Khalil Zahar

Yo, have you heard of Khalil Zahar? The dude’s a straight-up big change in the fitness world. Started out studying mechanical engineering at U of T and Laval, so he’s got that tech brain but also a real passion for pushing limits. While grinding on his master’s thesis, he saw a gap in boxing tech, like, real-time feedback, tracking punches, all that jazz. That’s when FightCamp was born, originally called Hykso. Dude saw an opportunity to make boxing more accessible and engaging, not just for pros but for everyone.

Fast forward, Khalil jumped into Y Combinator in W16, yeah, the big league of startups, and that’s where he really honed his skills. FightCamp blew up, backed by legends like Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, no cap, that’s some serious cred. He’s all about making fitness fun and tech-savvy, so he built this interactive at-home boxing platform that’s basically a gym in your living room. The guy’s based in Newport Beach now, but his vision’s global, raising big funding, growing internationally, all while keeping it hands-on and laser-focused on innovation.

What I love about Khalil is that he’s not just some tech guy throwing shit at the wall. Nah, he’s a builder who saw a problem, how to bring real boxing feedback to everyone, and he crushed it. His background in engineering, plus his YC experience, made him sharp as hell at turning ideas into reality. And he’s also a mentor at the Founder Institute, so he’s giving back and helping other entrepreneurs get started.

Bottom line: Khalil’s story is all about noticing the gaps others ignore, jumping in with both feet, and not stopping until he’s changed the game. He’s all about making fitness accessible, tech-driven, and fun. That’s why he’s a major player, not just in boxing tech but in the startup scene. The dude’s the real deal, no bullshit.