# Alan Zhang

> Alan Zhang (Rongyu Zhang) is a San Francisco-based founder, aerospace engineer, and YouTube creator who built the first human-carrying eVTOL drone assembled by a high schooler — a 280kg-thrust electric aircraft completed in 327 days with 17 classmates in a Diamond Bar garage. Now at UC Berkeley's MET program (Management, Entrepreneurship & Technology), he is building Prototype 3 of his passenger drone and running a stealth startup, while his YouTube channel @alanzeekk documents his journey building interesting machines.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Stealth Startup
- **Organizations:** Project Leelyn Drone, Dronescape Club, VTOL at Berkeley, FPV Creator, UC Berkeley Aviation Innovation Research (AIR) Lab
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Management, Entrepreneurship & Technology (MET) — Mechanical Engineering + Business, UC Berkeley, High School Diploma, Diamond Bar High School
- **Known for:** Led first youth team to build a human-carrying eVTOL multicopter aircraft (Prototype 1, 2022), Raised $25,000 in high school through sponsor pitches for Project Leelyn Drone, First undergraduate member of UC Berkeley's Aviation Innovation Research (AIR) Lab

## Career timeline

- **2021** — Founded Project Leelyn Drone with 17 classmates at Diamond Bar High School; raised $25,000 from sponsors to build a human-carrying eVTOL
- **2022** — Completed Prototype 1 — a single-passenger electric aircraft with 280kg thrust, 30-min flight time, and full autopilot; graduated high school
- **2022** — Enrolled at UC Berkeley MET program; became first undergraduate member of UC Berkeley Aviation Innovation Research (AIR) Lab
- **2022-2023** — Founded VTOL at Berkeley; developed Prototype 2 — 8-motor 3D-printed eVTOL multicopter
- **2023** — Operated FPV Creator, a subscale drone company for FPV filming and educational kits; built supply chain with T-Motor, TCMM, and AirBot
- **2024** — 3D-printed flying car project selected as Fabbaloo Design of the Week; developed Prototype 3; launched stealth startup in San Francisco
- **2024-present** — Co-Founder & CEO at stealth startup in San Francisco; continuing eVTOL research and YouTube content creation

## Achievements

- Led first youth team to build a human-carrying eVTOL multicopter aircraft (Prototype 1, 2022)
- Raised $25,000 in high school through sponsor pitches for Project Leelyn Drone
- First undergraduate member of UC Berkeley's Aviation Innovation Research (AIR) Lab
- Founded Dronescape Club at Diamond Bar High School; recruited 30+ members in year one
- Founded VTOL at Berkeley aviation organization
- Designed and manufactured 40+ unique drones for filmmaking and scientific applications
- Taught aerial photography to 30+ students
- Built FPV drone supply chain collaborating with T-Motor, TCMM, and AirBot
- Grew Instagram channels to 30,000+ accumulated followers
- FAA-certified commercial drone operator
- International STEM competition winner
- Fabbaloo Design of the Week selection for 3D-printed eVTOL (2024)

## Latest updates

- **2024-01** — Fabbaloo selected his 3D-printed flying car prototype as Design of the Week
- **2023-12** — LinkedIn post about UC Berkeley Aviation Innovation Research Lab contribution to Prototype development
- **2023-09** — Working on Prototype 3 eVTOL at UC Berkeley; stealth startup active in San Francisco
- **2022-08** — Completed Prototype 1 — first human-carrying eVTOL built by a high schooler in the US

## Links

- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rongyu-zhang
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/alanzeekk
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alanzeekk
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alanszhang

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alan-zhang
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-31