RYAN VINYARD, the Principal of VPD, has been an early startup executive and Advisor to hardware startups making an impact on the world. Ryan has worked in engineering development from early creative phases all the way through manufacturing introduction. With a background managing complex technical systems in transportation, energy, and consumer products, Ryan has spent his entire career focused on making a positive impact in the world through hardware. He started his career in electric vehicles and still works on electrification and AI in the automotive space. He also has a focus in robotic systems and anything else with complex hardware. Ryan has worked to help impact-oriented startups all over the world through advising startups, judging startup competitions, and collaborating on content for early entrepreneurs impacting the world in Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa.

Ryan leads all VPD projects and onboards appropriate sub-contractors, vendors, and other partners to develop and scale hardware. Most common resources brought in are electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, design, data science, as well as many other specialties.