Cohesion
Cohesion is a Chicago-based SaaS company offering a smart building platform that unifies access control, tenant experience, maintenance, and AI-powered portfolio analytics. It serves commercial real estate owners, operators, and enterprise customers such as JLL, CBRE, and Morgan Stanley.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Cohesion does
Cohesion (legal entity cohesionIB, Inc., Delaware) is a Chicago-based software company that operates a vertically integrated smart building SaaS platform for commercial real estate and large enterprises. Founded in 2017 as a spin-off from a mechanical engineering firm, the company was established to bridge tenant-facing applications with legacy building systems, and is led by CEO and co-founder Thru Shivakumar alongside CTO and co-founder Nik Patel.
The platform unifies three end-user application products — Smart Access (digital credentialing and enterprise RBAC), Smart Experience (tenant engagement and space interactions), and Smart Maintenance (proactive building operations) — on top of an AI-powered data platform called Savvy that aggregates real-time data from building systems, sensors, and external sources for portfolio analytics. Technical differentiators include BACnet integration for lighting and HVAC interoperability, deep integration with HID's Origo platform for mobile access and PIAM, digital twin technology for building environment simulation, and a white-label component system for branded tenant apps. Cohesion holds patented technology and has achieved ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, WiredScore, and UL Smart System Verified Platinum certifications.
The company sells through an enterprise field-sales motion with quote-based annual subscriptions, targeting CRE owners and operators (CoStar, CBRE, JLL, RMR Group, Transwestern, John Buck, GCM, JMB, Riverside, Alight, Chapman) and enterprise tenants (Morgan Stanley). Distribution is extended through an HID Elite Partnership, integrator channel partners, and a flagship showcase at The Ion in Houston. Cohesion has raised approximately $30 million across four funding rounds from 2018 to 2023, with strategic backing from Microsoft, Hearst, and Walmart alongside lead investors Morgan Stanley Next Level Fund and Hyde Park Angels.
Cohesion firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cohesion
- Legal name
- cohesionIB, Inc.
- Website
- https://cohesionib.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cohesion is a Chicago-based SaaS company offering a smart building platform that unifies access control, tenant experience, maintenance, and AI-powered portfolio analytics. It serves commercial real estate owners, operators, and enterprise customers such as JLL, CBRE, and Morgan Stanley.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cohesion industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Smart Building Software
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Architectural Services (541310)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Smart Building Software Platforms (IWMS/CAFM Integration, Digital Twin, Command Center) (BPABAGAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Occupant Experience & Smart Workplace Apps (Room/Desk Booking, Comfort Feedback) (BPABAGAO)
Keywords
Where Cohesion is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cohesion business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- SaaS Platform Subscription: Cohesion operates as a SaaS company providing a smart building platform. The platform includes end-user applications (Smart Access, Smart Experience, Smart Maintenance), a data platform (Savvy), and advisory services. Revenue is generated through software subscriptions typically sold to commercial real estate owners/operators and enterprise tenants on multi-year contracts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise SaaS subscription - pricing not publicly disclosed |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cohesion product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cohesion provides a vertically integrated smart building SaaS platform that unifies building systems (access control, HVAC, lighting via BACnet), tenant-facing applications, and AI-powered analytics. The platform is sold as a subscription to commercial real estate owners, operators, and enterprise tenants, combining three end-user applications (Smart Access, Smart Experience, Smart Maintenance) with a data platform (Savvy) and advisory services.
Product overview
Cohesion offers a unified smart building technology platform — the Intelligent Building Platform — comprising three core end-user application products (Smart Access, Smart Experience, Smart Maintenance) layered on top of an AI-powered data platform called Savvy. Additional offerings include SpacePulse (space planning insights service), Smart Building Advisory (consulting), and spotlight features (Cloud Access Portal, Digital Wallet, Visitor Management). The platform integrates building systems, people, and spaces for commercial real estate and enterprise organizations, enabling access control, tenant experience, maintenance operations, and data-driven portfolio optimization through a single connected system.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Savvy: A real-time, real estate data platform that gives business leaders live insights to boost the value and performance of their real estate portfolio.
- SpacePulse
Products and services
- Smart Access Modernizes and standardizes physical access control systems for commercial real estate and enterprise tenants, enabling digital credential management, enterprise role-based access control (RBAC), and mobile-first access across multiple building systems. Designed for CRE owners, operators, facility managers, and corporate security teams.
- Smart Experience Transforms tenant and occupant interactions with spaces through seamless digital experiences, including concierge services, space booking, and mobile-first engagement features. Targets CRE owners, operators, and enterprise tenants seeking to elevate occupant experience.
- Smart Maintenance Connects maintenance workflows to building systems data to drive operational excellence through proactive issue detection, anomaly identification, and predictive maintenance across building operations. Designed for facility management and operations teams.
- Savvy AI-powered real-time real estate data platform (sub-brand of Cohesion) that centralizes data from building systems, sensors, and external sources into a unified smart building platform, providing live insights, predictive analytics, and a generative-AI assistant for portfolio performance analysis. Targeted at business leaders, CRE operators, and enterprise real estate teams.
- SpacePulse Turnkey space planning and insights service (sub-brand of Cohesion) that gives teams the data and analysis needed to plan spaces confidently, determine the ideal space mix, and invest where it matters most. Targeted at CRE and enterprise real estate planning teams.
- Smart Building Advisory Consulting and advisory service covering smart building planning, solution design, deployment, portfolio strategy, and system integrations for CRE owners, operators, and enterprise occupiers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Enterprises invest up to 15% of operating costs in real estate and up to 70% on labor - Cohesion helps optimize both
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Cohesion
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cohesion technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature10 records
Cohesion partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, strategic and core.
- HIDflagshipCohesion named HID Elite Partner, joining an exclusive group of five global partners to deliver enterprise-grade mobile access and PIAM (Physical Identity and Access Management) solutions. Enables deep integration with HID Origo platform for mobile-first access across multiple building systems.
- MicrosoftstrategicStrategic partner participating in Series A round. Microsoft provides cloud infrastructure and ecosystem support for Cohesion's smart building platform.
- HearststrategicStrategic partner participating in Series A round. Hearst is a diversified media and information company with significant real estate holdings.
- WalmartstrategicStrategic partner participating in Series A round. Walmart's participation signals interest in smart building technology for retail and corporate real estate applications.
- The IoncoreHouston's innovation hub featuring a partnership between Cohesion and HID to deliver seamless user experience, showcasing the integrated smart building platform in a flagship building.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cohesion competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HqO: HqO is a smart building tenant experience and operations platform offering workplace apps, access integrations, and analytics for commercial real estate — directly comparable to Cohesion's Smart Experience and Savvy offerings.
- KODE Labs: KODE Labs provides a smart building OS that unifies building systems, IoT data, and AI analytics for commercial real estate — closely overlapping with Cohesion's integrated platform and digital twin strategy.
- Building Engines (JLL subsidiary): Building Engines offers a CRE operations platform including tenant experience and building analytics; now owned by JLL (a Cohesion customer), it represents both a peer and a potential channel/competitive channel conflict.
- SmartRent: SmartRent delivers smart building and access control software for multifamily and commercial properties, overlapping with Cohesion's Smart Access and unified building platform capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Honeywell Building Technologies (Honeywell Forge): Honeywell Forge is a large incumbent building management and analytics suite covering access, HVAC, energy, and occupant experience — overlapping with Cohesion but as part of a much broader industrial and building portfolio.
- Siemens Smart Infrastructure: Siemens offers building operations, access, and digital twin platforms (Building X) — a broad incumbent competing with Cohesion across commercial real estate and enterprise customers globally.
- Johnson Controls OpenBlue: Johnson Controls' OpenBlue platform integrates building systems, access, and AI analytics for enterprise and CRE — a large incumbent with overlapping smart building capabilities.
- Schneider Electric EcoStruxure: Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure Building Operation is a BMS and analytics platform that overlaps directly with Cohesion's integration-and-analytics thesis across enterprise real estate.
Emerging players
- 75F: 75F provides IoT-based building management with smart HVAC, lighting, and air quality controls — an emerging player whose vertical intersects with Cohesion's Smart Maintenance and BACnet-integrated offerings.
- Verkada: Verkada offers cloud-based physical security (cameras, access control, sensors) with a unified SaaS platform — adjacent overlap with Cohesion's Smart Access and unified building platform, particularly with enterprise tenants.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cohesion social profiles
Digital presenceCohesion compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Cohesion financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cohesion leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Cohesion funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cohesion M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cohesion
What does Cohesion do?
Cohesion provides a vertically integrated smart building SaaS platform that unifies building systems (access control, HVAC, lighting via BACnet), tenant-facing applications, and AI-powered analytics. The platform is sold as a subscription to commercial real estate owners, operators, and enterprise tenants, combining three end-user applications (Smart Access, Smart Experience, Smart Maintenance) with a data platform (Savvy) and advisory services.
Is Cohesion a public or private company?
Cohesion is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Cohesion founded?
Cohesion was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cohesion based?
Cohesion is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cohesion make money?
One revenue line is on record: saaS Platform Subscription.
Who are Cohesion's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HqO, KODE Labs, Building Engines (JLL subsidiary) and SmartRent. Broad incumbents are Honeywell Building Technologies (Honeywell Forge), Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Johnson Controls OpenBlue and Schneider Electric EcoStruxure. Emerging players are 75F and Verkada.
Does Cohesion have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cohesion.
What industry is Cohesion in?
Cohesion's product category is Smart Building Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABAGAG, Smart Building Software Platforms (IWMS/CAFM Integration, Digital Twin, Command Center), with a secondary code of BPABAGAO, Occupant Experience & Smart Workplace Apps (Room/Desk Booking, Comfort Feedback). Its NAICS code is 518210 and its SIC code is 7373.