We’re thrilled to share the latest episode of Down Low With Joe, where Joseph Aamidor and Ben M. sat down with Darlene Pope, CEO of Brava Systems at Realcomm Events to trace her journey from commercial real estate and broadband to smart buildings and today’s AI frontier.

Some takeaways:

↳ People-First ROI : Why employee experience now drives tech spend far more than energy savings.

↳ AI-Powered Intuition : How true “intuitive” buildings emerge by layering AI on unified data, not by piling on more point solutions.

↳ Partnership Over Vendor : Why treating solution providers as co-innovators (not just suppliers) is the key to future-proof real estate.

Stay connected with us:

↳ Subscribe on YouTube: @lewismartinc

↳ Learn more at LMC: https://lewismartinc.com/

↳ Lewis Martin: linkedin.com/in/climatetechrecruiter

↳ Ben Muwoki: Ben Muwoki | LinkedIn

↳ Joseph Aamidor: linkedin.com/in/jaamidor

↳ Darlene Pope: Darlene Pope | LinkedIn

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In this episode, Lewis and Joe discuss the current state of the smart building market, focusing on recent trends, investment landscapes, and emerging technologies. They explore the fragmented nature of the market, the impact of capital efficiency on investment decisions, and the ongoing M&A activity shaping the industry. The conversation also delves into future predictions for the market, highlighting the potential for innovation and the integration of facility management with building automation.

Companies mentioned:

• Asuene acquiring nZero.
• TMA is acquiring Virtual Facility.
• Runwise's Series B raise.
• NRG acquiring CPower.
• Airthings LOI acquisition.
• Redaptive have raised additional capital.

Takeaways:

• The market remains fragmented with ongoing M&A activity.
• Investment in smart buildings is down, but some companies are thriving.
• Capital efficiency is becoming a key focus for investors.
• Acquisitions are often driven by the need for companies to scale and integrate technologies.
• Emerging technologies in demand response and energy management are gaining traction.
• Companies like Runwise are expanding their offerings beyond initial products.
• The demand response space is evolving with new players entering the market.
• Integration of facility management and building automation is becoming more common.
• Future predictions suggest a separation between leading companies and those struggling to grow.
• The market is expected to see continued innovation and new entrants.

Stay connected with us:

↳ Subscribe on YouTube: @lewismartinc

↳ Learn more at LMC: https://lewismartinc.com/

↳ Lewis Martin: linkedin.com/in/climatetechrecruiter

↳ Joseph Aamidor: linkedin.com/in/jaamidor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a global architecture firm acquires a boutique smart building consultancy?

In this episode of The Down Low with Joe, we sit down with Eric Larsen (Cannon Design) and Owen Dalton (Clarient Group) to unpack their recent merger—and what it signals for the future of smart buildings, building lifecycle services, and integrated delivery models.

🎯 Topics covered:

↳ Why Cannon is expanding beyond architecture & engineering into full-lifecycle consulting

↳ Clarient’s “insights layer” approach to AV, IT, and integration

↳ The real blockers to smart building adoption (hint: it’s not the tech)

↳ How this merger enables earlier engagement, smarter visioning, and longer-term impact

↳ What healthcare, education, and commercial real estate can learn from each other

↳ A candid look at digital twins, AI, and what actually delivers value in 2025

This episode is a blueprint for firms navigating the growing complexity of the built world—and a lesson in what it really takes to scale innovation across design, construction, and operations.

Stay connected with us:

↳ Subscribe on YouTube: @lewismartinc

↳ Learn more at LMC: https://lewismartinc.com/

↳ Lewis Martin: linkedin.com/in/climatetechrecruiter

↳ Joseph Aamidor: linkedin.com/in/jaamidor

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.