Red Chalk Group

Heating Up: Private Equity’s Impact on HVAC The HVAC landscape is evolving based on increasing demand in high-growth end-markets (e.g., data centers), technology evolutions, and sustainability needs. While demand continues to grow, the fragmentation of the HVAC installation / contractor market and aging out of local owners has spurred significant Private Equity investment, pursuing "roll-up" strategies to build regional / national services providers. The North American HVAC contractor space has seen a sharp rise in middle-market M&A activity, with annual acquisitions peaking at around 300 deals in 2022. Read more here ➡️ : https://lnkd.in/gQdTBNbm

Campus recruiting season is wrapping up! Red Chalk Group had a fantastic time connecting with students at Northwestern University and University of Chicago. We look forward to staying in touch with the talented individuals we met.

Should you file for a patent? Protect the innovations that set you apart. #Patents #Innovation Learn more here. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/geaSP5Kv

Red Chalk Group's Jim Finnegan leading the content licensing panel at the 2024 Via Licensing Alliance Bridge Summit IP Conference.

Streaming Wars: Paramount+ Eyes the 200M Mark: As Disney+ and Netflix dominate the subscriber race, Paramount+ is charging forward with a bold vision under upcoming ownership by Skydance Media. Disney's magic lies in leveraging iconic IPs and bundles, while Netflix's early start and original content lead the market. Will Skydance’s fresh approach for Paramount+ be a game changer and disrupt the industry? Will Paramount+ be able to pass the 200M subscriber mark? #Netflix #Disney #paramount #streaming

Red Chalk Group has opened its 2025 Strategy Consulting Analyst position on Handshake. Application closes on 8/31. Take the first step toward an exciting career with us! #2025Graduates #StrategyConsulting #AnalystPosition #CareerOpportunity

Is environmental sustainability in the hospitality industry also financially sustainable? As the hospitality industry rebounds from the pandemic, sustainability is shifting from a trend to a strategic necessity. Price remains crucial, but green certifications and eco-friendly practices are increasingly influencing guest choices, often surpassing reviews. As major players like Hilton and Marriott International are committing to net-zero by 2030, sustainability could well become the key differentiator in hotel selection. Tech leaders for this sector include: Honeywell, Philips Lighting, Carrier HVAC, Legrand, Schneider Electric, Verdant by Copeland, and others. A 2024 poll found that sustainability is the 3rd most influential factor in hotel choice. In which other sectors do you see a willingness to pay a premium for green technologies? Learn more with our recent blog post: https://lnkd.in/gwfRMMHb

Hotel Sustainability: Now that the hospitality sector has fully recovered from COVID-19, hotel operators are shifting their focus to sustainability initiatives. While price remains the primary decision factor for hotel guests, sustainability accreditation, the use of sustainable resources, and waste management policies have become increasingly important, even more so than guest reviews and loyalty programs. Sustainability initiatives have become a core focus for major hotel brands (e.g., Hilton, Marriott) with many pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. As sustainability discussions continue, hotels are increasingly investing in smart devices to better control and monitor electricity consumption. Moving forward, hotel operators could derive a competitive advantage by achieving sustainable status and meeting customer and investor expectations. #hospitality #sustainability #smartdevices #greentravel #netzeroemissions

Growth in Precision AgTech: As sensing / location technologies have matured and the agricultural industry seeks to drive higher yields / efficiencies in light of increasing input costs, a range of technology suppliers have emerged providing data collection, automated systems, and insights / platforms for end-user control. As the player set has expanded, investments have seen significant growth, with AgTech VC investments seeing steady growth 2014-21 - though overall AgTech VC investment has slowed since '21, Precision AgTech is a leading category, accounting for 30% of deal value in '23. Amidst a surge of startups, major agricultural equipment players are actively acquiring and investing in innovative technologies - notable moves include John Deere's acquisition of Blue River for precision weeding tech, Kubota's investments in automated irrigation / harvesting, and AgCo's acquisition of Raven for autonomous guidance systems. #AgTech #PrecisionAgriculture #AgriculturalRobots

The Red Chalk Group team had a great time at Parlor Pizza connecting with one another while enjoying the summer weather in Chicago!