Todd Pedersen is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vivint Smart Home. Vivint Smart Home is the leader in Security and Home Automation in North America. They are revolutionizing the way we think about how a home should act and function. Vivint Smart Home's goal is to not only keep you and your family safe, but to make your home smarter and bring automation to simple everyday tasks.
- Where did Todd Pedersen start?
Todd grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He comes from a large family being the fourth of eleven children. After serving a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Todd attended school at Brigham Young University. Not long into his college career, Todd decided that he wanted to start his own business. His first business he started was a small pest control business that he ran in Arizona. Their selling technique of selling door to door was unique for its time. Todd soon decided to move away from the pest control business and explore a new venture, home security systems. The home security company started as APX Alarm Security Solutions. “Todd founded APX Alarm in 1999, which became one of the largest residential security companies in North America.” (Vivint, 2018) In order to save costs, Todd also help found the company 2GIG in order to manufacture systems in house. The business began to thrive.
- How did Vivint Smart Home start?
Vivint Smart Home started as APX Alarm Security Solutions. After great success, Todd saw that this success could only last so long. There were many competitors in the home security industry and he knew that in order for business to continue, they needed something that would hold them above the competition. “The company rebranded to Vivint in 2010 and later launched an innovation center to pioneer the development of new smart home technology.” (Vivint, 2018) Once this change happened when Todd no longer needed products from 2GIG, that company was sold. All products are now designed and created in house. Home automation, creating a smart home has been Todd’s vision from the beginning. He wanted to find a solution for making your home take care of menial tasks so that you no longer have to worry or think about them.
- How has home automation evolved from where it was to where it is now?
In the article “The History of Smart Homes” by Drew Hendricks, we can see a brief history of smart homes. Home appliances is at the start of the list. Although we may not think of appliances as being smart, they definitely make life easier. Next is the ECHO IV. “This clever device could compute shopping lists, control the home’s temperature and turn appliances on and off. The Kitchen Computer, developed a year later, could store recipes, but had the unfortunate tagline, “If she can only cook as well as Honeywell can computer” and therefore sold no models.” (Hendricks, 2014) Next we have technology similar to life alert. This technology is known as gerontechnology. In the late 90’s to early 2000s we see the emerging of home automation. We started to see more home automation products more widely available, however, they were still often times too expensive for the average consumer. “Under Todd's leadership, Vivint has evolved from a dynamic startup to the leading smart home services company in North America.” (Vivint, 2018) Todd Pedersen has brought together a solution today that makes security and home automation affordable for everyone. This is the current state of home automation at Vivint Smart Home.
- Unfortunate Events
In June of 2016, Todd was in an accident while participating in the Baja 500 race in Ensenada Mexico. This crash killed an 8 year old boy and injured his mother. Here is a statement that was made about the accident: "While negotiating a turn entering the Ensenada wash and attempting to avoid some fans, [Pedersen's vehicle] eventually hit three spectators. An eight-year old boy was fatally injured in the accident, according to police on the scene. He was transported to an Ensenada hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival." (Green, 2016) Pedersen later said, “I'm devastated by the tragic accident that happened this weekend. My heart goes out to the family at this time.” (Green, 2016)
Since this accident, there hasn’t been much said about it. Pedersen has moved on doing the best that he can after being involved in this tragic event.
- Some Recognitions
“In 2012, the Blackstone Group acquired Vivint for more than $2 billion. Todd led the incubation and launch of Vivint Solar, which had a $1.5 billion IPO in 2014 and became the second largest residential solar power provider in the United States. In 2017, Fast Company named Vivint to its list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies.
Todd Pedersen and Vivint were featured on CBS’s television show, “Undercover Boss”. This gave Todd the opportunity to learn more about his employees as well as see the processes that his business has to follow in order to be successful. (Vivint, 2018)
As a result of his efforts in the business world and in the community, Todd has been named an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Utah's Entrepreneur of the Year by Mountain West Capital Network, and was inducted into the David Eccles School of Business Hall of Fame.” (Vivint, 2018)
- Where did Todd Pedersen start?
Todd grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He comes from a large family being the fourth of eleven children. After serving a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Todd attended school at Brigham Young University. Not long into his college career, Todd decided that he wanted to start his own business. His first business he started was a small pest control business that he ran in Arizona. Their selling technique of selling door to door was unique for its time. Todd soon decided to move away from the pest control business and explore a new venture, home security systems. The home security company started as APX Alarm Security Solutions. “Todd founded APX Alarm in 1999, which became one of the largest residential security companies in North America.” (Vivint, 2018) In order to save costs, Todd also help found the company 2GIG in order to manufacture systems in house. The business began to thrive.
- How did Vivint Smart Home start?
Vivint Smart Home started as APX Alarm Security Solutions. After great success, Todd saw that this success could only last so long. There were many competitors in the home security industry and he knew that in order for business to continue, they needed something that would hold them above the competition. “The company rebranded to Vivint in 2010 and later launched an innovation center to pioneer the development of new smart home technology.” (Vivint, 2018) Once this change happened when Todd no longer needed products from 2GIG, that company was sold. All products are now designed and created in house. Home automation, creating a smart home has been Todd’s vision from the beginning. He wanted to find a solution for making your home take care of menial tasks so that you no longer have to worry or think about them.
- How has home automation evolved from where it was to where it is now?
In the article “The History of Smart Homes” by Drew Hendricks, we can see a brief history of smart homes. Home appliances is at the start of the list. Although we may not think of appliances as being smart, they definitely make life easier. Next is the ECHO IV. “This clever device could compute shopping lists, control the home’s temperature and turn appliances on and off. The Kitchen Computer, developed a year later, could store recipes, but had the unfortunate tagline, “If she can only cook as well as Honeywell can computer” and therefore sold no models.” (Hendricks, 2014) Next we have technology similar to life alert. This technology is known as gerontechnology. In the late 90’s to early 2000s we see the emerging of home automation. We started to see more home automation products more widely available, however, they were still often times too expensive for the average consumer. “Under Todd's leadership, Vivint has evolved from a dynamic startup to the leading smart home services company in North America.” (Vivint, 2018) Todd Pedersen has brought together a solution today that makes security and home automation affordable for everyone. This is the current state of home automation at Vivint Smart Home.
- Unfortunate Events
In June of 2016, Todd was in an accident while participating in the Baja 500 race in Ensenada Mexico. This crash killed an 8 year old boy and injured his mother. Here is a statement that was made about the accident: "While negotiating a turn entering the Ensenada wash and attempting to avoid some fans, [Pedersen's vehicle] eventually hit three spectators. An eight-year old boy was fatally injured in the accident, according to police on the scene. He was transported to an Ensenada hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival." (Green, 2016) Pedersen later said, “I'm devastated by the tragic accident that happened this weekend. My heart goes out to the family at this time.” (Green, 2016)
Since this accident, there hasn’t been much said about it. Pedersen has moved on doing the best that he can after being involved in this tragic event.
- Some Recognitions
“In 2012, the Blackstone Group acquired Vivint for more than $2 billion. Todd led the incubation and launch of Vivint Solar, which had a $1.5 billion IPO in 2014 and became the second largest residential solar power provider in the United States. In 2017, Fast Company named Vivint to its list of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies.
Todd Pedersen and Vivint were featured on CBS’s television show, “Undercover Boss”. This gave Todd the opportunity to learn more about his employees as well as see the processes that his business has to follow in order to be successful. (Vivint, 2018)
As a result of his efforts in the business world and in the community, Todd has been named an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Utah's Entrepreneur of the Year by Mountain West Capital Network, and was inducted into the David Eccles School of Business Hall of Fame.” (Vivint, 2018)
Citations:
- Https://www.vivint.com/company/about-us. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2018, from https://www.vivint.com/company/about-us
- Hendricks, D. (2014, April 22). The History of Smart Homes. Retrieved February 20, 2018, from http://www.iotevolutionworld.com/m2m/articles/376816-history-smart-homes.htm
- Vivint CEO Todd Pedersen involved in crash that killed young spectator at SCORE Baja 500. (2016, June 06). Retrieved March 26, 2018, from http://fox13now.com/2016/06/05/vivint-ceo-todd-pedersen-involved-in-crash-that-killed-young-spectator-at-score-baja-500/
- "Undercover Boss" Behind the Scenes with Vivint CEO Todd Pederson. (2016, October 03). Retrieved March 26, 2018, from https://www.vivint.com/resources/article/undercover-boss-behind-the-scenes-with-vivint-ceo-todd-pederson