Launching our Partner Program!

Hey friends, 

‍Nexus Lore unites us around the concept of a horizontal architecture—which will give building owners flexibility, control, cybersecurity, and the robust technology infrastructure required to enable the business outcomes they need. 

But that view is missing the ecosystem required to reach that future state. Buildings (and the industry supporting them) are transformed by humans and organizations of humans. 

Today’s newsletter is part 5 in our series about the humans we wrap around the tech stack to form the smart buildings ecosystem. Here’s a summary of the series: 

• Part 1: The two sides of the ecosystem: buyers and sellers—where do you fit? 
• Part 2: The buyer personas 
• Part 3: The voice(s) of the customer
• Part 4: The seller-side ecosystem
• Part 5: Launching our Partner Hub for sellers 

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In this final installment, let’s come back to “buying”. What’s it like to purchase smart building technology?

There are hundreds of technology vendors. All have overlapping capabilities and overlapping technology stacks. All use different acronyms and buzzwords to describe what they do. Telling them apart is a huge lift—let alone assessing their maturity, traction, and delivery. 

Don’t believe me? Nexus Pro member Tom Balme recently echoed this summary when presenting to the community on AMP Capital’s technology vendor assessment process (recording link for members). Don’t say the words “plug and play” in a meeting with Tom! 

In a word, the buying process is “overwhelming” for buyers. For sellers, it’s equally daunting to stand out in all that noise. The Nexus Labs Partner Hub, which launched today, fills the gap between buyers and sellers that’s not been filled before.

First, we’re creating distinct categories of technology vendors and service providers. Then, we’re putting sellers in the correct category. Each vendor might do a lot, but where are they world-class? Often, it’s only in one category.

For buyers, this means the marketplace will be simplified and narrowed down. Instead of hundreds of options, each category will feature 3-5 of the best sellers that are vetted by our team for product innovation, traction, testimonials, and alignment with this community’s philosophy. Our vetting process is a distinct departure from our industry’s “pay-to-play” norm, which causes jaded buyers and delays buying decisions.

Take a peek at our Partner Hub, which features our first 16 early adopter Partners. We hope you like the fun Gotham City vibes!

Next, we’re engaging both buyers and sellers in our editorial process. Buyers want education, case studies, and they want to have their voices heard by the seller community. They don’t want sponsored content (and they never did!). Sellers, on the other hand, have vital things to say and teach—and they can do it in a non-salesy, educational way. 

A third party (us!) can play a vital role by sitting between them with full editorial control and with an educational mission in mind.

While this launch is exciting, it’s just the beginning. Here’s what to look out for from our Partner Program moving forward: 

1. With our early adopters, we’re launching category-specific deep dives—look for a new Fault Detection and Diagnostics column starting this month!  
2. We’re continuing to vet new partners, ramping up to 3-5 partners per category by the end of 2023
3. As we build out each category, we’ll define and publish the vetting process to create transparency and buyer confidence

Want to join us? 

Apply to be a Partner here. 

See you next week, 

—James Dice, Founder and CEO of Nexus Labs 

P.S. On the Nexus Podcast, Rosy and I recently discussed the Partner Program and why it’s a no-brainer for marketers. Check out the clip here. 
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👋 That's all for this week. See you next Tuesday!

Whenever you're ready, there are 4 ways Nexus Labs can help you:

1. Take our shortcut to learning the Smart Buildings industry here (300 students and counting)

2. Join our community of smart buildings nerds and gamechangers here (nearly 500 members and counting)

3. (NEW) Join the Nexus Labs Syndicate on Angellist for opportunities to invest in the best smart buildings startups that cross my desk each month.

4. (NEW) Our Partner Hub has officially launched! This is an opportunity to be featured on our website, get original content, and tap into the Nexus community. Visit our partner page or email us at partners@nexuslabs.online