Small Space Living Pioneer URBANEER Spins Out of Rockford Construction

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 17, 2018 -- URBANEER, a small space living pioneer, today announced it has been spun out of Rockford Construction. The company has recently raised $500,000 of seed capital from a group of investors including Raul Fernandez and Wakestream Ventures, bringing the total investment to date in the company to $950,000. The company will focus on bringing innovative design, manufacturing and installation solutions to the multi-unit construction industry as the country faces an increased demand for urban living within smaller and smarter living spaces.

"URBANEER is developing a range of innovative small space living products that address the housing needs of the 21^st century,” said Bruce Thompson, Founder and President of URBANEER. "Our approach addresses not only housing economy, but the right housing for a changing population that is interested in smaller, more efficient spaces."

URBANEER was just recognized by Forbes as one of four high tech home gadgets and appliances for 2018 for its WIRELESS KITCHEN.  According to the publication, “Given the multiple uses of kitchens nowadays—for cooking, working and gathering, getting rid of all the power cords for different appliances (especially near the sink) could make for a more user-friendly and safer home. Enter Urbaneer and the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), which in a recent showcase at CES 2018 displayed a wireless kitchen with counters that have built-in wireless power for all your mobile devices— iPhone 8 and iPhone X, the Samsung Galaxy S8, laptops and other smart kitchen appliances. Compared to many so-called innovations nowadays, this concept is truly practical and could make a great difference further down the road.”

The company has originated in Grand Rapids, Michigan, home to companies such as Herman Miller, Steelcase, and Haworth—all innovative powerhouses that have leveraged a massive fabrication infrastructure and advanced manufacturing workforce within the region. Seed funding will enable the company to expand its operations to Washington, DC and New York in 2018, where current projects are in various stages of development.  

“URBANEER was born out of need and we are pleased to have played a role in its concept, investment and development,” offered Mike VanGessel, CEO of Rockford Construction. “Bruce Thompson has done an exceptional job leading URBANEER to be a solution to the future challenges of the built environment. The company is comprised of a team of professionals prepared to address the market with innovative products with the ability to produce at scale.”

URBANEER products enable any space to perform far beyond what it could using conventional furnishings. The company offers connected home systems integration and innovative space products including movable walls, wall beds, height adjustable islands, millwork and storage as well as compact, prefabricated kitchens. 

“Technology is rapidly redefining how we live, work, and play” continued Raul Fernandez, Vice Chairman and Owner of Monumental Sports & Entertainment. “URBANEER is on the leading edge of redefining how we live.”

Fernandez is well known in the technology industry and the Washington, DC area as the founder of Proxicom, which under his leadership evolved into a leading global provider of e-commerce solutions for Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Fernandez brings more than two decades of executive experience scaling innovative and rapidly growing technology companies.

For more information about URBANEER, please visit the company’s website at www.urbaneerspaces.com or call 1 (616) 834-0954.

About Rockford Construction

Established in 1987, Rockford is a nationally-recognized construction, real estate development, and property management provider. Rockford is licensed in 44 states and ranked by Engineering News-Record as one of the top 150 contractors in the nation. With regional offices in the Midwest and Southeast. Rockford has built projects totaling nearly $4 billion in more than 800 cities across the country. For more information, please visit www.rockfordconstruction.com.

About Fernandez Group

The Fernandez Group is an investment and e-business development company focused on providing institutional investors and growth-oriented companies, the financial resources and business partnerships to expand their capital, real estate and digital investments.

About Wakestream Ventures

Wakestream Ventures backs fascinating founders working where physical products converge with the internet. For more information please see www.wakestreamventures.com.

About URBANEER

URBANEER was founded to transform the way homes are designed, built, and managed. Focused on the multi-unit housing industry, the company’s suite of intelligent home furnishings leverages innovation and technology to create multifunctional spaces that offer maximum flexibility of use. By using prefabricated components, wall systems, and multipurpose furnishings, URBANEER has made construction more efficient, resulting in reduced spatial needs and associated real estate costs. For more information visit our site at www.urbaneerspaces.com.

Media contact:
Mara Stefan, Emerge PR
[email protected] 
Mobile: 781-771-6911