At VYRD, we believe in proactive protection—helping homeowners prevent damage before it happens. That’s why our Smart Home Water Protection Program is designed to give policyholders access to cutting-edge technology that safeguards their homes from costly water damage. One of the key innovators in this space is Ryan Kim, the CEO, Founder, and Lead Engineer of Phyn, a company revolutionizing the way we monitor and manage water. With a passion for problem-solving and a vision for a smarter future, Ryan has dedicated his career to developing intelligent water solutions that help homeowners protect their property, conserve water, and save money. In this exclusive interview, we explore his journey, Phyn’s groundbreaking technology, and the shared commitment between VYRD and Phyn to bring smarter water protection to more homes.

Phyn Smart Water Sensors

What excites you the most about how Phyn’s Smart Water Sensors empower homeowners to prevent water damage, and how do you feel about making this technology more accessible through the introduction of free sensors?

At Phyn, we believe that water is one of our most precious resources, and protecting homes from water damage is just as important as conserving it. What excites me the most about our Smart Water Sensors is their ability to provide homeowners with early warnings before a minor leak turns into a major disaster. Water damage is one of the most common—and costly—issues homeowners face, and yet, it often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Our sensors change that by offering real-time alerts that help homeowners take action immediately.

One of the things I love most about our sensors is their relative simplicity.  They’re easy to install, require no complex setup, and deliver instant protection—making them the perfect introduction to smart home technology.   Our sensors provide a seamless first step into a more connected, protected living space. And for insurers, it’s an effortless way to introduce policyholders to the benefits of smart insurance—where proactive protection helps reduce risk, reduces premiums and prevent costly claims before they happen.

Making this technology more accessible through free sensors is a game-changer. Everyone deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing their home is protected. By working with VYRD to distribute these sensors at no cost to homeowners, we’re not just preventing water damage—we’re redefining how proactive protection should work. This initiative helps homeowners avoid costly repairs, reduces claims for insurers, and ultimately contributes to a more sustainable use of water—all while helping to control rising insurance costs by lowering claims liability and reducing the pressure on annual premiums.  It really is a win-win for everyone.

Phyn Plus Water Shutoff Device

Why do you think the Phyn Plus stands out from other water shutoff devices, and what makes you proudest about its ability to detect leaks and take action?

The Phyn Plus isn’t just another water shutoff device—it’s a leak detection and prevention system powered by intelligence. What sets it apart is its ability to monitor the entire home’s plumbing with a single device. Unlike other solutions that rely on spot sensors or require extensive add-ons, Phyn Plus uses high-definition pressure, ultrasonic flow sensing and patented AI-driven real-time analysis to detect leaks, measure usage, and even recognize the unique water signature of different fixtures in the home.

What makes me proudest about Phyn Plus is its ability to go beyond just detection—it learns and automatically takes action when it matters most. In the event of a catastrophic leak, it can shut off the water in seconds, preventing costly damage before it starts. And because it gets smarter over time, homeowners receive fewer false alarms and more precise insights into their water use.

But perhaps what excites me most is how Phyn Plus turns reactive plumbing problems into proactive solutions. Homeowners no longer have to wait for visible damage or a skyrocketing water bill to know something’s wrong. They get instant alerts, detailed insights, automated shutoff, as well as the ability to shut off their water remotely—giving them complete control and peace of mind.

By combining industry-leading accuracy, true AI-powered leak detection, and automated shutoff, Phyn Plus isn’t just protecting homes—it’s changing the way people think about water while helping to reduce nearly $9B in annual claims by the insurance industry which, as exemplified by VYRD’s industry leading discounts on premiums, will reduce the cost of insurance for homeowners.

What personally drives you to keep pushing for advancements in devices like the Phyn Plus to provide even better protection for homes?

At Phyn, our mission is deeply personal—we’re not just building technology; we’re solving real problems that impact homeowners every day while also helping to prevent water scarcity which could impact communities for generations to come. Water is one of the most essential elements in our lives, yet it’s also one of the most destructive when left unchecked. What drives me is knowing that we have the ability to turn water from a risk into a resource that’s fully understood, managed, and controlled.

Every day, I hear stories from homeowners who have experienced devastating water damage—families displaced, health and wellness put at risk, irreplaceable belongings lost, and homes torn apart. It’s unacceptable that, in an age of smart technology, these issues still happen so frequently. That’s why we push for constant innovation in Phyn Plus and all our solutions—to make water damage a preventable problem, not an inevitable one.

What excites me the most is that we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible. By advancing AI-driven water intelligence, enhancing automation, and integrating with smart home and insurance ecosystems, we’re creating a future where water issues are detected, stopped, and eventually prevented before they even cross a homeowner’s mind.

At the end of the day, it’s about giving homeowners control, preventing losses before they happen, and making homes more resilient. That’s what keeps me—and all of us at Phyn—pushing forward.

Personal Insight

As both a CEO and an engineer, what inspired you to focus your career on solving water-related issues?

Water has always fascinated me—it’s essential to life, yet incredibly unpredictable. As an engineer, I’ve always been drawn to solving complex problems, and few challenges are as critical as understanding, managing, and protecting water in our homes and communities.

I remember reading a report from the EPA stating that residential plumbing leaks in the United States waste approximately one trillion gallons of water annually. Around the same time, I came across another report warning that nearly 50% of the global population could be facing significant water scarcity by 2030. I couldn’t reconcile those two estimates together. Why are we standing by and allowing one trillion gallons of water to be lost every year when the world is facing an existential water crisis?

As an engineer—and as a father—it became almost an obsession to change that narrative. When further research revealed that these same preventable leaks were costing the insurance industry a staggering $9 billion annually in claims, it became a no-brainer on where to focus my efforts. The opportunity to develop a solution that could protect homes, reduce waste, and help mitigate rising insurance costs was something I couldn’t ignore.

That’s why I’m so passionate about the work we’re doing at Phyn. We’re not just detecting leaks—we’re preventing damage, conserving water, and redefining how people interact with one of the most vital resources on the planet. With AI-powered water intelligence, real-time alerts, and automatic shutoff capabilities, we’re giving homeowners the ability to take control like never before.

Water is too precious to waste, and we have the technology to make a difference.  We have a responsibility to future generations to curate and conserve as much of our precious water as we can.  That’s what drives me every day.

Why did you choose to develop Phyn’s technology, and what keeps you passionate about this work?

I have always been passionate about three things: understanding how things work, identifying and solving inefficiencies, and imagining the innovations that will empower a better, more efficient future. From an early age, I was drawn to technology—not just for what it could do, but for how it could be used to reduce inefficiencies and unnecessary waste.  Before focusing on water and starting Phyn, I worked on the forefront of Unified Communications and Messaging with the goal of reducing paper waste and making global communications more efficient.

In college, I found myself torn between software development and electrical engineering—between the logic and creativity of writing code and the hands-on challenge of working with real-world hardware. I couldn’t choose one over the other, so I pursued both. That decision opened a world of possibilities, allowing me to combine software intelligence with physical systems to create smarter, more impactful solutions.

Becoming a father changed everything in terms of my goals and outlook.  I wanted to apply my skills toward something that would not only impact near term but also lay the foundation for the future.  Phyn not only helps to protect homes today but create a smarter, more sustainable future for my children and future generations. Water is one of our most vital and limited resources, yet we allow so much of it to be wasted due to inefficiencies in plumbing. I knew that with the right combination of AI, innovative sensing technologies, and automation, we could change that.

Phyn wasn’t born out of a desire to start a company—it was born out of a need to solve a real-world problem with innovative technology that works for everyone.  When I learned about the sheer scale of water waste and damage—trillions of gallons lost annually, billions of dollars in insurance claims, and a looming water scarcity crisis—it became impossible to ignore.

What keeps me passionate about this work is knowing that Phyn is making a tangible impact. We’re not just preventing costly water damage—we’re reshaping how people interact with water, empowering them with knowledge, control, and smarter protection. Every leak prevented, every gallon saved, every home protected fuels my drive to keep innovating. Because the best technology isn’t just about what it does—it’s about how it improves lives and makes the world better.

What challenges have you faced along your journey as an engineer, and how have they shaped your approach to innovation?

I’ve faced too many challenges to list here, but that’s exactly what makes engineering such a rewarding pursuit. Innovation isn’t about following a predefined path—it’s about forging new ones, solving problems that have never been tackled before, and embracing the unknown.

Failure isn’t just inevitable in this process—it’s essential. Breakthroughs don’t happen without trial and error. The cycle of trial, fail, learn, rinse and repeat is where real innovation is born. In fact, if we’re not failing in the early iterations of something truly worthwhile, then we’re probably not pushing far enough into the future of what’s possible. The key is to fail fast and intelligently, using every setback as an opportunity to learn, refine and improve.

At Phyn, one of our biggest challenges has been balancing technological ambition with real-world practicality. We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of what AI can do, improving our ability to detect real leaks with precision while minimizing false alerts. At the same time, we have to make our solutions accessible and affordable to as many homeowners as possible. Striking that balance—engineering cutting-edge technology that’s both powerful and practical—is an ongoing challenge, but one that drives us forward every day.

Another challenge we face is building for the future while working within today’s limitations. AI is evolving rapidly, but when we started, we had to work with what was available while having faith that AI and machine learning would continue to improve. That’s a risk every innovator takes—designing for a future that hasn’t fully arrived yet, but knowing that when it does, we’ll be ready.

Ultimately, every challenge I’ve faced has reinforced a core belief: true innovation isn’t about avoiding obstacles—it’s about embracing them. The best solutions come from those who aren’t afraid to push past the limits of what’s possible, take risks, and redefine what’s achievable. That’s the mindset we bring to Phyn every day.

What motivates you to continue pushing the boundaries of water conservation technology?

What motivates me is simple: the urgent need to change how we think about and manage water.

We live in a world where nearly a trillion gallons of water are wasted annually due to residential leaks—at the same time, hundreds of millions of people are facing severe water scarcity. That contradiction isn’t just alarming; it’s unacceptable. The reality is that water is too precious to waste, and we have the technology to stop it. That’s what keeps me pushing forward.

But it’s not just about conservation—it’s about control. For too long, water has been treated as an invisible utility with infinite abundance, something homeowners don’t think about until there’s a major problem.  If left unchecked, access to clean water will become inequitable as demand outgrows supply and cost of water increases.  The thought of clean water being affordable only to those who can afford it is fundamentally broken.  My goal is to change that by giving people real-time visibility and intelligence over their water use. With AI, automation, and smart sensing technology, we can transform how people interact with water—helping them prevent damage, reduce waste, and ultimately lower costs.

What also drives me is knowing that the work we’re doing at Phyn has real impact. Every time our technology stops a catastrophic leak, prevents thousands of gallons from being wasted, or helps a homeowner avoid an expensive insurance claim, we’re making a difference. And when I look at my children, I think about the future we’re building for them. The decisions we make today about water management will shape the world they inherit.

That’s why I’ll never stop pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Because the best technology doesn’t just solve today’s problems—it creates a better, more sustainable future.

What has been the most rewarding moment for you as the founder of Phyn?

There have been many rewarding moments on this journey, but three stand out the most.

The first was when Phyn prevented its first massive, potentially catastrophic leak. That moment wasn’t just a validation of our technology—it was proof that what we built had real, tangible impact. Seeing our system in action, stopping water damage before it even started, reinforced why we do what we do. It was no longer just about innovation; it was about protecting homes, memories, and lives.

The second was when the first insurance carrier recognized the data-supported impact of Phyn’s solutions—confirming that our technology prevented 99% of leaks—and made Phyn a mandated installation in their underwriting guidelines. That was a turning point. It meant that the insurance industry, which is built on hard data and risk assessment, saw undeniable proof that our technology wasn’t just helpful—it was essential. Knowing that our work could help drive industry-wide change, protecting homeowners at scale while reducing claims and costs, was incredibly rewarding.

The third was when our paying customers’ overall rating exceeded 4.7 stars after more than 1,000 reviews. It’s one thing to believe in your technology—it’s another to see real customers validating it day after day. That level of trust and satisfaction from homeowners, people who rely on Phyn to protect one of their most valuable assets, is incredibly humbling. It means we’re delivering not just on innovation, but on real-world reliability, usability, and customer experience.

Moments like these remind me that Phyn isn’t just about building smart water technology—it’s about making a lasting difference. Every leak prevented, every homeowner protected, and every step toward redefining how water is managed keeps me motivated to push even further.

Phyn’s products rely on AI and engineering. What excites you the most about how technology is transforming home water protection?

What excites me the most is how AI and engineering are transforming water from something reactive to something proactive. For decades, homeowners only thought about their plumbing when something went wrong—when a leak caused damage, a pipe burst, or an unexpectedly high water bill arrived. But now, with AI-powered water intelligence, we can prevent problems before they even happen.

At Phyn, we’ve harnessed high-definition pressure sensing, machine learning, and real-time automation to give homeowners an unprecedented level of control over their water. Our technology doesn’t just detect leaks—it understands how water moves through a home, learns the unique signature of each fixture, and continuously improves its accuracy. This means fewer false alarms, faster response times, and smarter protection.

One of the most exciting advancements is how AI is making home water protection truly seamless and effortless. Homeowners no longer need to manually check for leaks or worry about coming home to unexpected water damage. Phyn detects leaks in real time, 24/7—and even shuts off water automatically when necessary. This level of intelligence is what makes smart home technology truly “smart”—it works quietly in the background, anticipating issues before they become disasters, whether you’re asleep, traveling overseas, or lost working on your next world-changing idea.

Beyond individual homes, this technology has the potential to transform how we manage water on a much larger scale. As AI continues to evolve, we’re moving toward a future where cities, insurers, and homeowners all work together to create a smarter, more resilient water infrastructure—one that reduces waste, prevents damage, and makes homes and communities more sustainable.

We’re just at the beginning of this transformation, and that’s what excites me the most. With every advancement, we’re bringing homeowners, insurers, and entire communities closer to a future where water is not just managed, but truly understood, protected, and preserved for generations to come.

Partnership with VYRD

How does VYRD’s approach to offering water protection solutions differ from other insurance carriers?

What sets VYRD apart is its proactive approach to home protection. Many insurance carriers focus solely on covering the cost of water damage after it happens, but VYRD is taking a smarter, more forward-thinking approach by actively helping homeowners prevent water damage in the first place.

Rather than treating water damage as an unavoidable risk, VYRD integrates technology-driven solutions—like Phyn’s smart water monitoring and shutoff devices—directly into its policies. By offering discounted policies and free smart water sensors devices to policyholders, VYRD is helping homeowners catch and stop leaks before they cause costly damage, reducing claims while giving customers greater control over their homes.  Not only is VYRD innovating in this space by directly integrating sensors into their policies but, they’re disrupting the industry with some of the most aggressive incentives in place today.

This data-driven, prevention-first mindset benefits both homeowners and the insurance industry. For homeowners, it means fewer unexpected repairs, lower out-of-pocket costs, and greater peace of mind. For VYRD, it means a more sustainable approach to risk management, leveraging real-time water intelligence to mitigate losses before they occur.

VYRD is leading the way in modernizing insurance—embracing smart home technology not just as a perk, but as a core strategy for protecting homes more effectively. By bridging the gap between insurance, smart home automation, and AI-driven risk prevention, VYRD is proving that the future of home protection isn’t just about covering damage—it’s about stopping it before it starts.