Episode 298: The Drive to Keep Workers Safe and Secure with Kenny Kelley, Founder and CEO of Silent Beacon; Rockville, MD, USA
From Hollywood stuntman to tech founder saving lives—Kenny Kelley’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this powerful episode, he shares how a motorcycle accident led him to create a game-changing safety tech company that’s revolutionizing workplace protection.
We sat down with Kenny Kelley, founder and CEO of Silent Beacon, a personal safety technology company helping protect vulnerable workers through panic button solutions. Kenny’s journey to become to tech entrepreneur is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and listening to the market.
He shares the origin story of Silent Beacon and the hard-earned lessons that came with funding, product-market fit, and scaling in regulated industries like healthcare. Kenny opens up about surviving the startup trenches, rebounding from naysayers, and why feedback is the fuel behind every innovation.
If you’ve ever faced rejection, doubted your vision, or wondered how to pivot with purpose, this one’s for you.
Here are highlights:
A Stuntman’s Wake-Up Call: After a motorcycle accident left him unable to reach his phone, Kenny realized the tech gap in personal emergency response.
From Shark Tank to Strategic Capital: Kenny passed on a Shark Tank deal to partner with a seasoned business mentor, prioritizing long-term guidance over fast fame.
The Reality of Go-to-Market Missteps: Kenny candidly discusses how his initial launch strategy flopped and how shifting from B2C to B2B in regulated industries transformed his company’s trajectory.
The Power of Listening (Especially to “No”): Silent Beacon 2.0 wasn’t born from flashy features. It was built by fixing what users hated. Kenny explains how product evolution is all about humble iteration.
Protecting the Protectors: With alarming statistics on workplace assaults in healthcare, Kenny outlines how Silent Beacon is helping nurses, social workers, and educators feel safer on the job.
About the guest:
Kenny Kelley is the founder and CEO of Silent Beacon LLC. He began his entrepreneurial journey as a Hollywood motorcycle stuntman and founder of Adrenaline Crew LLC, where he produced videos and led teams of daredevil riders in live, on-road stunt shows that gained a global following online and at major events. After a serious motorcycle crash left him unable to reach his phone and call for help, the idea for Silent Beacon was born — a wearable, one-touch safety device that can instantly contact any number, including 911, and share your GPS location in real time.
Connect with Kenny:
Website: https://silentbeacon.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenny-kelley-b3202555
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Silentbeacon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silentbeacon/#
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesilentbeacon
Connect with Allison:
Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/
Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/
#CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast
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