Brilliant’s Lights Go Out: Who Bought the Smart Home Startup?

Brilliant’s Second Act: A Smart Home Company Reboots with a Focus on Builders

The smart home landscape has seen its fair share of ups and downs, with companies rising and falling with the tides of consumer demand and technological advancement. One company, Brilliant, known for its sleek touchscreen control panel and integrated smart home ecosystem, faced significant challenges in recent years. But now, following a period of uncertainty, Brilliant reemerges as Brilliant NextGen, with a new focus and a new leadership team, poised to carve a niche in the evolving smart home market.

A New Chapter for Brilliant:

In late July 2024, Brilliant was acquired by two investment firms, Almeida Strategic Investments and Cullinan Holdings, for an undisclosed price. This acquisition marked a significant turning point for the company, paving the way for a strategic shift away from its previous direct-to-consumer model. In August, Lisa Petrucci, Brilliant’s former VP of Business Development and Sales, was appointed as CEO. This move signaled a commitment to experienced leadership and a clear understanding of the evolving market landscape.

A Focus on the Professional Market:

Key to Brilliant’s new direction is its shift towards catering to professional builders, developers, and custom integrators rather than focusing on individual homeowners. As Petrucci explained, "Our private investors are invested in or own single-family communities and multi-family buildings… They bought the company because they see themselves being able to use the product in their own investments." This strategy leverages the combined expertise of the new ownership group, allowing Brilliant to target a large and lucrative market segment.

Evolution of the Core Controller:

Continuing the legacy of innovation, Brilliant NextGen will introduce a next-generation core controller with enhanced capabilities. This new device, teased earlier in the year by former CEO Aaron Emigh, promises to deliver four times the processing power of the previous generation, featuring an AI processor for edge control. This leap in technology will enable faster response times, more sophisticated automation, and increased control over smart home devices.

Key Benefits of the New Controller:

• Enhanced Processing Power: Enables faster response times and smoother integration with smart home devices.
• AI Processor: Provides sophisticated edge control and automation capabilities, making the system more intelligent and responsive.
• Improved Screen: Offers a clearer and more user-friendly interface for controlling connected devices.
• Compatibility: The new controller will feature the same form factor as the previous generation for seamless integration.

Strengthening Integration for a Wider Reach:

One of the stumbling blocks to Brilliant’s growth was its limited compatibility with other smart home ecosystems. Though compatible with popular devices like Ring, Nest, Sonos, and Philips Hue, the company faced a challenge in keeping up with the ever-expanding world of smart home products.

Brilliant NextGen is addressing this by prioritizing expanding its integration capabilities to encompass a wider range of smart home devices. This will be crucial for attracting the builders and developers who typically seek compatible solutions across diverse ecosystems.

"Our mission is to make smart home technology accessible and easy to use, not just for individual homeowners, but also for the professionals who build those homes," said Petrucci.

Looking Towards the Future:

Brilliant NextGen is positioned for a successful future. While the company faces new challenges with its altered market focus, its commitment to innovation, improved performance, and extensive compatibility gives it a strong footing.

"I’m very happy that Brilliant’s mission will continue!" said Emigh, highlighting the positive outlook for the company’s future.

The evolution of Brilliant NextGen is a testament to the dynamic nature of the smart home market. While the company has adjusted its focus to meet the demands of a professional audience, its core mission to empower users with seamless smart home control remains unchanged. This strategic shift positions Brilliant NextGen for continued growth and innovation within this rapidly evolving sector.

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