Vertical Lighting + Controls
Vertical Lighting + Controls is an Illinois-based manufacturer's representative agency for LED lighting and controls, serving electrical distributors, contractors, and end customers across commercial, industrial, and sports facility projects since 2015.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersDundee, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Vertical Lighting + Controls does
Vertical Lighting + Controls (VL-C) is a privately held manufacturer's representative agency specializing in LED lighting fixtures and lighting control systems, founded in 2015 by industry veterans John Molak and Matthew Reynolds. Headquartered in East Dundee, Illinois, the company operates on a commission-based revenue model, acting as the commercial bridge between lighting manufacturers (Nora Lighting, Norlux, SLG, Unite, ESPEN, AviOn) and downstream buyers including electrical distributors, electrical contractors, architects, engineers, and end customers in commercial, industrial, and sports facility segments.
The company's core offerings include LED lighting fixtures, lighting controls, and a differentiated photometric design service using AGi32-certified software for layout studies, energy analysis, and municipal approval support. VL-C pursues a sales-led, specification-driven go-to-market with both inside sales support and field sales targeting major projects — evidenced by a project portfolio spanning automotive dealerships (Elmhurst BMW), sports venues (Kane County Cougars stadium, golf courses, ice rinks), retail, and industrial facilities such as airplane hangars.
Operating with a small team (11-50 employees) in a single Illinois geography, VL-C emphasizes white-glove service, deep industry expertise (founders with 40+ combined years of experience), and NEMRA membership for industry credibility. The firm is entirely founder-owned, with no institutional funding, and earns revenue primarily through manufacturer rep commissions on product sales routed through its distribution network.
Vertical Lighting + Controls firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vertical Lighting + Controls
- Legal name
- Vertical Lighting + Controls
- Website
- https://verticallightingcontrols.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vertical Lighting + Controls is an Illinois-based manufacturer's representative agency for LED lighting and controls, serving electrical distributors, contractors, and end customers across commercial, industrial, and sports facility projects since 2015.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vertical Lighting + Controls industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial & Industrial LED Lighting (Manufacturer Representation)
- NAICS
- Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (33513), Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132)
- SIC
- Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lighting Controls & Smart Lighting Systems (BPABAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Lighting Controls & Building Integration (Drivers, sensors, dimming, lighting control panels, networked lighting) (IMAGAIAI), Outdoor & Area Lighting (Street, Roadway, Parking, Flood, Sports/Architectural exterior) (IMAGAIAB), Lighting Design Services (BPAHAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Vertical Lighting + Controls is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dundee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vertical Lighting + Controls business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Manufacturer Representative Commissions: As a lighting agency/representative firm, Vertical Lighting + Controls earns commissions from manufacturer partners on product sales. They act as the bridge between lighting manufacturers and end customers including distributors, contractors, and project specifiers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Project-based custom quoting |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Vertical Lighting + Controls product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vertical Lighting + Controls is a lighting manufacturer representative agency that supplies LED lighting fixtures and lighting controls from multiple partner manufacturers to electrical distributors, contractors, architects, engineers, and end-users. In addition to product sourcing, the company provides photometric design services using AGi32 software and supports customers with warranty and RMA services for the lighting products it represents.
Product overview
Vertical Lighting + Controls is a lighting agency specializing in LED lighting fixtures and controls solutions. The company operates as a distributor/agency representing multiple manufacturer partners (Nora Lighting, SLG, Unite, ESPEN, AviOn) and offers a portfolio of LED fixtures alongside photometric design services, lighting controls, and warranty/RMA support. Their product ecosystem centers on commercial and industrial lighting applications including automotive dealerships, retail spaces, sports facilities, and institutional buildings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LED Lighting Fixtures
Companies that use Vertical Lighting + Controls
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Vertical Lighting + Controls technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Vertical Lighting + Controls partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Nora LightingcoreFeatured partner manufacturer. Nora Lighting provides commercial and residential lighting products distributed through VL-C's agency network.
- NorluxcoreFeatured partner manufacturer in the lighting controls and LED solutions space.
- SLGminorPartner manufacturer with lighting products represented by VL-C.
- UniteminorPartner manufacturer with lighting solutions represented in VL-C's portfolio.
- ESPENminorPartner manufacturer for lighting products distributed through VL-C.
- AviOnminorPartner manufacturer specializing in wireless lighting controls and IoT-enabled lighting solutions.
- NEMRA (National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association)coreIndustry association membership providing networking, credibility, and best practices sharing for electrical manufacturer representatives.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Vertical Lighting + Controls competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- 1000Bulbs.com: Large online lighting retailer selling fixtures and controls direct to contractors and end users. Represents the DTC channel that increasingly competes with rep agencies like VL-C.
Direct peers
- Voss Lighting: Specialty lighting distributor serving commercial and industrial customers across multiple U.S. regions. Closely comparable as a multi-line lighting rep/distributor with project-based sales.
- Regency Lighting: U.S. lighting distributor/rep firm selling fixtures and controls to contractors and end users across commercial projects. Highly comparable business model, customer set, and quote-based GTM to VL-C.
- Crest Lighting: U.S. lighting distributor/rep serving commercial and industrial customers with multiple manufacturer lines — directly comparable distribution-led business model.
- Capital Lighting: Regional lighting representative agency distributing multiple manufacturer lines to electrical distributors and contractors — direct analogue to VL-C's rep-led model.
Broad incumbents
- Acuity Brands: One of the largest North American lighting manufacturers (Lithonia, etc.) with expanding controls portfolio. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose products flow through rep channels including VL-C.
- Cree Lighting: LED lighting manufacturer with commercial and industrial product lines sold through rep networks. Comparable as a fixture brand competing for the same specification-led projects VL-C pursues.
- GE Current, a Daintree company: Major lighting solutions provider combining LED fixtures with networked controls. Competes for the same smart-building and industrial lighting projects VL-C serves.
- Hubbell Lighting: Large electrical and lighting manufacturer with commercial/industrial fixtures and controls. Operates in the same channel ecosystem and competes indirectly for the same end-customer lighting budgets.
- Sonepar: Global electrical distribution leader with deep lighting category presence in North America. Represents the broader channel incumbent that rep agencies like VL-C support and could be consolidated into.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vertical Lighting + Controls social profiles
Digital presenceVertical Lighting + Controls financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vertical Lighting + Controls leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Vertical Lighting + Controls funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vertical Lighting + Controls 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 Vertical Lighting + Controls
What does Vertical Lighting + Controls do?
Vertical Lighting + Controls is a lighting manufacturer representative agency that supplies LED lighting fixtures and lighting controls from multiple partner manufacturers to electrical distributors, contractors, architects, engineers, and end-users. In addition to product sourcing, the company provides photometric design services using AGi32 software and supports customers with warranty and RMA services for the lighting products it represents.
Is Vertical Lighting + Controls a public or private company?
Vertical Lighting + Controls is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Vertical Lighting + Controls founded?
Vertical Lighting + Controls was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vertical Lighting + Controls based?
Vertical Lighting + Controls is headquartered in Dundee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vertical Lighting + Controls make money?
One revenue line is on record: manufacturer Representative Commissions.
Who are Vertical Lighting + Controls's main competitors?
1000Bulbs.com is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Voss Lighting, Regency Lighting, Crest Lighting and Capital Lighting. Broad incumbents are Acuity Brands, Cree Lighting, GE Current, a Daintree company, Hubbell Lighting and Sonepar.
Does Vertical Lighting + Controls have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vertical Lighting + Controls.
What industry is Vertical Lighting + Controls in?
Vertical Lighting + Controls's product category is Commercial & Industrial LED Lighting (Manufacturer Representation). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPABAGAC, Lighting Controls & Smart Lighting Systems, with a secondary code of IMAGAIAI, Lighting Controls & Building Integration (Drivers, sensors, dimming, lighting control panels, networked lighting). Its NAICS code is 33513 and its SIC code is 3640.