DUNCAN ABBOT
Founder / Engineer / Inventor_
Hello! I'm the founder and CEO of Zenbul, where we're building an AI-powered R&D platform for designing physical metamaterials — starting with airflow-permeable acoustic panels for datacenter cooling. Before Zenbul I founded a VR/AR company (Gwydion), was the founding engineer (and later senior PM) at a unicorn health tech startup (Cadence Solutions), built simulations for ISS repair robots at NASA/JPL, and did robotics research at the University of Michigan (with a patent on wireless power along the way). If you'd like to chat about Zenbul or anything else, please reach out!
CURRENT PROJECTS
Zenbul
Automated AI R&D platform for designing physical metamaterials. Fuses LLM-powered auto-research with in-house generative design models, then 3D-prints and tests the results on a tight loop. Starting with airflow-permeable acoustic panels for datacenter cooling — the long game is a platform spanning thermal, mechanical, and electromagnetic metamaterials.
AI/ML, LLM Agents, Generative Design, Material Science, 3D Printing
PRIOR WORK
Tirvale
Tirvale is a low-graphics, single-server, RPGMMO. Creating a D&D-like multiplayer RPG game focused on unique character specialization, deep crafting and balancing gameplay between casual and competitive players.
Game Development, Interactive Media, Creative Technology
Zenbul Farms
Automated farming platform designed to make agriculture more cost-effective and resilient to climate change. Uses aeroponics and AI to optimize plant growth and yield. Ran a pilot on Governors Island in NYC.
Robotics, Agriculture, Climate Tech, Automation
Cadence Solutions - Senior Product Manager
Led AI and provider-facing product work for a health tech company focused on remote patient monitoring and chronic disease management. Worked with major health systems to reduce hospital admissions and improve patient outcomes through innovative care delivery systems.
Product Management, Health Tech, Remote Patient Monitoring
Gwydion - CEO & Founder
CEO and co-founder of a VR/AR software development company based in Ann Arbor, MI. Created Arthea, a platform for research and university-level education that enables collaborative virtual environments for 3D content manipulation and annotation. Customers included Dupont, Stanford, and the University of Michigan.
VR/AR, EdTech, Entrepreneurship, Leadership
BIRDS Lab - Robotics Research Engineer
Conducted research in biologically inspired robotics and dynamical systems at the University of Michigan. Worked on tools for rapid prototyping of robotic systems, VR/AR interfaces, and a patented wireless power system.
Robotics Research, Biomechanics, Mathematical Modeling
NASA/JPL - Simulation Software Engineer
Developed simulation software for repair robots designed for the International Space Station. Project used as part of a multi-month astronaut training similation at NASA's HERA facility.
Space Robotics, Simulation, NASA/JPL, Systems Engineering
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Highland Biscuits
Gluten-free biscuit pop-up in downtown Brooklyn, NYC. Making delicious breakfast biscuits available for a broader audience. Inspired by a Scottish biscuit I had before my gluten allergy.
Food Service, Entrepreneurship, Local Business
GET INVOLVED
Founding Team
We're hiring our founding team in NYC: a founding lab lead (hardware, 3D printing, lab automation), a founding AI engineer (LLM agents + scientific ML), and an exceptional CTO/co-founder. If that's you or someone in your network, reach out.
Pilot Partners
Looking for pilot partners in datacenter operations, HVAC, and acoustic-sensitive industrial environments. If conventional acoustic panels are blocking the airflow you need, let's talk.
Advisors & Community
Building deep relationships with experts in acoustics, AI agents, scientific ML, and advanced manufacturing. If those are your areas, I'd love to connect.
CONTACT
Always happy to chat about metamaterials, AI agents, or building deep-tech in NYC.