# Keith Schaefer

> Keith E. Schaefer is a technology entrepreneur and investment banking advisor based in Newport Beach, California. A former Atari executive and co-founder and former CEO of BPL Global, the business later known as Connected Energy, he is co-founder and managing partner of Zermatt Capital Advisors. His university service and co-founding of 1787 Ventures connect his business career with the University of Pittsburgh.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Zermatt Capital Advisors; listed as Managing Partner at Connected Energy
- **Organizations:** Zermatt Capital Advisors, Connected Energy, BPL Global, 1787 Ventures, University of Pittsburgh, Atari, NEC Technologies, Paramount Technology Group, Viacom, Cybernautics, USWeb/CKS, Liquid Thinking, Constellation Partners, Interphase Materials, CapRock Partners
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science; concentration in political science and economics, University of Pittsburgh, UCLA Graduate School of Business
- **Known for:** Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, western Pennsylvania region, 2007, as listed in his Zermatt biography., Pittsburgh Technology Council CEO of the Year, 2009., University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Alumni Fellow, 2000.

## Career timeline

- **1971** — Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh.
- **1971-1974** — Served in the U.S. Navy, according to his SEC-filed executive biography.
- **1980-1984** — Held executive responsibilities at Atari; presented the Atari Star Award in January 1983.
- **1985-1991** — Senior Vice President and General Manager at NEC Technologies, according to his SEC biography.
- **1993-1994** — Founder, President and CEO of Paramount Technology Group, according to his SEC biography.
- **1995-1997** — Co-founder, President and CEO of Cybernautics.
- **1997-2000** — Executive Partner at USWeb/CKS.
- **2004-2011** — Founder, President and CEO of BPL Global in his SEC biography; Zermatt’s biography gives 2006 as its co-founding year.
- **2008** — BPL Global announced its acquisition of the original Connected Energy demand-management company.
- **2009** — Named CEO of the Year by the Pittsburgh Technology Council.
- **2019** — Received Pitt’s Bill Baierl Distinguished Alumni Service Award.
- **2022** — Developed the idea for 1787 Ventures with Jonathan Dane.
- **2023** — Launch of 1787 Ventures reported in April.
- **2024** — Named among mentors for Pitt’s Entrepreneurial Fellows Class of 2024.

## Achievements

- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, western Pennsylvania region, 2007, as listed in his Zermatt biography.
- Pittsburgh Technology Council CEO of the Year, 2009.
- University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Alumni Fellow, 2000.
- Bill Baierl Distinguished Alumni Service Award, 2019.
- Co-founded 1787 Ventures with Jonathan Dane to connect Pitt alumni investors and founders.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — CLEAResult announced its acquisition of Connected Energy on August 25; Mark Rupnik was identified as Connected Energy CEO. This is a company update, not an announcement of a new role for Schaefer.
- **2024-12** — Pitt’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence thanked Schaefer among mentors for the 2024 Entrepreneurial Fellows Class.

## Links

- Website: https://www.zermattca.com/bios
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-schaefer-121040276

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/keith-schaefer
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20