Entrepreneur Of The Year 2010
Road to Palm Springs

Robert Pedersen, II

ZAGG, Inc.
Salt Lake City, Utah

It started simply enough. The happy discovery was made that the same thin, clear, durable film used to protect helicopter blades could be applied to the crystal of a wristwatch to protect it against nicks and scratches.

Robert Pedersen, who had a successful background as a business investor and advisor, was consulted to help explore the commercial possibilities.

But when he saw the potential, Pedersen knew that consulting alone just wouldn’t do. This was a blockbuster company in the making, a company he was ready to lead.

Since opening its doors in 2005, ZAGG – “Zealous About Great Gadgets” – has gone from concept to NASDAQ listing. Pedersen, its president and CEO, realized that consumer demand for a watch crystal protector was limited.

So he immediately set about to secure the patent and simultaneously develop other uses for the film. The eureka moment? Cell phones.

Under Pedersen’s leadership, invisibleSHIELD made its debut as a unique alternative to bulky covers for cell phones. Now consumers would no longer have to alter the look or function of their phones.

A critical turning point for ZAGG occurred early on when an invisibleSHIELD was created in conjunction with Apple prior to its iPod Nano debut. Today, ZAGG has partnerships with all major cell phone and computer manufacturers.

The company continues to develop new line extensions, including ZAGG Buds, a patented headphone set introduced in 2008. ZAGG Skins, a scratch-proof skin that can be customized with either a stock image or an image uploaded by the customer, was introduced in 2009.

ZAGG products now can be found in major retailers and kiosks throughout the US and in Panama, Costa Rica and Italy.