Team Q&A: Kyle Safranek – Product Marketer

From enjoying the arts to working on his sustainability efforts, our product marketer Kyle Safranek wants to make the world a little better, and the grid a little greener. Join us in welcoming Kyle to the Virtual Peaker team!

How did your previous life prepare you for Virtual Peaker?

A quote I enjoy touches on this subject well: “The distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” -Albert Einstein.

I have experience supporting startups in the tech sector, especially SaaS. The convergence of my interests in creating, research, and strategy has led me down the path of helping companies grow. My background is wide-ranging, including roles, education, and industries. This has prepared me to be adaptable, understand the big picture, and translate complexity into connectivity.

Tell us about your role at Virtual Peaker.

I am the Product Marketer here at Virtual Peaker, working to connect the dots between the product and the market in both directions. I align product positioning and development with customer and market needs. I aim to understand the customers, their pains, and how Virtual Peaker can help.

My role intersects many different departments and projects across the company. Working cross-functionally with talented teams and employees makes every day rewarding as I continue to learn and grow.

How do you personally engage in sustainability efforts?

I engage in sustainability in various ways—it’s an evolving effort. I buy secondhand and recycle end-of-life products when possible. I also have switched from using plastic to adopting reuse items, including water bottles and bags. Recently, I’ve started growing my own food and grocery shopping locally at farmers’ markets.

Though during my time with Virtual Peaker, I have come to understand a much more holistic picture of energy sustainability. From the stakeholders involved to the direction the industry is headed, I am learning more about the action being taken and how I can be more involved every day.

What can you tell us about yourself?

I’m an avid film and music lover. Looking at a typical week, you will likely find me at a screening, festival, or concert. I enjoy being outdoors and try to immerse myself as often as possible. Whether relaxing on a raft at a lake or embarking on a backpacking trip to hike across mountains, there is something to appreciate with every excursion. I also have a love for traveling and try to explore as often as I can. The opportunity to meet new people, try different cuisines, and learn more about the world truly enriches my life.

About The Author

Bill is a serial entrepreneur with a PhD from UC Berkeley in Controls and Artificial Intelligence and 10 years of experience with high performance residential energy management and connected appliances. He was previously at GE as an Advanced Systems Engineer in the Connected Home Software Group, but left that role in May 2014 to pursue entrepreneurship full time.

Bill grew up in Louisville and returned with his family in 2010 after a long stint in the San Francisco Bay Area. He loves Louisville and is working to make it a better and more attractive city for high tech startups.

More About Bill