About Me in 10 Minutes

Hi, I’m Aaron Zhang—a startup founder with a background in mechanical engineering and expertise in manufacturing and supply chain, particularly in the medical device and aerospace industry. I’m also a writer, programmer, maker, and a lifelong learner who’s always curious about the world.

Timeline fun facts

• 1985: Born in Shandong, China, just 50 miles from Confucius’s birthplace.
• 1991: Got my first 386 computer and started drawing circles on it.
• 1998: Began exploring CAD software.
• 2003: Moved to Wuhan, China, for college.
• 2007: Relocated to Hong Kong for graduate school and research.
• 2008: Took up photography with both film SLR and DSLR cameras.
• 2009: Finally learned how to swim.
• 2010: Began experimenting with 3D printing.
• 2011: Moved to Cambridge, MA, for graduate school and started working for aerospace.
• 2012: Founded Taomaker to create open-source CNC machines.
• 2015: Started consulting for Boston-area startups in manufacturing and supply chain.
• 2016: Achieved Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• 2018: Started working for medical device startups.
• 2024: Moved to Central Florida

Education

I’m proud to be an alumnus of:

• Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China)
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shatin, Hong Kong)
• MIT Sloan School of Management (Cambridge, MA)

People

I draw inspiration from remarkable figures like:

• Derek Sivers (entrepreneur and thinker)
• Ansel Adams (photographer and environmentalist)
• Deng Xiaoping (reformer and pragmatist)
• Joseph Needham (historian of Chinese science)
• Linus Torvalds (creator of Linux and Git)

A Bit More About Me

• I’m a minimalist at heart.
• I’m naturally skeptical, which keeps me grounded.
• I learn things slowly but deeply.
• I prefer face-to-face, one-on-one conversations over large groups or virtual chats.