Cooledge Lighting

About Cooledge Lighting

Cooledge Lighting, founded in 2009, operates in the architectural lighting market, positioning itself at the intersection of illumination and building design. The company develops and manufactures lighting systems that transform ceilings and walls into large-scale, uniform light-emitting surfaces, effectively treating light as a building material. The initial concept for the company's technology originated with University of Illinois professor John Rogers, who collaborated with Clint Bybee and Paul Thurk of ARCH Venture Partners to bring the technology to Vancouver. They partnered with former employees of TIR Systems, a lighting manufacturer, to build the business. While founders include Paul Thurk and Philippe Schick, the company has been significantly shaped by its leadership, which has deep experience in LED lighting, semiconductor technology, and commercializing new technologies.

The company's core business revolves around its proprietary flexible LED light sheet technology. This allows for the creation of luminous surfaces that can be scaled, curved, and integrated into architectural elements, replacing traditional fixtures with immersive, evenly distributed light that mimics the feel of natural light. The product portfolio includes luminous ceiling systems, large-scale acoustic luminaires that combine illumination with sound absorption, and specialty solutions. A key product line, SkyLine, enables the integration of general illumination with accent, task, and dynamic lighting effects, as well as non-lighting elements like sprinklers or speakers, into a single system. Another offering, FABRILum, provides standard-sized acoustic lighting fixtures in various shapes. The business serves the architectural and design communities, with its products installed in commercial, retail, and hospitality properties for global brands.

Cooledge generates revenue through the sale of its lighting systems and luminaires, supported by a global network of sales agencies and distribution partners across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates on a venture capital-backed model, having raised a total of $53.7 million over nine funding rounds. Major investors include ARCH Venture Partners, BDC Capital, and GE Ventures. The most recent significant round was a Series C in July 2017 for $17 million, intended to fuel global sales expansion, marketing, and product development. William J. Sims was appointed permanent CEO in 2017 after serving as interim CEO for a year, bringing extensive experience from his time as President and CEO of Color Kinetics, a pioneer in intelligent LED lighting that was sold to Philips for nearly $800 million. Under his leadership, Cooledge has expanded its product offerings and nearly tripled its project pipeline.