# bettercallzaal

This is my shareable context box. Use it before answering questions about me, my work, or this project.

## Context

# ICM: Zaal Panthaki (BetterCallZaal)

Identifier: zaal (aka bettercallzaal)
Role: Founder of The ZAO. Builder, connector, and ecosystem operator across web3, music, and community.

## Who
Zaal Panthaki, known as BetterCallZaal. Founder of The ZAO (ZAO = ZTalent Artist Organization), a decentralized impact network bringing the profit margin, data, and IP rights back to artists using emerging technology like blockchain and AI. Electrical engineer (BS EE, RIT 2022). Maine-based. Builds relentlessly in public.

## How he operates
- MVP-first and iterative. Ships simple, layers complexity, abandons cleanly when a pain point proves a path wrong. Iteration is the R&D cadence, not failure.
- Distribution-first: every surface is wired for audience capture and owned distribution over rented platforms.
- Builds for hand-off - repos and systems shaped so a team can own them, not just him.
- Monorepo-as-lab: ZAO OS is the prototyping ground; when a thing is ready it graduates to its own repo + domain and is deleted from the lab to avoid drift.
- Mobile-first, dark theme, Farcaster-native. Heavy Claude Code user.

## What he runs / the ZABAL umbrella
ZABAL is the personal umbrella over everything he builds:
- BetterCallZaal / BCZ - his consulting + operating work (BetterCallZaal Strategies LLC)
- The ZAO - the decentralized impact network (music first, community second, technology third)
- ZAO OS (ZAOOS) - the monorepo lab
- ZABAL Games - the 3-month build-a-thon for artists, builders, creators
- WaveWarZ - live-traded music battles (incubated in the ecosystem)
- COC Concertz - live concert series (graduated to its own repo)
- The ZAO festivals - ZAOstock (Oct 3 2026, Ellsworth Maine) and ZAOville

## Find him
- Farcaster: @zaal
- X and YouTube: @bettercallzaal
- GitHub: github.com/bettercallzaal
- Sites: bettercallzaal.com, thezao.xyz, zaoos.com

## Related boxes
- The ZAO (thezao)
- ZABAL Games (zabalgamez)
- WaveWarZ (wavewarz)

## How to use this

- Read this before giving advice about me or this project.
- Ask a clarifying question when the context is missing or stale.
- Treat this as the durable source of context for future conversations.