Spireworks
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Spireworks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Spireworks
- Legal name
- Spireworks LLC
- Website
- https://spireworks.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Spireworks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Interactive Architectural Lighting Platform
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lighting Controls & Smart Lighting Systems (BPABAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Lighting Design Services (BPAHAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Spireworks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Spireworks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Interactive Session Fees: Some events require payment for access. Fees are adjusted based on event and demand. While numerous free events occur throughout the year, certain curated experiences require paid access.
- Charitable Campaign Proceeds: Spireworks hosts charitable events where some proceeds support non-profit organizations. 50% of user fees are retained by Spireworks, and 50% are granted to participating 501(c)(3) nonprofits through Our Change Foundation.
- Branded Event Partnerships: Custom events and live activations for brands and organizations, including branded interfaces and specialized themes for spires.
- Commercial Sponsorship: Revenue generated from commercial sponsorships, public awareness campaigns, and rooftop/skyline venue activations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Access Events |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Paid Interactive Sessions |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Curated Access Membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Spireworks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Spireworks operates a real-time interactive lighting control platform that enables users to dynamically change colors and effects on LED fixtures installed atop iconic New York City buildings via a mobile and web application. The platform supports limited-membership access to ensure quality experience, delivers curated brand activation events for commercial partners, and runs charitable fundraising campaigns through partnerships with Our Change Foundation and GlobalGiving. The system handles concurrent multi-user sessions with queue management and is accessible globally through the Spireworks Live extension launched in May 2020.
Product overview
Spireworks offers a unified interactive architectural lighting platform centered on the Spireworks Core Platform, which provides real-time control of dynamic LED lighting installations on iconic New York City buildings. The ecosystem includes the Spireworks Live global extension for worldwide charitable participation, dedicated mobile and web applications for user access, livestreaming capabilities, and curated access events for brand and cause partners. Users access the platform via mobile app (iOS/Android), web browser, or desktop to select colors and effects for building spires including One Bryant Park, One Five One W 42nd, One World Trade Center, Sven, and Halletts Point. The platform generates revenue through a mix of free events, paid sessions, and charitable fundraising campaigns, with API-enabled infrastructure supporting third-party integrations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Spireworks Core Platform The core interactive lighting control platform that enables users to dynamically control colors and effects on LED lighting installations atop five iconic New York City buildings in real time via mobile phone, web browser, or desktop application. Available to registered users and limited-membership participants.
- Spireworks Live A global extension of the core Spireworks platform launched in May 2020, enabling users worldwide to participate in real-time interactive lighting experiences and support charitable causes including the Coronavirus Relief Fund via integration with GlobalGiving.
- Spireworks Mobile Application Native mobile application for iOS and Android devices enabling users to sign in and control spire lighting colors in real time. Available through Apple App Store (id1372884614) and Google Play Store.
- Curated Brand Activation Events Custom events and live activations for brands and organizations, including branded interfaces, specialized themes for spires, and integrated cause-marketing components for partners such as Ferrari, United Airlines, and the National Parks Service.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,832 special lighting events delivered to date
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Spireworks
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Spireworks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Spireworks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- The Durst OrganizationcoreThe Durst Organization is the real estate company that owns the buildings integrated with Spireworks. Mark Domino created Spireworks in partnership with The Durst Organization to illuminate One Five One West 42nd Street and One Bryant Park. Durst provides the building infrastructure and spire installations that enable the Spireworks platform.
- Our Change Foundationcore501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that facilitates charitable campaign distributions. Commercial co-venture partner enabling Spireworks charitable campaigns. 50% of user fees are granted to participating nonprofits through Our Change Foundation. EIN: 86-3353394.
- GlobalGivingcore501(c)(3) foundation partnered with Spireworks for cause-based events. Donations are processed by GlobalGiving directly, which provides tax deductible receipts. EIN: 30-0108263.
- United AirlinesflagshipUnited Airlines partnered with Spireworks to announce their return to John F. Kennedy Airport. The partnership engaged Spireworks members and United employees with an elevated experience allowing guests to take over all NYC spires with specialized United Airlines themes.
- FerrariflagshipFerrari celebrated its 70th Anniversary with a Spireworks event featuring custom-branded interface for guests to take over all NYC spires with Ferrari themes. Event was in partnership with Save the Children.
- National Parks ServiceflagshipNational Park Service celebrated their Centennial with a Spireworks event featuring an interactive game to light One World Trade Center spire. Event featured remarks by Bill Nye and U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
- Save the ChildrenflagshipInternational humanitarian organization partnered with Ferrari for 70th Anniversary Spireworks event, powering children's ability to achieve their dreams.
- Security Traders Association of New York (STANY) Women in FinanceminorSTANY Women in Finance partnered with Spireworks for International Women's Day 2019, lighting One World Trade Center spire to celebrate the #BetterForBalance theme.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Spireworks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Signify: Amsterdam-based global lighting leader (formerly Philips Lighting) offering architectural, commercial, and connected lighting products including Philips Hue and Interact IoT. Signify is comparable as a broad incumbent in the lighting controls and smart lighting space, though it is a manufacturer rather than an interactive experience operator.
- Acuity Brands: US-based market leader in commercial and institutional lighting fixtures and controls, serving offices, retail, and industrial facilities. Acuity's lighting controls capability overlaps with Spireworks' smart lighting control system, but its focus is on B2B building automation rather than consumer-facing interactive experiences.
- Lutron Electronics: US-based leader in lighting controls and shading solutions for residential and commercial buildings. Lutron's lighting controls product line is comparable to the smart lighting control technology underlying Spireworks, but Lutron is a hardware manufacturer rather than an interactive experience platform.
Direct peers
- TeamLab: Tokyo-based interdisciplinary art collective creating large-scale immersive digital art installations where users interact with light and digital environments. TeamLab Borderless and teamLab Planets mirror Spireworks' real-time interactive engagement model, though TeamLab typically operates enclosed venues rather than building exteriors.
- Lux Machina: Los Angeles-based experiential lighting and projection company serving entertainment, live events, and brand activations. Lux Machina's building-scale lighting and visual content work is directly comparable to Spireworks' branded activations on NYC spires, though Lux Machina primarily serves concerts and live events.
- Laservision Mega Media: Australia-based global leader in large-scale architectural projection mapping and lighting shows, including Sydney New Year's Eve and major Dubai installations. Laservision's building-scale projection and lighting work is directly comparable to Spireworks' use of iconic architecture for visually striking public-facing experiences.
- Moment Factory: Montreal-based multimedia studio creating immersive lighting and projection experiences for public spaces, buildings, and events worldwide. Moment Factory's architectural lighting and engagement platforms are directly comparable to Spireworks' use of building-scale illumination as a real-time interactive experience.
Regional players
- Electric Canvas: Australian architectural projection and lighting company serving Vivid Sydney and other large-format public events. Electric Canvas's projection-on-buildings approach is comparable to Spireworks, but its geographic concentration in Australia differentiates it from Spireworks' NYC-centric portfolio.
Others
- Christie Digital Systems: Canada-based global provider of projection and visualization technology used for large-format experiences including architectural projection, immersive venues, and live events. Christie's projection hardware underpins many architectural lighting experiences comparable to Spireworks, but Christie is a technology supplier rather than an experience operator.
- Barbizon Lighting: US-based provider of lighting equipment sales, rentals, and system integration for entertainment, broadcast, and architectural applications. Barbizon supplies production infrastructure used by adjacent experiential platforms, but does not operate consumer-facing interactive experiences.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Spireworks social profiles
Digital presenceSpireworks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Spireworks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Spireworks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Spireworks 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 Spireworks
What does Spireworks do?
Spireworks operates a real-time interactive lighting control platform that enables users to dynamically change colors and effects on LED fixtures installed atop iconic New York City buildings via a mobile and web application. The platform supports limited-membership access to ensure quality experience, delivers curated brand activation events for commercial partners, and runs charitable fundraising campaigns through partnerships with Our Change Foundation and GlobalGiving. The system handles concurrent multi-user sessions with queue management and is accessible globally through the Spireworks Live extension launched in May 2020.
Is Spireworks a public or private company?
Spireworks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Spireworks founded?
Spireworks was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Spireworks based?
Spireworks is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Spireworks make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Interactive Session Fees are the primary driver. The others are charitable Campaign Proceeds, branded Event Partnerships and commercial Sponsorship.
Who are Spireworks's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Signify, Acuity Brands and Lutron Electronics. Direct peers are TeamLab, Lux Machina, Laservision Mega Media and Moment Factory. Electric Canvas is listed as a regional player. Others are Christie Digital Systems and Barbizon Lighting.
Does Spireworks have an API?
Yes. Spireworks is described as having an 'API Enabled' feature on its homepage, indicating technical capability. The platform enables real-time interactive control of architectural lighting installations via internet-connected mobile devices. No public API documentation, endpoint specifications, authentication methods, rate limits, or developer portal were found in the source material.
What industry is Spireworks in?
Spireworks's product category is Interactive Architectural Lighting Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABAGAC, Lighting Controls & Smart Lighting Systems, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAJ, Lighting Design Services. Its SIC code is 8744.