Silent Beacon is transforming personal safety by providing individuals and businesses with innovative wearable emergency devices that deliver real-time help with the press of a button. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Silent Beacon founder and CEO, Kenny Kelley, to gain a deeper understanding of how the company is making emergency response faster, easier and more accessible for everyone.
Kenny Kelley’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Kelley said:
“I began my career in a pretty unconventional way, as a Hollywood stuntman. I specialized in high-adrenaline motorcycle stunts, performing in movies, music videos, and live shows. It was an exciting, fast-paced life, but everything changed in an instant. In 2006, while pulling a wheelie at 70 miles per hour on a highway in Maryland, I lost control and crashed. I was thrown from the bike, badly injured, and unable to move. I couldn’t reach my phone. No one knew where I was. I was completely alone, and it struck me: there had to be a better way to call for help when it matters most.”
“That moment became the turning point in my life. Rather than letting the accident define the end of my story, I used it as the beginning of a new mission: to make emergency response easier, faster, and more accessible to everyone. That’s what led me to found Silent Beacon, a company focused on creating wearable safety technology that empowers individuals and businesses to call for help instantly, share their location, and alert emergency contacts with just one press of a button.”
“As CEO, a big part of my role is setting the vision and making sure we’re always moving forward by expanding our reach and evolving with the needs of our users. But to be honest, my journey here hasn’t been your typical straight line.”
“A few years back, I made a calculated move to step down as CEO to become Silent Beacon’s Chief Technology Officer. I felt the best move was for me to get back in the trenches, working directly with our development team, listening to users, and making sure the technology behind Silent Beacon was as strong as the mission driving it. That hands-on time really reshaped how I saw our product and the people who rely on it.”
“It also led to some of our biggest innovations, like the launch of our comprehensive safety platform, Enterprise Safety Solutions, a bundled suite designed to help businesses protect their teams in real time through four core components: the wearable panic buttons, a mobile safety app, a live dashboard, and a mass alert portal.”
“Now that I’m back in the CEO seat, I’ve brought that technical insight with me. I’m focused on scaling Silent Beacon, building partnerships, and making sure more companies and individuals know there’s a better, faster way to call for help when it matters most.”
Core Products
What are the key products and solutions that Silent Beacon offers to its users and clients? Kelley explained:
“At its core, Silent Beacon is all about giving people a faster, smarter way to call for help, whether you’re an individual or part of a larger organization. For individual users, we offer a wearable panic button that instantly connects you directly to 911 and your emergency contacts with just one press. There’s no middleman, no waiting. This is real-time help, when every second counts. It also utilizes your smartphone’s GPS tracking and two-way communication, so you’re never truly alone, no matter where you are.”
“For businesses, we offer Enterprise Safety Solutions, a bundled suite that includes four main tools:
— Bluetooth Wearable Panic Buttons: Lightweight, discreet, and easy to use, with 5 alert modes allowing employees to alert help with the press of a button, while also enabling two-way audio, and Beacon-to-Beacon notification.
— The Silent Beacon App: Our iOS and Android App seamlessly pairs with the panic button, delivers real-time alerts, and integrates with your company’s safety protocols.
— Cloud-Based Dashboard: This platform gives companies real-time visibility into employee safety, panic button status, and live map tracking. It also includes customizable protocols, analytics, and compliance reporting tools.
— Mass Alert Portal: Instantly sends emergency messages via email, text, or pre-recorded calls using pre-set templates for different scenarios.
Together, these elements provide complete visibility, fast communication, and real-time response, all while keeping employees safe wherever they are.
There’s a full breakdown of everything we offer, both for individual users and enterprise clients, at SilentBeacon.com. So, whether you’re looking for personal peace of mind or a comprehensive safety solution for your team, you can explore what fits your needs best.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges has Silent Beacon faced in the evolving landscape of workplace safety, and how have you addressed them? Kelley acknowledged:
“The workplace has changed dramatically in the past few years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. I noticed trends where over 85% of our online sales were from small to mid-sized businesses. We’ve seen a sharp rise in employees working alone or in the field, from healthcare professionals making home visits to gig workers, real estate agents, and employees in retail or hospitality closing up late at night. That shift has brought a new urgency to personal safety, and unfortunately, workplace violence has been on the rise across many industries.”
“What we’re also seeing now is a legislative response to those risks. Cities like Chicago and states like Washington and California have passed laws requiring panic buttons for hotel workers, and more states are exploring similar mandates across other industries like healthcare, education, and construction. These legal changes have really put a spotlight on employer responsibility when it comes to protecting their teams.”
“The bottom line is that workplace safety is no longer “nice to have.” It’s becoming a requirement, and not just from a legal standpoint. Employees expect more from their employers. They want to know someone has their back when they’re out in the field. Silent Beacon helps companies rise to that challenge, and we’re proud to be part of the solution.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Kelley noted:
“When we first launched Silent Beacon, it was designed as a personal safety device, something individuals could wear on a keychain or lanyard to call for help in an emergency. It was simple and effective, but we realized that if the product wasn’t absolutely reliable, we’d struggle to gain trust and broader adoption. As demand grew, we started hearing from businesses, healthcare companies, construction firms, and schools, asking if there was a way to use Silent Beacon to protect their workers. That was the turning point. We knew we had to evolve not just the product itself, but the entire platform behind it. “
“Educating the public was probably the biggest hurdle. It was challenging to explain to business professionals in suits why they should invest in a safety product back in 2012, especially when some of them are 6’1″. Now, you only need to turn on the television or browse the web to understand its essential nature. I transitioned from telling people what I thought they wanted to listening to what they truly needed.”
“That’s when we developed Silent Beacon 2.0, a major upgrade to the original device. We improved the hardware with water resistance, a two-way speakerphone, and a battery life that lasts up to 42 days. We added 5 alert modes, while also enabling Beacon-to-Beacon notification to support more complex emergency situations. But that was just one piece of the puzzle. To truly serve businesses, we had to create something bigger.”
“So we developed a cloud-based Enterprise Safety Dashboard that lets employers track their team’s safety in real time, send mass alerts, and stay compliant with evolving workplace safety regulations. From hotel worker protection laws in cities like Chicago to industry-specific compliance requirements in states like California and Washington, companies are now being held accountable for employee safety in a whole new way. Our enterprise tools give them the visibility and response capabilities they need to meet that responsibility.”
“Every company we work with has different needs, so we’ve also focused on flexibility, working directly with enterprise clients to figure out what safety looks like for their teams. Whether it’s lone healthcare workers, field technicians, or teams working night shifts, Silent Beacon has become more than a panic button. It’s now a full-scale safety platform built to protect people wherever they are.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Kelley affirmed:
“Silent Beacon stands out in the personal safety device market through a combination of direct emergency communication, versatile alert modes, and a strong commitment to user privacy.”
“Direct Communication with Emergency Services: Unlike many competitors that route emergency calls through third-party monitoring centers, Silent Beacon allows users to directly call any number, including 911, with a single button press. This direct line to emergency services allows the user to call for immediate assistance without intermediaries.”
“Versatile Alert Modes: Silent Beacon offers multiple alert modes, including a Silent Mode that discreetly sends alerts without drawing attention. This feature is particularly beneficial in situations where a user needs to call for help without alerting those around them. While some competitors, like SolusGuard, also provide customizable alert modes, Silent Beacon’s combination of direct 911 calling and silent alerts is distinctive.”
“Two-Way Communication: The device is equipped with a built-in speaker and microphone, enabling real-time, two-way communication with emergency responders or designated contacts. This facilitates clearer information exchange during emergencies.”
“Commitment to User Privacy: Silent Beacon prioritizes user privacy by ensuring that personal data and emergency details are not sold or shared. This focus on data security sets it apart from competitors who may not offer the same level of commitment to user confidentiality. “
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Kelley concluded:
“At Silent Beacon, our big-picture vision is simple but powerful: we want every person, especially those who work alone or in high-risk environments, to feel safe, supported, and connected. We’re building toward a world where no one feels isolated in an emergency, and we believe we have the technology to help make that a reality.”
“Moving forward, our goals are focused on expanding and evolving both our product offerings and our Enterprise Safety Solutions. We’re constantly listening to feedback from users and enterprise clients, and that input drives how we refine and improve our technology. From rolling out new features like Silent Mode and Beacon-to-Beacon communication, to developing innovations like the upcoming Footsteps Pro, we’re committed to delivering more advanced, user-friendly safety tools that meet real-world needs.”
“On the enterprise side, we’re continuing to expand our Enterprise Safety Solutions Portal, giving companies even greater control, visibility, and real-time response capabilities to protect their teams. Whether it’s a school district, a hospital, a construction crew, or a retail chain, we want to be the go-to safety partner that helps employers stay compliant with laws and prepared for the unexpected.”
“We’re also focused on strategic partnerships to integrate Silent Beacon into more industries, especially in healthcare, education, government, and public safety, where rapid response can truly save lives. And through it all, we remain committed to protecting our users’ privacy. Unlike many competitors, we never sell or share data, and that principle will remain a core part of who we are.”
“Ultimately, our goal is to make safety accessible and effective for everyone, everywhere, one button press at a time.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Kelley about customer success stories, he concluded:
“Yes, one of the most impactful partnerships we’ve had is with My Sister’s Place, a domestic violence shelter in Washington, D.C. The work they do is incredibly high stakes. Their staff supports survivors who are often still in contact with, or even living with, their abusers, people who closely monitor their movements, take away their phones, or react violently at the first sign of outside help.”
“In those situations, calling 911 isn’t just difficult, it’s dangerous. Abusers often separate victims from their cell phones on purpose, knowing it cuts them off from help. That’s why My Sister’s Place needed something different: a tool that could summon help without the abuser even knowing.”
“With Silent Beacon, they found exactly that. The 2.0 panic button is wearable, it clips onto clothing, a lanyard, or even hides in a pocket. It connects directly to emergency contacts or 911 with just one press, no phone needed, no sounds, no lights. The device can silently send an alert, allowing the user to call for help even if their phone has been taken away or they can’t speak safely.”
“That’s the power of Silent Beacon. It gives people in the most vulnerable situations a lifeline, one that doesn’t require them to risk being caught reaching for a phone or making a call. For My Sister’s Place, it’s more than a safety device. It’s a way to protect both their staff and the survivors they serve in moments where seconds matter and silence keeps people safe.”
