CE Pro

What CE Pro does

CE Pro is a B2B trade media publication serving the residential custom integration (CI) industry, covering professionals who design and install smart home, audio/video, security, lighting, networking, and connected technology systems. The publication is owned and operated by Emerald X, LLC as part of the Emerald Media Network, and is headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts. Its core product is a digital publishing platform (cepro.com) delivering news, product coverage, project showcases, resources, podcasts distributed across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, a print and digital magazine, and a suite of annual industry award programs including the Quest for Quality Awards, BEST Awards, Top New Technology (TNT) Awards, Home of the Year Awards, IoT/Connected Product Awards (co-presented with Commercial Integrator), and the CE Pro 100 brand analysis. Additional offerings include CEPro-iQ, a dealer showroom and product intelligence platform, sponsored webinars and virtual events, and official media partnership coverage of the CEDIA Expo/CIX trade show.

The underlying technology is a digital media publishing platform supporting a content library of approximately 1,408 pages of editorial coverage, supplemented by social media distribution across LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. The editorial team is small (executive editor Zachary Comeau and senior editor Nick Boever are publicly identified), and total headcount is reported in the 11-50 range. CE Pro's business model is advertising-led: revenue is generated through display advertising, sponsored content sections, branded resources, webinar partnerships, and promotional placements targeted at the Residential Custom Electronics Professionals audience. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; advertisers engage via media kit request. The customer base is dual-sided — integrators and design/build professionals consume editorial content, while CI manufacturers and vendors (such as Sonos, Control4, Crestron, SnapAV, LG, Dish, Sonance, Coastal Source, URC, and D-Tools, identified via award wins and coverage) are the primary advertisers and sponsors.

CE Pro sits within Emerald X's broader portfolio of trade media serving technology and industrial markets, alongside sister publication Commercial Integrator and affiliated platform AV-iQ. The publication holds a position as a recognized authority in the CI channel, anchored by award programs that receive thousands of integrator votes and by official media partnership with CEDIA, the industry's largest trade association and event organizer. Geographic focus is North America, with global content reach through digital channels.

Name

CE Pro

Legal name

Emerald X, LLC

Website

https://cepro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CE Pro is a B2B trade media publication serving residential custom electronics integration professionals with news, podcasts, industry awards, and resources, published by Emerald X, LLC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Framingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Sponsorships: Media kit indicates highly-targeted media opportunities for marketers to reach CE Pro's audience of Residential Custom Electronics Professionals through display advertising, sponsored content, and promotional placements
2. Sponsored Content and Webinars: Sponsored content sections, branded resources, and webinar partnerships with manufacturers and vendors in the CI industry

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

CE Pro is a B2B trade media brand that publishes news, product coverage, project showcases, podcasts, and a print/digital magazine for residential custom electronics integration professionals. It also runs multiple annual industry award programs (BEST, Quest for Quality, Top New Technology, IoT/Connected Product, Home of the Year) and operates the CEPro-IQ dealer showroom and product intelligence platform. Revenue is generated primarily through advertising, sponsored content, webinars, and media kit partnerships with manufacturers and vendors in the custom integration channel.

Product overview

CE Pro is a media publication platform providing news, analysis, awards, and resources for residential and commercial custom integration professionals. The company operates a unified digital platform (cepro.com) offering news content, podcasts, magazine publishing, and industry awards programs including the BEST Awards, Quest for Quality Awards, Top New Technology (TNT) Awards, and IoT/Connected Product Awards. Additional offerings include CEPro-IQ (a product showroom platform), resources such as whitepapers and research reports, and extensive CEDIA Expo event coverage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CE Pro Magazine Print and digital publication covering news, products, projects, and business resources for residential custom electronics professionals, with digital edition distributed via nxtbook.
• CE Pro Podcasts Audio and video podcast content featuring interviews and discussions on the business needs of professional integrators, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
• BEST Awards Annual award program recognizing outstanding residential and commercial custom integration projects, run by CE Pro.
• Quest for Quality Awards Annual awards recognizing top manufacturers across customer service, technical support, warranties, sales/marketing help, shipping, lead generation, training, trade show offerings, website, and social media presence as voted by CE Pro's integrator readers.
• Top New Technology (TNT) Awards Annual awards presented at ISE recognizing top new technologies in residential and commercial AV categories.
• IoT/Connected Product Awards Awards co-presented with Commercial Integrator recognizing connected products across software platforms, AV devices, intercom systems, smart home security, and audio/video equipment categories.
• CEPro-IQ Platform Dealer showroom and product intelligence platform offering product information and showroom capabilities for manufacturers serving the custom integration channel.
• CE Pro Resources / Industry Research Whitepapers, guides, special reports, sponsored webinars, and industry deep dives including State of the Industry, Wage & Salary Study, and Product Guides for custom integration professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Award programs receive thousands of votes from integrators (e.g., 12,120 votes in Quest for Quality Awards 2020)

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Emerald X, LLCcoreOthersEmerald X is the parent company/publisher of CE Pro. Emerald X operates multiple media networks and trade shows serving technology and industrial markets. CE Pro is part of the Emerald Media Network.
• CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCE Pro is an official media partner for CEDIA Expo and CIX events. The publication provides extensive coverage of CEDIA programming, education tracks, and industry events. CEDIA CEO Daryl Friedman retirement announcement was covered by CE Pro.
• AV-iQminorOthersAV-iQ is listed as a related resource alongside CE Pro on the Emerald Media Network, suggesting an affiliated platform within the same media ecosystem.
• Commercial IntegratormajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommercial Integrator co-sponsors the IoT/Connected Product Awards with CE Pro, and jointly produces CEDIA Expo/CIX PitchFest. The two publications collaborate on award programs and event coverage.
• CEDIA ExpomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCE Pro serves as official media for CEDIA Expo/CIX 2026, providing registration support, booth coverage, and education programming promotion. The publication actively promotes CEDIA Expo registration to its readership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Security Sales & Integration: Trade publication for the security installation channel with editorial, awards, and integrator resources. Comparable as a B2B trade media brand covering a key CI-adjacent vertical (security) with overlapping vendor and integrator readership.
• Commercial Integrator: Sister trade publication under Emerald X serving the commercial AV/integration channel. Most directly comparable peer because it shares ownership, co-produces awards (IoT/Connected Product, CEDIA PitchFest), and covers overlapping CI vendor and integrator audiences on the commercial side.
• AVNetwork: Digital trade media network covering pro AV, with editorial, product news, and integrator resources. Comparable as a multi-channel B2B media brand serving the same pro-AV and CI installer audience.
• TWICE (This Week in Consumer Electronics): Trade publication covering consumer electronics retail and distribution. Comparable as a B2B media outlet monetizing advertising and awards aimed at electronics industry buyers adjacent to the CI channel.
• Sound & Communications: Trade publication serving the commercial audio/video/installation industry. Comparable as a long-running trade media brand providing editorial, awards, and resources to AV integrators and consultants.
• Residential Systems: Trade publication focused on the residential custom electronics installation channel. Directly comparable as a residential-CI editorial and resource brand targeting the same integrator audience as CE Pro.
• rAVe Publications: Independent digital trade publication covering AV, UCC, and digital signage with strong event coverage (ISE, InfoComm). Comparable as a digitally native trade media outlet monetizing through sponsorships aimed at the pro-AV/integrator audience.
• Systems Contractor News: Long-running trade publication for AV systems contractors and integrators. Comparable because it targets the same pro-AV channel as CE Pro with editorial, product coverage, and installer-focused resources.

Others

• Digital Signage Today: B2B trade media covering the digital signage industry. Comparable as a vertical trade publication monetizing through advertising and event partnerships within the broader AV/electronics ecosystem that CE Pro covers.

Emerging players

• Connected Design Magazine: Trade media serving the connected home/smart home design-build channel. Comparable as a niche trade publication covering smart home integration with editorial and event coverage aimed at designers, architects, and integrators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ce_pro
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CEProMag
• Facebookfacebook.com/CEProMag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cepro-europe
• Instagraminstagram.com/ce_pro_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 CE Pro