Looking back at 2020, we are reflecting on our accomplishments throughout the year. We didn’t expect this year to look the way it did, though we found ways to stay true to our core values, allowing us to adapt to the evolving environment.
We quickly realized that, despite the challenges the pandemic presented, 2020 was certainly a year of growth for us. Thanks to the commitment from our investors, customers, and dedicated team, we stayed resilient and adaptable.
Below are 8 of our accomplishments that sum up just how far we’ve come over these past twelve months.
1. Launched an Indoor Air Quality Program
We strategically led through the COVID-19 era, collaborating with Environmental Systems Design (ESD) and Riverside Investment & Development to spearhead an indoor air quality (IAQ) program that is already enhancing occupant health and wellness at Chicago Class A+ Tower, 150 North Riverside.
Launching this program is profound in the real estate industry, as it holistically combines secondary air purification, the most advanced commercial filtration system in the market, ventilation rates that significantly exceed national standards, and IAQ and pollutant measurements to both track and optimize air quality.
2. Raised a round of SEED Funding in a pandemic
We raised our SEED funding round, led by Hyde Park Angels (HPA). Other notable investors include Singapore-based multi-national real estate group, Frasers Property; Raj Gupta, Executive Chairman of ESD Global; Ken Griffin, Citadel founder and CEO; Michael Sacks, GCM Grosvenor CEO and chairman; and global proprietary trading and investment firm CMT.
This funding was a huge milestone for us, as this allowed us to truly accelerate the growth of our product and team. (We’re hiring! If you’re interested in joining our team, check out our open positions.)
3. Expanded our Customer Base Globally
After successful traction in the United States, our team was excited to go live with our first international customer, Frasers Tower, in Singapore. Cohesion’s intelligent building platform launch enabled adherence to safe distancing guidelines among building occupants as Singapore began allowing more employees to return to the workplace. We’ve delivered smart building technology that connects building systems and tenants to make their vision of the future of work a reality.
4. Recognized by Chicago Inno on the 2020 Inno on Fire List
Chicago Inno identified us as one of the companies that is innovating, growing, and thriving in the Chicago tech and startup scene. We’re proud to have been recognized for our resilience, dedication, and success despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.
5. Refreshed our Brand
As we continued to evolve, we realized our brand identity no longer represented the company we had grown to become. We’ve gone through two brand changes, but our most recent one reflects a whole new look that demonstrates our holistic approach, ambition, and the solutions our product offers. We are so glad to be starting the new year with a refresh that aligns with our mission of becoming the most advanced building experience platform in the commercial real estate industry.
6. Launched TranswesternHub with Transwestern
TranswesternHub, powered by Cohesion, launched at 77 West Wacker Drive in Chicago. The platform is available as an amenity across Transwestern’s managed portfolio of properties. Tenants can expect an enhanced experience with benefits including touchless capabilities and indoor air quality transparency.
7. More Than Tripled our Team in Size
We began 2020 with a team of six people. By the end of the year, we more than tripled our team to a total of 23 employees. Each of our employees brings tremendous value to our company and has contributed significantly to the growth and positive culture of Cohesion. We are thrilled to have a diverse and dedicated team pushing our platform towards success and we remain bullish about our growth prospects this year.
8. Recognized by the Org as a Startup Poised for Huge Growth in 2021
The Org recognized startups in Chicago that are poised for growth in 2021 based on the amount of funding and successes the company has had. This recognition solidifies that we are well-positioned to be trailblazers in the new year within the commercial real estate industry.
This is a small list of the many accomplishments we’ve had this past year. In addition to this, we have added new features to our product, joined several industry events and panels, been recognized by major outlets including the Chicago Tribune and Crain’s Chicago Business, and were recognized as finalists for 1871’s Momentum Awards.
The challenges that 2020 brought with the pandemic have not been easy, but with the dedication of our team, we’ve been able to grow tremendously and will continue doing so. And while we’re still at the beginning of our journey, we wouldn’t have accomplished this much without our committed employees, investors, partners, and customers.
This is just the beginning. We have big things planned for 2021. Our product will continue to grow and evolve, solidifying our position as the most holistic intelligent building platform on the market.
If you’re interested in keeping up with our journey, connect with us.
