Product Leader

Turning complex technology into products enterprises rely on.

14+ years building connectivity and IoT platforms across Africa, Asia, and Europe. From carrier-grade networks to global SaaS — I bridge deep technical understanding with strategic product thinking.

Varun Patel — Product Leader
14+
Years in Connectivity & Tech
€1M+
ARR contributed through MNO enablement
6
Countries — pilot to enterprise sale
1
Patent Holder (IoT Smart Padlock)

Building at the intersection of technology & strategy.

I've spent my career in connectivity and technology — from deploying carrier-grade networks across Africa to leading product strategy for global IoT, satellite, and cloud platforms. What drives me is translating hard engineering realities into clear product visions that teams can rally behind.

At emnify, I own product strategy and roadmap for satellite connectivity, MVNO/MVNE PaaS, and eSIM enablement — presenting directly to C-level stakeholders. I've enabled MNOs onto the platform contributing over €1M in ARR, launched 5G NSA capabilities, and brought satellite IoT connectivity to Brazil — opening deployments in previously unreachable environments.

Before that, I joined Willowmore as the first product employee and co-invented a patented IoT smart padlock. I took the product from concept through pilots across six countries to the company's first enterprise sale — a seven-figure deal with no prior customer references.

I'm now looking to step into a Director of Product role where I can lead and grow PM teams, set product strategy at a broader organizational level, and build platforms that create lasting competitive advantage.

Quick Facts

  • Based in Lindau, Germany
  • Education MBA, SP Jain Global
  • Engineering B.E., VTU India
  • Languages EN · HI · DE
  • Patent SG 10201708266U
  • Award emnify Innovation 2024

A career built across continents.

From engineering networks in East Africa to shaping product strategy in Europe — each chapter added a new dimension to how I build products.

2025 — Now
Germany

Staff Product Manager

emnify
IoT Connectivity Platform · Germany

Own product strategy for satellite connectivity, MVNO/MVNE PaaS, and operator eSIM enablement with direct C-level roadmap communication. Lead cross-functional alignment across 11 engineers and 2 engineering managers. Define pricing strategy and drive market analysis to shape platform differentiation.

2023 — 2025
Germany

Senior Product Manager

emnify
IoT Connectivity Platform · Germany

Enabled 2 MNOs on the platform contributing €1M+ in ARR. Led market entry and enterprise onboarding in Brazil, establishing a repeatable regional launch model. Rolled out next-generation packet gateways for platform scalability.

★ emnify Innovation Award — 2024
2021 — 2023
Germany

Product Manager, Core Networks

emnify
IoT Connectivity Platform · Germany

Led development and launch of 5G non-standalone cloud core network capabilities. Owned roadmap definition informed by market, technology, and competitive analysis. Drove product discovery through customer interviews and problem validation.

2019 — 2021
Germany

Product Manager

LYNX Technik AG
Broadcast Technology · Weiterstadt, Germany

Led 0-to-1 launch of a real-time HDR-to-SDR video converter — enabling SDR broadcast infrastructure to render HDR content without hardware replacement. Owned full product lifecycle from market research through GTM strategy. Won NAB Product of the Year and IBC Best of Show awards.

2016 — 2019
Singapore

IoT Product Manager

Willowmore Pvt. Ltd.
IoT & Smart Hardware · Singapore

Co-invented a patented IoT smart padlock (SG Patent No. 10201708266U). Closed the company's first enterprise sale — a seven-figure (SGD) deal with zero prior references. Ran pilot programs across 6 markets.

📚 Patent Holder · First Enterprise Sale
2011 — 2015
Kenya

Wireless Engineer

Huawei Technologies
Telecom Infrastructure · Nairobi, Kenya

Led the first commercial 4G network deployment in Madagascar. Delivered large-scale 2G, 3G, and LTE rollouts across Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Madagascar, Mauritius, and DRC Congo.

Products that created real impact.

From zero-to-one hardware products to scaling global connectivity platforms — here are the stories behind the work.

Satellite IoT · emnify

Bringing Satellite IoT Connectivity to Brazil

Delivered NB-IoT connectivity via Skylo's satellite network in Brazil, enabling enterprise IoT deployments in remote environments with no terrestrial coverage. Defined pricing strategy and go-to-market for an entirely new connectivity category.

New
Market Category
Brazil
First Market
Platform Growth · emnify

Enabling MNOs on a Global IoT PaaS

Led the technical and commercial onboarding of 2 mobile network operators onto the emnify platform as MVNE customers, unlocking a new revenue stream and validating the PaaS model at scale.

€1M+
ARR Contributed
2
MNOs Enabled
0-to-1 · Willowmore

Patented IoT Smart Padlock — Concept to Enterprise Sale

Co-invented and brought to market a BLE + cellular IoT smart padlock. Ran pilot programs in 6 countries and closed a seven-figure enterprise deal in Indonesia with zero prior customer references.

7-fig
First Enterprise Deal
6
Pilot Markets
Broadcast Tech · LYNX Technik

HDR-to-SDR Real-Time Video Converter

Led the 0-to-1 development of a converter enabling legacy SDR broadcast infrastructure to render HDR content. Won NAB Product of the Year Award and IBC Best of Show — the only solution offering frame-by-frame dynamic tone mapping in real time.

0 → 1
Product Launch
2
Industry Awards

Interviews & product demos.

Conversations about the products I've built and the thinking behind them — including interviews and live product demonstrations from LYNX Technik.

Product Introduction · LYNX Technik AG

Introduction to HDR Evie

Introduction to the world's first real-time, frame-by-frame, dynamic HDR to SDR converter.

Interview · IBC 2019, Amsterdam

LYNX Technik at IBC 2019 — 8K Fiber Products & 100K Yellobrik Milestone

Product Manager Varun Patel introduces new 8K fiber products and demonstrates HDR Evie & HDR Evie+ real-time converters at IBC 2019.

Product Demo · NAB 2019

HDR Evie — The World's First Automated "Frame-by-Frame" HDR to SDR Conversion

Varun Patel, LYNX Technik Product Manager, highlights the new innovations on show at NAB 2019.

What I work with.

A blend of strategic, technical, and operational skills shaped by years of building products across hardware, software, and connectivity platforms.

Product Strategy

Product Roadmapping Product Vision Market Analysis Competitive Research Pricing Strategy Go-to-Market Business Case Development Portfolio Management

Execution & Delivery

Agile / Scrum Cross-functional Leadership Stakeholder Management Customer Discovery Backlog Prioritization OKRs & KPIs Product Discovery

Domain Expertise

IoT Platforms Satellite Connectivity eSIM / eUICC MVNO / MVNE 5G / LTE Cloud Core Networks SaaS / PaaS Broadcast Technology

Tools

Jira Confluence Figma Miro Amplitude SQL Notion Google Analytics

What colleagues say.

Perspectives from people I've worked closely with across different roles and organizations.

"Varun has a rare ability to sit at the intersection of deep technical complexity and strategic product thinking. He doesn't just manage products — he shapes them with conviction and clarity."
Engineering Leader
emnify
"From concept to a seven-figure enterprise sale with no prior references — Varun turned an idea into a business. His ability to run pilots across six countries and close deals was remarkable."
Co-Founder
Willowmore
"Varun brings a global perspective that most PMs simply don't have. His experience deploying networks across Africa gives him a grounded understanding of what it takes to ship in challenging environments."
Product Director
Former Colleague

* Placeholder testimonials — replace with real endorsements from colleagues and stakeholders.

Thoughts on product & technology.

Occasional reflections on product management, connectivity, and building in complex technology domains.

Let's connect.

Whether you're building something in connected technology, enterprise SaaS, or platform ecosystems — I'd love to hear from you.

"What drives me is building platforms that create lasting competitive advantage — and working with teams who share that ambition."