Building Brains

What Building Brains does

Building Brains (operated as Brain Buildings / IT Centraal) is a B2B knowledge and media platform focused on smart buildings and sustainable construction, headquartered in Ghent, Belgium (Sint-Denijslaan 485) with an 11-employee team. It operates as a product of Claerhout nv Communicatiehuis within the broader B2Build Mediaplatform, which also spans De Zevende Gevel, De Derde Long, De Bouwschil, and a BIM-platform. The platform aggregates reference projects, case studies, blogs, and workshops covering IoT, smart cities, intelligent lighting, HVAC automation, energy management, access control, and integrated building management — drawing on documented deployments at sites including AZ Zeno hospital, Delhaize logistics, Acerta headquarters, The Louise (Brussels), DHG Vlissingen warehouse, GO! Campus BA Zandpoort, and WAGO BeLux.

The company's flagship community asset is B2Build Academy, a freemium membership program that provides access to a curated network of construction professionals, 60 manufacturer experts, and 14 themed events per year. Its core technology proposition is cross-disciplinary editorial curation — connecting architects, builders, facility managers, and technology providers around reference projects — rather than proprietary software, APIs, or data products. The platform maintains a Vimeo video showcase and a LinkedIn presence (via the IT Centraal page) for distribution, and organizes annual flagship gatherings such as the 2026 Inspiratie Event on smart building in a new energy landscape.

Building Brains generates revenue primarily through multi-tier partnership programs — smart building partners (Signify, Schneider Electric, ABB, Johnson Controls, WAGO, VINCI Building Solutions, EEG Digital Buildings, Axis Communications), smart parking partners (Alphatronics), knowledge partners (imec, Ingenium), and corporate partners (ING, Steligence). These partners receive lead generation, hybrid event participation, and personalized content around reference projects in exchange for fees whose specifics are not publicly disclosed. The B2Build Academy membership itself is free, suggesting monetization is concentrated on the partner sponsorship side rather than end-user subscription. Geographic reach is currently centered on Belgium and Flanders, with no global footprint claimed.

Name

Building Brains

Legal name

Claerhout nv Communicatiehuis

Website

https://buildingbrains.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Building Brains is a Belgian B2B knowledge and media platform that publishes smart-building case studies, workshops, and events for construction professionals, monetized primarily through multi-tier partnership programs with technology vendors and corporate sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Smart Building Media and Knowledge Platform

akta.pro primary industry

Smart Building Software Platforms (IWMS/CAFM Integration, Digital Twin, Command Center) (BPABAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Building Digital Twins, Commissioning & Performance Analytics (HSAPAPAO), Building Automation & Controls (BAS/BMS) (HSAPAPAA)

Keywords

• Smart building media
• Sustainable construction knowledge
• Building automation insights
• IoT building solutions
• B2B construction events

Headquarters

HQ city

Ghent

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Partnership Programs: Building Brains generates revenue through partnership programs where companies join as smart building partners, smart parking partners, or corporate partners. Partners gain access to lead generation through personalized content around reference projects, hybrid events, and online marketing. Corporate partners subscribe to B2Build's objectives targeting various actors in the construction sector.
2. B2Build Academy Membership: The platform offers free membership to B2Build Academy, providing access to knowledge, professional networking, and expert connections. Premium positioning likely offers enhanced benefits for corporate partners seeking market visibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Building Brains (Brain Buildings / IT Centraal) is a B2B knowledge and media platform that inspires and provides solutions around smart buildings, IoT, smart cities, and sustainable construction. It publishes case studies, blogs, workshops, and events, and operates B2Build Academy, a free membership program offering access to a network of construction professionals, 14 themed events per year, and direct contact with 60 manufacturer experts.

Product overview

Brain Buildings is a unified knowledge and media platform (mediaplatform) focused on smart buildings and sustainable construction. The platform provides inspiration and solutions around innovative applications for smart buildings within smart cities, covering topics such as IoT, energy management, cybersecurity for smart buildings, and smart city infrastructure. It operates in conjunction with B2Build Academy, which offers knowledge sessions, networking events, and access to manufacturer experts, forming an integrated knowledge ecosystem for building professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brain Buildings Platform A knowledge and media platform that inspires and provides solutions around sustainable building based on IoT, smart cities, and smart buildings. Publishes case studies, blogs, workshops, and event content for construction and building professionals.
• B2Build Academy A free online membership program providing access to knowledge, a network of construction professionals, 14 themed events annually, and direct contact with 60 manufacturer experts. Designed for construction professionals across the building sector.
• Inspiratie Event (Annual Smart Building Event) Annual flagship event organized by Brain Buildings bringing together construction professionals, technology providers, and building operators around a specific smart building theme. The 2026 edition focuses on smart building in a new energy landscape.
• Themed Smart Building Workshops Recurring themed workshops on smart building topics such as smart building security, energy landscapes, and sustainable construction. Open to B2Build Academy members and construction professionals.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SignifycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSignify is listed as a core smart building partner of Building Brains. The partnership involves showcasing Signify's smart lighting and control solutions (such as Dynalite) through case studies including projects like DHG's innovative warehouse and Acerta's headquarters relighting.
• Schneider ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchneider Electric is a key smart building partner featured in case studies including Delhaize's logistics site management and The Louise building renovation in Brussels. Provides integrated solutions for monitoring, analysis, and control in smart buildings.
• ABBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABB is showcased as a smart building partner, notably in the GO! Campus BA Zandpoort school project in Mechelen, where ABB plays a key role in realizing smart building techniques for comfort and energy efficiency.
• Johnson ControlscoreTechnology or IntegrationListed as a smart building partner of Building Brains, providing building management and control solutions for smart building implementations.
• WAGOcoreTechnology or IntegrationWAGO is featured as a smart building partner, with the WAGO BeLux office renovation serving as a reference case study demonstrating future-oriented office solutions.
• VINCI (Building Solutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVINCI Building Solutions is listed as a smart building partner, collaborating on projects such as Acerta's relighting initiative alongside Signify.
• EEG Digital BuildingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEEG Digital Buildings was responsible for technical installations and maintenance at AZ Zeno hospital in Knokke-Heist, a flagship sustainability and smart energy management project featured on the platform.
• imeccoreTechnology or Integrationimec is listed as a knowledge partner of Building Brains, contributing expertise in digital technologies and research for smart building applications.
• INGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerING is a corporate partner of Building Brains and B2Build, linking to ING's Sustainable Buildings Guide. Represents financial sector engagement in smart building knowledge ecosystem.
• SteligenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a corporate partner of Building Brains, contributing to the platform's corporate sponsorship ecosystem.
• Claerhout nv CommunicatiehuiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClaerhout nv Communicatiehuis is the production company behind Brain Buildings and the broader B2Build Mediaplatform. Brain Buildings is a production of Claerhout nv Communicatiehuis.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• BIMobject: Digital platform for building product manufacturers to publish BIM objects and reach specifiers. Comparable as a construction-industry intermediary platform connecting manufacturers with design/building professionals.
• REEEP / Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction: International knowledge platform and policy community focused on sustainable buildings. Comparable as a knowledge/ecosystem builder in the smart-and-sustainable building space, though policy- rather than commercial-led.

Direct peers

• BuiltWorlds: B2B media and knowledge platform focused on construction technology and innovation, with events, research, and a member community. Closest direct peer in the construction-tech knowledge/media category.
• IBcon / RealComm: Conference and media business focused on intelligent buildings and commercial real estate technology. Comparable as a smart-building community/events/media business targeting the same vendor and operator ecosystem.
• PROFILE | PropTech Media: B2B media brand focused on smart buildings, IoT, and PropTech with case studies, news, and events. Direct peer in the smart-building media category.
• Memoori: Research and media firm focused on smart buildings, IoT, and intelligent building technologies. Comparable as a specialist media/research business serving the same vendor and end-user audience.
• AEC Magazine: Trade publication covering technology for architecture, engineering, and construction, including BIM, digital twins, and smart buildings. Comparable as a content-led media outlet serving the same smart building ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Commercial Property Executive / Yardi Matrix: Established B2B media serving commercial real estate, including smart building and facilities management content. Broader incumbent with overlapping audience but wider editorial scope.
• FacilitiesNet / Trade Press Media Group: Long-running B2B media serving facility managers and building operators with content on building automation, energy, and smart buildings. Comparable end-audience overlap though a much larger and more established media property.

Others

• Claerhout Communicatiehuis (Parent): Parent company and B2Build Mediaplatform operator that produces Building Brains and adjacent construction-sector media brands (De Zevende Gevel, BIM-platform, etc.). Included as the directly related corporate parent and cross-brand ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/showcase/6833275
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/building-brains

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Building Brains