Build26
Build26 is an independent manufacturer representative agency representing 160+ lighting, electrical, and infrastructure manufacturers across Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado, earning commissions by connecting manufacturers with contractors, distributors, and specifiers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersSalt Lake City, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Build26 does
Build26 is an independent manufacturer representative agency founded in 2022 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, with a second regional office in Meridian, Idaho. The firm represents 160+ manufacturers across three Division 26 product categories — Lighting (128+ manufacturers in the Utah line card), Electrical Commodities (23+ manufacturers), and Infrastructure (11+ manufacturers) — earning commissions by connecting those manufacturer partners with contractors, electrical distributors, and specifiers (architects, engineers, designers) across six western US states: Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado.
The company does not develop proprietary technology; instead, it operates dedicated functional sales teams — specification sales, distribution sales, infrastructure sales, lighting controls, supply inside sales, quoting, project management, and customer support — that process quotes, place orders, and provide product and application expertise on behalf of represented brands. Revenue is generated via manufacturer representative commissions, with pricing of underlying products set by the manufacturers rather than by Build26. The firm complements its sales motion with AIA-approved continuing education courses on Circadian Lighting and the WELL Building Standard delivered through The Lighting Exchange, targeting top-of-funnel engagement with the architectural community.
Build26 is led by four principals — Trevor Sorensen (Principal/CEO), Kelly Quinton, Karre Leishman, and Max Marler — and operates with approximately 35+ team members across roles. Ownership is founder-/management-controlled with no external investor or parent-company relationship identified. The competitive proposition rests on broad multi-manufacturer coverage, dedicated territory sales coverage, category-specialized expertise (notably in lighting controls), and relationships with both ends of the channel — manufacturer principals on one side and contractors/distributors/specifiers on the other.
Build26 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Build26
- Legal name
- Build26
- Website
- https://build26.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Build26 is an independent manufacturer representative agency representing 160+ lighting, electrical, and infrastructure manufacturers across Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado, earning commissions by connecting manufacturers with contractors, distributors, and specifiers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Build26 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salt Lake City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Build26 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Manufacturer Representative Commissions: Build26 earns commissions from manufacturer partners for representing their products, generating leads, providing quotes, and facilitating sales through their territory network of contractors, distributors, and specifiers.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Build26 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Build26 is an independent manufacturer representative agency that sells and specifies lighting, electrical, and infrastructure (Division 26) products on behalf of over 160 manufacturer partners across Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado. Their offering centers on territory-based sales representation, project specification support, quotation generation, and order facilitation for contractors, distributors, engineers, and architects. They do not manufacture products but earn commissions by connecting manufacturer partners with end customers through dedicated sales teams and curated product line cards.
Product overview
Build26 is an independent manufacturer representative agency serving the electrical Division 26 market across Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado. The company operates three distinct product lines: Lighting Products (representing over 128 manufacturers with decorative and commercial fixtures including cylinders, pendants, recessed lighting, and architectural luminaires from brands like Prescolite, TMS Lighting, Bover, Lutron, and Ketra), Electrical Commodities (23+ manufacturers including B-Line, Bussmann, Crouse-Hinds, Panduit, Southwire, and Raychem covering wire, cable, conduit, enclosures, and safety equipment), and Infrastructure Solutions (11 manufacturers including Leotek, HCI Lighting, Valmont Structures, and Spring City for poles, transformers, and smart city lighting). Build26 functions as a sales channel and specification support partner, not a product manufacturer.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lighting Products (Represented) A represented lighting product portfolio spanning 128+ manufacturers, offered by Build26 to contractors, distributors, and specifiers across Utah, Idaho, and decorative categories. The portfolio includes architectural, commercial, residential, and controls solutions such as cylinders, pendants, recessed fixtures, wall sconces, linear lights, and decorative luminaires.
- Electrical Commodities (Represented) A represented electrical commodities portfolio spanning 23+ manufacturers across Utah, Idaho, and Montana, providing cable, conduit, connectors, dimmers, electrical boxes, enclosures, exit and emergency lighting, fault managed power systems, fiber systems, fittings, floor boxes, floor heating, freeze protection, fuses, circuit protection, grounding, lighting controls, power distribution, raceways, relays, sensors, surge protection, wire, cable, and wiring devices.
- Infrastructure Solutions (Represented) A represented infrastructure portfolio spanning 11+ manufacturers across Utah, Idaho, and Colorado, supplying poles, transformers, inverters, lighting, retrofit and remodel solutions, and PoE-enabled systems for outdoor, municipal, and utility applications.
Companies that use Build26
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Build26 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Build26 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and standard.
- KetracoreLighting manufacturer represented by Build26 in their product portfolio. Ketra specializes in natural light solutions and is featured as a key manufacturer in Build26's lighting line card.
- LutroncoreLeading lighting controls and motorized shade manufacturer represented by Build26. Lutron is prominently featured across Build26's decorative and lighting line cards.
- LumenwerxcoreArchitectural lighting manufacturer represented in Build26's product portfolio. Lumenwerx is featured as a key manufacturer in their lighting offerings.
- TMS LightingcoreArchitectural lighting manufacturer featured prominently in Build26's product line. TMS Lighting products including pendants, wall sconces, and linear fixtures are showcased in their catalog.
- StrongholdcoreManufacturer partner represented by Build26 in their product portfolio. Featured in Build26's product showcase.
- PanduitcoreElectrical infrastructure manufacturer represented in Build26's electrical line card for Utah and Idaho territories.
- Crouse-HindscoreIndustrial lighting and electrical products manufacturer (Eaton brand) represented by Build26 across their electrical and lighting line cards in Utah, Idaho, and Montana.
- PrescolitecoreCommercial and architectural lighting manufacturer featuring products like Noni cylinder and recessed fixtures prominently showcased in Build26's new products section.
- AleocoreLED lighting manufacturer represented in Build26's lighting product portfolio across Utah and Idaho territories.
- Bover USA InccoreEuropean-inspired architectural lighting manufacturer featured in Build26's decorative lighting line card. Products like Vuota M/30 are showcased.
- Acclaim LightingstandardLighting manufacturer in Build26's Utah lighting line card (128+ manufacturers).
- AcolytestandardLED neon and specialty lighting manufacturer represented in both Utah and Idaho lighting line cards. Known for Neon Apex product line.
- Columbia LightingstandardCommercial lighting manufacturer (Current HLI Brands) featured with products like CLH-LSCS linear high bay and LCAT-S center lens troffer.
- Meteor LightingstandardArchitectural and sports facility lighting manufacturer featuring products like Bolt Nova and Rio Series in Build26's portfolio.
- Shat-R-ShieldstandardRuggedized and protective lighting manufacturer (part of Current) featured with Ironclad product line for demanding environments.
- ZumtobelstandardAustrian architectural lighting manufacturer represented with products like LINEAR DOWNLIGHT ARRAY in Build26's portfolio.
- Zaneen ArchitecturalstandardArchitectural lighting manufacturer represented across multiple product categories including Forties track system and Super-G linear system.
- Hudson Valley LightingstandardDecorative and residential lighting manufacturer represented in both decorative and standard lighting line cards.
- LEDCONNstandardCustom backlighting and LED illumination manufacturer featuring LUXCANVAS, LUXFLEX, and LUXCLARA product lines in Build26's portfolio.
- B-LinestandardElectrical infrastructure manufacturer (Eaton) represented in Utah, Idaho, and Montana electrical line cards.
- BussmannstandardCircuit protection and fuse manufacturer (Eaton) represented in electrical line cards across Utah, Idaho, and Montana.
- SouthwirestandardWire and cable manufacturer represented in Utah and Idaho electrical line cards.
- IntermaticstandardTimer controls and lighting control manufacturer represented in Utah and Idaho electrical line cards.
- NuheatstandardFloor heating manufacturer represented in Utah and Idaho electrical line cards.
- RaychemstandardHeat tracing and freeze protection manufacturer (Pentair) represented in Utah and Idaho electrical line cards.
- Armor Guard SolutionsstandardUtility infrastructure protection manufacturer represented in Utah, Idaho, and Colorado infrastructure line cards.
- ECP UtilitystandardUtility equipment manufacturer represented in Utah, Idaho, and Colorado infrastructure line cards.
- LeotekstandardLED lighting manufacturer for utility and street lighting applications represented in Utah, Idaho, and Colorado infrastructure line cards.
- Valmont StructuresstandardUtility pole and structure manufacturer represented in Utah, Idaho, and Colorado infrastructure line cards.
- UbicquiastandardSmart city and streetlight infrastructure technology manufacturer represented in Utah, Idaho, and Colorado infrastructure line cards.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Build26 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Lutron Electronics: Leading lighting controls and motorized shade manufacturer and a current Build26 manufacturer partner. Adjacent/ecosystem participant — not a peer in business model, but central to Build26's lighting-controls value proposition.
- Acuity Brands: One of the largest North American lighting manufacturers. Related to Build26 as a manufacturer whose products Build26 may represent and whose direct-sales organization competes against the rep-agency model.
Broad incumbents
- Rexel USA: Major global electrical and lighting distributor with US operations. Overlaps with Build26 in the products it moves (lighting, electrical commodities, infrastructure) but functions as a distributor rather than a manufacturer rep agency.
- Graybar Electric Company: One of the largest electrical, lighting, and communications distributors in North America. Comparable to Build26 in product categories served (lighting, electrical, infrastructure) but operates a different model — distribution rather than rep agency — and is far larger.
Direct peers
- Gasser Bush Associates: Manufacturer representative agency specializing in lighting, lighting controls, and electrical products. Comparable to Build26 as a commission-based rep firm representing multiple premium lighting and electrical manufacturers across a defined territory.
- Diversified Lighting Associates: Independent lighting and electrical manufacturer representative agency operating across multiple US regions. Directly comparable to Build26 as a multi-line lighting rep serving contractors, distributors, and specifiers.
- Paulsen Group: Electrical and lighting manufacturer representative firm. Comparable to Build26 as a multi-line rep agency covering electrical, lighting, and infrastructure product categories for commercial and industrial customers.
- Cusack Lighting & Controls: Independent lighting and controls representative agency. Comparable to Build26 in business model (commission-based rep for multiple manufacturers) and customer base (specifiers, contractors, distributors).
- Hartranft Lighting Group: Lighting manufacturer representative agency serving mid-Atlantic and surrounding states. Directly comparable to Build26 as a regional lighting rep working with architects, engineers, contractors, and distributors.
Regional players
- Lighting Solutions of Indiana: Regional lighting manufacturer representative agency serving the Midwest. Same business model and customer profile as Build26 but operates in a different geographic territory.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Build26 social profiles
Digital presenceBuild26 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Build26 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Build26 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Build26 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 Build26
What does Build26 do?
Build26 is an independent manufacturer representative agency that sells and specifies lighting, electrical, and infrastructure (Division 26) products on behalf of over 160 manufacturer partners across Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Colorado. Their offering centers on territory-based sales representation, project specification support, quotation generation, and order facilitation for contractors, distributors, engineers, and architects. They do not manufacture products but earn commissions by connecting manufacturer partners with end customers through dedicated sales teams and curated product line cards.
Is Build26 a public or private company?
Build26 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Build26 founded?
Build26 was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Build26 based?
Build26 is headquartered in Salt Lake City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Build26 make money?
One revenue line is on record: manufacturer Representative Commissions.
Who are Build26's main competitors?
Others on record are Lutron Electronics and Acuity Brands. Broad incumbents are Rexel USA and Graybar Electric Company. Direct peers are Gasser Bush Associates, Diversified Lighting Associates, Paulsen Group, Cusack Lighting & Controls and Hartranft Lighting Group. Lighting Solutions of Indiana is listed as a regional player.
Does Build26 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Build26.