Name: Frederik Delacourt
Pronouns: He/Him
Team: Product Team
Role: Sr Director of Technology and Services
1. Why did you choose Wyze (Why Wyze)?
When I left Amazon Alexa, there was 2 companies that I wanted to work for. GlowForge because as a maker, I could see the potential in product and how it can impact my workflow and open the possibilities.
The second company was a little camera producer at what was an insane price: Wyze Labs. As SmartHome enthusiast, I saw in Wyze an opportunity to replicate the recipe used for the camera to other devices. I knew also that it was early enough that we had a chance to create a very compelling new SmartHome ecosystem. While some of that vision is still “under development”, the last 3 years have proven me right. Right that we can replicate the recipe and right that we have the possibility to reinvent the SmartHome experience.
2. What team are you on and what do they do?
I’m working as part of the Product Team. That’s where the new products are being dreamed and then being crafted. From the ideas and initial use cases to the infinite little details that makes the devices. The team is ultimately responsible until the product is put on the shelves for customers to enjoy.
3. How long have you been with Wyze and what do you do here?
I’ve been at Wyze for 3 years and 2 months as the Sr Director of Technology & Services. On a daily basis, I work on the relationship with our partners like Amazon and Google but also with more silent partners like Apple or Samsung. I’m also in charge of keeping an eye on the standards (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, openThread…) and some new upcoming technology that should matter soon…
4. What’s your favorite thing about working at Wyze?
A lot has been accomplished but there is still a lot that can be done and that’s what is exciting: the potential. Being able to unlock more of our customer use cases.
5. How have Wyze product(s) impacted your life?
I’ve always been buying SmartHome products for the last 20 years. The difference with Wyze has been that I can expand the number of use cases because the cost of the hardware is not as high. I’ve started to use my Wyze cam to monitor some of my “long running processes” like my 3d printers, CNC…
6. What is something that was discussed in one of your team Slack channels this week?
I would love to tell you but that would spoil the surprise!
7. What did you do this week at work?
Worked on getting the Wyze Cam Outdoor v2 certified for Alexa and Google and working on some matter.
8. What was your biggest win at Wyze so far?
Recognizing that we need the notion of home and get it implemented. This is the first step required to make the home smart and not just connected. There are more that needs to be done around the meta information connected to the home. But we are slowly building a smarter system.
9. What Wyze device do you identify with? Why?
It has to be the Wyze Cam v1. Because it is the first device that was testing a new approach of doing things. It has bootstarted and allowed to give our customers all those other devices. Without the v1 success, it will have been near impossible to do everything else. I actually still run 2 V1 in my setup.
10. What’s something you never get tired of talking about?
Smarthome and the importance of the ecosystem: the required separation of the Person and the Home, the room centric necessity, the dissociation of the person and the account, the idea that sharing is an abomination and that all UX should be based around device capabilities instead of the device itself…
I’m pretty sure most of my colleague are happy I’m working from home so they don’t have to listen to me rambling about those topics all the time!
11. What are three words you’d use to describe Wyze?
Innovative , Disruptor, Potential
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