What Essentia does

Essentia, Inc. is a private, founder-controlled infrastructure services firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company designs, engineers, builds, and manages fiber, wireless, and critical-infrastructure networks for U.S. telecom carriers, cable MSOs, hyperscale data center operators, electric utilities, government agencies, and large enterprises. Its service portfolio spans the full project lifecycle — pre-funding feasibility and consulting, broadband design and engineering, joint-use and make-ready, aerial and underground construction, wireless macro and small cell deployment, enterprise in-building networks, tribal broadband, and 24/7 operations and maintenance — and is unified by its proprietary eSpeed™ Technology Platform, a cloud-based project management and automation layer that ingests drone and AR field data, runs AutoFiber underground fiber engineering automations, integrates with GIS and CAD systems, and produces A&E and permit drawings in seconds.

Essentia's business model is professional-services-led: revenue is earned on a project-by-project, multi-year contract basis through direct enterprise field sales, with pricing negotiated by scope and complexity rather than published as standard rate cards. The company combines in-house PE-licensed engineering (licensed in NC, IL, MI, MN, MA, NY through Essentia Engineering, P.A.) with a hybrid direct-execution model supplemented by a vetted vendor/contractor network, and supplements professional services with managed-services-style PMO, operations, and maintenance engagements. Customer concentration is anchored by major telecom and cable logos (AT&T, Charter, WOW!, a Fortune 200 telecom carrier, a Fortune 500 CATV provider), complemented by federal agencies, a Fortune 100 aerospace company, and university deployments.

Growth has been consistent and above-market: Essentia appeared on the Inc. 5000 in 2021 (270% three-year revenue growth) and again in 2025 (No. 2137, 201.27% three-year growth), and has earned Great Place to Work Certification for five consecutive years. The company has been self-funded through organic growth with no disclosed institutional investors or external funding rounds, and is led by a Co-CEO founder structure (Lindon Hayes as Chairman & Founder; Jarrod Hayes as Co-CEO & Founder) supported by a full C-suite and vertical-aligned VPs.

Name

Essentia

Legal name

Essentia, Inc.

Website

https://essentia-inc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Essentia is a tech-enabled turnkey infrastructure solutions provider serving U.S. telecom carriers, cable MSOs, hyperscalers, electric utilities, and government agencies with fiber network design, engineering, construction, and program management powered by its proprietary eSpeed automation platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecom Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)

akta.pro primary industry

API Development, Integration & Microservices Modernization (BPAEAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

API Gateway & Application Gateway (L7 Routing/Policy) (HDAFAHAH), Data Center Networking Services (Switching/Routing/Fabric) (BPAEAEAF), API Management & Gateways (BPAMAOAA)

Keywords

• Telecom infrastructure services
• Fiber network engineering
• Network construction services
• Broadband consulting services
• Wireless small cell deployment

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Infrastructure Design & Engineering Services: Essentia designs fiber and wireless networks (FTTH, small cell, macro, critical infrastructure) using its eSpeed platform. This includes high-level design (HLD), low-level design (LLD), GIS-based design, permitting, and engineering documentation. Revenue is earned through professional services fees on a per-project or time-and-materials basis.
2. Network Construction Services: Turnkey construction delivery for aerial and underground fiber, directional boring, FTTH drops, fiber backbones/laterals, shelter/hut/inside plant construction. Includes onsite construction management, field supervision, and back-office support (permits, invoices, progress reports). Revenue is earned through construction contracts, typically fixed-price or cost-plus.
3. Broadband Consulting Services: Financial analysis, network design and engineering, infrastructure development planning, governance consulting, and technical due diligence for state broadband offices, municipalities, and carriers navigating BEAD and other funding programs.
4. Pre-Funding Engineering: Pre-funding feasibility studies, market intelligence, ROI analysis, and implementation planning to prepare operators for BEAD and other grant-funded deployments before capital is committed.
5. Program Management Office (PMO): Ongoing project management, network operations and maintenance, project closeout, asset management, and compliance services across the full project lifecycle.
6. Operations & Maintenance: 24/7 infrastructure monitoring, proactive maintenance, and performance reporting for hyperscale and carrier network infrastructure post-deployment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Essentia is a tech-enabled turnkey infrastructure solutions provider that designs, engineers, builds, and manages telecom networks — including FTTH fiber, small cell/wireless, broadband, and critical infrastructure — for carriers, cable MSOs, electric utilities, hyperscalers, and government clients. Service delivery is powered by its proprietary eSpeed™ Technology Platform, which automates drone data capture, engineering design, permitting, construction management, and reporting across the full project lifecycle.

Product overview

Essentia offers a unified platform approach centered on its proprietary eSpeed™ Technology Platform, which powers a comprehensive portfolio of telecom infrastructure services. The eSpeed platform serves as the core technology engine providing automated data collection, engineering workflows, and project management—underpinning all service offerings. Services span the full lifecycle from pre-funding planning and broadband consulting through network design/engineering, construction, and operations. Key offerings include Broadband Design and Engineering, Network Construction, Wireless Macro & Small Cell deployment, Enterprise Solutions, Tribal Broadband Solutions, Critical Infrastructure services, Joint Use/Make-Ready, Pre-Funding Engineering, and Hyperscale Solutions. The portfolio is unified by shared technology (eSpeed, drone capture, AR-powered tools) and serves diverse sectors including telecom carriers, cable MSOs, utilities, enterprises, and government entities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• eSpeed: Proprietary technology platform that accelerates data collection, automates workflows, and provides real-time reporting for telecom infrastructure projects. Features include drone data capture, engineering automations, and machine learning capabilities.

Products and services

• eSpeed Technology Platform
• Broadband Design and Engineering
• Network Construction
• Wireless Macro & Small Cell
• Enterprise Solutions
• Tribal Broadband Solutions
• Critical Infrastructure
• Joint Use / Make-Ready
• Pre-Funding Engineering
• Broadband Consulting Services
• Hyperscale Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• Complete fiber projects up to 6 months ahead of the competition
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability7 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• D8Averse (D8Acapture)coreTechnology or Integration · 23 September 2025Essentia has adopted D8Averse's D8Acapture mobile-first pole and asset data platform to streamline infrastructure field data collection. D8Acapture provides AR-powered height measurement, GPS-tagged photography, and instant cloud sync, enabling single-technician inspections using standard iOS devices. This integration eliminates bulky equipment and manual documentation, reduces inspection times, and generates export-ready records compatible with GIS and engineering systems. The partnership strengthens Essentia's tech-enabled field operations for utilities, telecommunications, and broadband projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MasTec: Public infrastructure construction firm (NYSE: MTZ) with a large Communications segment delivering fiber, wireless, and utility network services to the same telecom carrier and cable MSO customers Essentia serves, at materially larger scale.
• Dycom Industries: Public specialty contractor (NYSE: DY) providing engineering, construction, and maintenance services to telecom providers nationwide — a closely comparable business model focused on fiber and wireless network deployment.
• Primoris Services Corporation: Public infrastructure construction firm (NYSE: PRIM) with utilities, energy, and communications segments that delivers fiber and telecom network build-outs to carriers and utilities comparable to Essentia's customer base.
• KGPCo: Private communications products and services provider offering network design, supply, and build services to carriers and utilities; closely comparable to Essentia's integrated design + construction + supply model.
• Network Connex: Specialized fiber network services firm delivering engineering, construction, and maintenance to carriers, data centers, and utilities — directly comparable to Essentia's Hyperscale Solutions and fiber build-out offerings.
• M.C. Dean: Large private electrical and telecommunications infrastructure firm delivering mission-critical network builds for federal, utility, and enterprise customers — comparable to Essentia's Critical Infrastructure and government engagements.

Broad incumbents

• Quanta Services: Largest US infrastructure services firm (NYSE: PWR) with telecom, electric, and pipeline capabilities; competes with Essentia on large multi-site fiber and utility programs with significantly greater scale and balance sheet.
• Black & Veatch: Private global engineering, procurement, and construction firm with a significant telecom and utility infrastructure practice; competes for design-build and program management engagements of similar scope to Essentia's BEAD and utility work.
• Corning Incorporated: Public fiber optic and connectivity products manufacturer (NYSE: GLW) whose Optical Communications division includes network services adjacent to Essentia's fiber design and deployment work; not a direct competitor but a major upstream/downstream participant.
• Burns & McDonnell: Private employee-owned engineering and construction firm with telecom, utility, and critical infrastructure practices that competes for design and program management engagements of similar scope to Essentia's federal and utility work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EssentiaInc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Essentia_Inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/essentia-inc-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Essentia