FORTÉ
FORTÉ (formerly AVI Systems) is an employee-owned audiovisual systems integrator headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, designing, deploying, and managing integrated AV and unified communications solutions for enterprise and public-sector clients worldwide through its proprietary Velocity platform and the Global Presence Alliance partnership network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersEden Prairie, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What FORTÉ does
FORTÉ (formerly AVI Systems) is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) audiovisual systems integrator headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a reported operating base spanning 50+ countries and 170 international cities through both direct offices and partnerships. The firm designs, deploys, and supports integrated audiovisual (AV) and unified communications (UC) solutions for enterprise and public-sector clients, with a reported installation footprint of more than 1,500 Velocity-managed deployments since 2022.
Its core technology is the Velocity platform, a proprietary deployment and lifecycle management framework that standardizes how AV/UC systems are designed, commissioned, monitored, and serviced. Velocity underpins the company's ability to scale delivery across geographically distributed environments and to integrate acquired entities onto a common tooling stack. Delivery is augmented by FORTÉ's position as the largest shareholder in the Global Presence Alliance (GPA), a partnership network of more than 6,000 AV/UC professionals worldwide, which extends service reach into geographies where FORTÉ does not operate a direct office.
FORTÉ generates revenue through a mix of project-based integration (hardware procurement, design, installation, and commissioning), recurring managed services and lifecycle support tied to deployed installations, and strategic consulting for enterprise workplace and broadcast environments. Its go-to-market is enterprise- and institution-anchored, delivered through a direct sales and engineering organization, and supported by an ESOP structure that aligns employee incentives with long-term client outcomes. Recent strategic activity — five acquisitions between December 2022 and April 2025, a 2025 corporate rebrand, a CIO promotion in December 2025, and a February 2026 European expansion of Velocity — indicates a roll-up-and-platform thesis aimed at converting fragmented regional integrators into a single, standardized global delivery brand.
FORTÉ firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FORTÉ
- Legal name
- AVI Systems, Inc.
- Website
- https://ourforte.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- FORTÉ (formerly AVI Systems) is an employee-owned audiovisual systems integrator headquartered in Minneapolis, MN, designing, deploying, and managing integrated AV and unified communications solutions for enterprise and public-sector clients worldwide through its proprietary Velocity platform and the Global Presence Alliance partnership network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FORTÉ industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Audio-Visual Systems Integration
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Communications Equipment, Nec (3669), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Classroom AV Systems Integration (Projectors, Displays, Sound, Control) (EDAEAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- AV/Collaboration & Unified Communications Support (VoIP, Video, UCaaS) (BPAAACAJ)
Keywords
Where FORTÉ is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Eden Prairie
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
FORTÉ business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- AV Systems Integration & Professional Services: End-to-end AV systems integration including design, installation, consulting, and project delivery services for corporate, education, government, and healthcare spaces.
- Managed Services: Ongoing managed services including advanced system management, monitoring and automation, global services, system support, and PRO support contracts with SLA response times.
- Velocity Meeting Room Solutions: Pre-configured meeting room solutions sold as one-time purchases or through month-to-month subscription model, accommodating small, medium, and large rooms.
- Hardware Sales: Sale of AV hardware including displays, video walls, cameras, control systems, audio equipment from technology partners like Crestron, Samsung, Sony, Q-SYS, and others.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Velocity Purchase - One-time license |
| Subscription | Monthly | Velocity Subscription - Month-to-month |
| Subscription | Annual | Managed Services Contracts |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
FORTÉ product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FORTÉ (formerly AVI Systems) is an audio-visual systems integrator that designs, deploys, and supports meeting room, collaboration, broadcast, digital signage, and command-and-control solutions for corporate, education, government, healthcare, and entertainment customers. The company sells its proprietary Velocity family of pre-configured meeting room solutions (deployable in as few as 10 days) alongside comprehensive managed services, consulting, and integration of third-party AV/UC hardware and software platforms.
Product overview
FORTÉ is a leading AV company and systems integrator (formerly AVI Systems) that delivers secure, scalable audio-visual solutions built for the modern workplace. The company's core product is the Velocity™ family of meeting room solutions, which includes Velocity Certified (VLC) optimized for in-room experience priority and Velocity Signature for hybrid-optimized spaces. Velocity products are pre-configured for rapid deployment in as few as 10 days with consistent, scalable pricing. Supporting the Velocity portfolio is the VISION customer portal for account management and monitoring. FORTÉ also offers comprehensive services including Managed Services (Advanced System Management, Monitoring & Automation, Global Services, System Support), Consulting (Innovation Roadmaps, Conceptual Design, Budget Development), Project Delivery, and Program Management. The company's expertise spans Enterprise AV, Digital Media, Broadcast, Unified Collaboration/Workplace Platforms, Microsoft Solutions (AI-powered workplace), and Command & Control systems. Solutions are delivered across Corporate, Education, and Government market segments in 50 countries with 170 international cities coverage, supported through the GPA global delivery network of over 6,000 professionals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Velocity: Meeting room solutions product line that can be delivered in as few as 10 days, with subscription-based options available
- Velocity Certified (VLC)
- Velocity Signature
- VISION
- FORTÉ LIVE
- FORTÉ Impact
- GPA (Global Presence Alliance)
Products and services
- Velocity Meeting Room Solutions Pre-configured, standardized meeting room solutions deployable in as few as 10 days with consistent pricing, offered in Velocity Certified (in-room experience priority) and Velocity Signature (hybrid-optimized) variants. Scaled across thousands of rooms at enterprise customers since 2022.
- Managed Services Ongoing AV/UC managed services including Advanced System Management, Monitoring and Automation, Global Services, System Support, Professional Services, Project Delivery, and Program Management, with SLA-bound PRO support contracts for enterprise and government customers.
- Consulting Services Audio-visual consulting engagements covering Innovation Roadmaps, Conceptual Design, Budget Development, Requirements Gathering, Content & Storytelling, and Network Requirements to align technology with business strategy.
- Enterprise AV Integration Design, installation, and support of audio-visual systems for meeting rooms, boardrooms, training facilities, and operations centers in corporate environments.
- Digital Media Solutions Digital signage, wayfinding, and experiential environments including content management for customer innovation centers, entertainment venues, and houses of worship.
- Broadcast Production Services Broadcast production services for all-hands meetings, live streaming presentations, sporting events, and eSports productions.
- Unified Collaboration / Workplace Platforms Unified collaboration solutions integrating Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco/Webex, and cloud voice platforms to enable seamless workplace communication across the enterprise.
- Microsoft Solutions Specialized Microsoft practice covering AI-powered workplace technology, employee engagement, infrastructure, security and compliance, M365/modern work, and Microsoft application modernization.
- Command and Control Systems Design, installation, and support of operations control rooms, network and security operations centers, emergency operations centers, traffic management centers, and defense agency command centers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,500+ Velocity systems deployed at global enterprises
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use FORTÉ
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
FORTÉ technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
FORTÉ partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, standard and minor.
- GPA (Global Program Alliance)coreFORTÉ is the largest shareholder of GPA, a global delivery engine with more than 6,000 professionals worldwide. This partnership enables FORTÉ to deliver AV and unified collaboration solutions across 50+ countries and 170 international cities for multinational customers.
- MicrosoftcoreFORTÉ specializes in Microsoft solutions including Teams Rooms, M365, AI-powered workplace, employee engagement, infrastructure, security and compliance, and application modernization.
- SamsungstandardSamsung displays and technology integrated into customer solutions including 82-inch 4K displays for esports arenas and various commercial displays.
- Sony ElectronicsstandardSony ZRD2 Crystal LED display technology used in customer installations, featuring no bezels for continuous panel appearance.
- CrestronstandardCrestron control systems, NVX switching/routing, touch-panel controls, and DM (DigitalMedia) solutions used across customer deployments.
- Q-SYSstandardQ-SYS audio, video, and control processing solutions used in educational deployments for classroom and hybrid learning spaces.
- Corsair GamingstandardCorsair gaming station packages including peripherals used in esports arena solutions for universities.
- ZoomstandardPlatform interoperability with Zoom for meeting room solutions and unified collaboration deployments.
- Google (Workspace)standardPlatform interoperability with Google Workspace for meeting solutions across customer deployments.
- Cisco/WebexstandardPlatform interoperability with Cisco/Webex for unified collaboration solutions.
- HARMAN Professional SolutionsstandardCo-exhibited at ISE 2026 as part of the Pro AV integration industry ecosystem.
- PlanarstandardCo-exhibited at ISE 2026 showcasing next-generation MicroLED and 5K 21:9 LCD display technologies.
- SennheiserstandardCo-exhibited at ISE 2026, featuring DeviceHub cloud management platform for audio solutions.
- SymetrixstandardCo-exhibited at ISE 2026 showcasing Cognio AVC ecosystem for commercial audio solutions.
- TRISONminorTRISON acquired Pioneer Group as part of industry consolidation in the AV/IT market.
- Yorktel/KinlyminorYorktel combined with Kinly as strategic move in the AV integration industry.
- E-Footprints PartnersstandardEsports consultant for Faulkner University esports program development and arena design.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
FORTÉ competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AVI-SPL: AVI-SPL is the largest U.S. AV systems integrator and the most direct competitor to FORTÉ. Both companies serve enterprise, government, and education customers with AV integration, managed services, and unified collaboration deployments, and both operate global delivery networks (AVI-SPL via its own footprint, FORTÉ via GPA). Notably, AVI-SPL was FORTÉ's former parent and is a direct rival in the same customer accounts.
- Kinly: Kinly (formerly Yorktel combined with Kinly) is a global AV integration and collaboration services provider competing directly with FORTÉ in enterprise, government, and education verticals. Both firms offer end-to-end AV integration, managed services, and unified collaboration support across multiple geographies.
- Diversified: Diversified is a large-scale U.S. AV/UC systems integrator with comparable enterprise, healthcare, government, and education focus. It competes head-to-head with FORTÉ on enterprise meeting room deployments, command & control rooms, and managed services contracts.
- Whitlock: Whitlock is an AV integration and collaboration solutions provider serving corporate, government, and education clients with a similar mix of design, integration, and managed services offerings, making it a direct peer to FORTÉ in the mid-to-large enterprise segment.
- CCS Presentation Systems: CCS Presentation Systems is an AV integrator with deep education and government exposure, competing with FORTÉ for K-12, higher education, and public-sector projects. It offers similar AV design, integration, and managed services capabilities.
Regional players
- TRISON: TRISON is a European-headquartered AV/digital signage integrator that acquired Pioneer Group as part of industry consolidation. While primarily serving EMEA markets, it overlaps with FORTÉ on global enterprise accounts and competes for the same multinational meeting room and digital signage deployments.
Broad incumbents
- Crestron Electronics: Crestron is a major manufacturer and software provider of AV control, room scheduling, and UC solutions, and a key technology partner that FORTÉ deploys. While Crestron does not directly compete as an integrator at FORTÉ's scale, its direct-to-customer programs and growing services arm represent both a partner channel and a long-term competitive adjacency.
- Logitech: Logitech is a dominant manufacturer of video collaboration hardware (Rally bars, Room Solutions) and competes with FORTÉ at the edge through certified room system bundles sold directly to enterprises. As Logitech deepens its software and services stack, it could erode the integrator layer that FORTÉ relies on.
- Biamp: Biamp manufactures professional AV processing, networked audio, and conferencing solutions deployed by FORTÉ in customer projects. Its Tesira and Parlé lines overlap with FORTÉ's audio integration work, and Biamp's growing presence in UC endpoints creates partial channel conflict in some segments.
- Poly (HP): Poly, now part of HP, manufactures video and voice collaboration endpoints and certified room systems used across enterprise and government. Its direct room system bundles compete with FORTÉ's Velocity offering on standardized deployments, particularly for smaller rooms where integrator involvement may be bypassed.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FORTÉ social profiles
Digital presenceFORTÉ financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FORTÉ leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
FORTÉ subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
FORTÉ funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FORTÉ M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FORTÉ
What does FORTÉ do?
FORTÉ (formerly AVI Systems) is an audio-visual systems integrator that designs, deploys, and supports meeting room, collaboration, broadcast, digital signage, and command-and-control solutions for corporate, education, government, healthcare, and entertainment customers. The company sells its proprietary Velocity family of pre-configured meeting room solutions (deployable in as few as 10 days) alongside comprehensive managed services, consulting, and integration of third-party AV/UC hardware and software platforms.
Is FORTÉ a public or private company?
FORTÉ is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was FORTÉ founded?
FORTÉ was founded in 1974. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is FORTÉ based?
FORTÉ is headquartered in Eden Prairie, United States, in the North America region.
How does FORTÉ make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. AV Systems Integration & Professional Services are the primary driver. The others are managed Services, velocity Meeting Room Solutions and hardware Sales.
Who are FORTÉ's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AVI-SPL, Kinly, Diversified, Whitlock and CCS Presentation Systems. TRISON is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Crestron Electronics, Logitech, Biamp and Poly (HP).
Does FORTÉ have an API?
No public API is recorded for FORTÉ.
What industry is FORTÉ in?
FORTÉ's product category is Audio-Visual Systems Integration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAHAC, Classroom AV Systems Integration (Projectors, Displays, Sound, Control), with a secondary code of BPAAACAJ, AV/Collaboration & Unified Communications Support (VoIP, Video, UCaaS). Its NAICS code is 5415 and its SIC code is 7373.