at Zipline, where we’re building infrastructure for instant delivery anywhere on Earth.

Most of my work happens at the intersection of atoms and bits – robotics, distributed systems, human-computer interfaces. I’m drawn to problems that require both mathematical elegance and physical robustness. The kind where a misplaced decimal doesn’t just crash a program but might crash actual hardware into actual ground.

Right now I’m learning Zig, and building an app that lets humans learn and collaborate with AI. These aren’t random projects – they’re different angles on the same question: how do we build tools that amplify human capability without getting in the way?

I’ve worked with early-stage teams trying to turn research papers into products, helped deep-tech startups navigate the valley between “this works in the lab” and “this works in the world.” The pattern I’ve noticed: the best projects aren’t just technically ambitious. They have an opinion about how the world should work.

When I’m not writing code or climbing rocks, I sometimes advise startups in aerospace, robotics, and AI. Mostly this means helping them figure out which problems are actually hard (fewer than you’d think) and which are just unfamiliar (more than you’d think).

If you’re working on something where the technical challenges are clear but the path isn’t, I’m always curious to talk.

Contact
karchaw[at]proton[dot]me