On February 25th, 2025, the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and StartupSac hosted an illuminating Startup Happy Hour at Venture Labs in Roseville, featuring a candid fireside chat with Jerremy Spillman, Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Hank. Hank has been a regular feature at CleanStart.

The Experimental Odyssey of a Tech Startup

Spillman’s narrative was less about a linear success story and more about persistent experimentation. Hank.re’s journey was characterized by continuous pivoting, testing, and refining their value proposition in the complex world of commercial real estate technology.

Searching for the Right Market Fit

The startup’s early days were marked by relentless exploration. Initially targeting HVAC technicians, Spillman and his team quickly realized this approach wasn’t optimal. Through careful observation and multiple iterations, they discovered that building and campus owners represented a more promising go-to-market strategy.

The Power of Persistent Iteration

“We were constantly experimenting,” Spillman shared. Each pitch, each conversation, each potential customer interaction was an opportunity to understand their product’s true value. This approach of continuous learning and adaptation became the cornerstone of Hank’s development.

A Partnership of Brilliance

Spillman spoke warmly about his co-founder Zach Denning, describing him as “brilliant” and crucial to their exploratory process. Their complementary skills allowed them to navigate the complex landscape of AI-powered building management.

The JLL Relationship: A Testament to Value Creation

While discussing JLL (NYSE: JLL), Spillman emphasized not just the relationship, but how Hank’s relentless innovation made them an attractive partner. The acquisition was a result of their proven ability to deliver tangible value through their AI-powered platform.

The Personal Touch: Why “Hank”?

In a charming aside, Spillman shared the origin of their company name. He and Zach wanted to personalize their AI engineer, giving it a human touch that reflected their approach to technology.

Technology That Solves Real Problems

Hank’s cloud-based platform demonstrates the power of targeted innovation:

• Autonomously optimizes building management systems
• Improves energy efficiency
• Enhances air quality
• Reduces maintenance costs
• Increases net operating income for real estate investors

Deeper Insights

For those curious about Hank’s evolutionary journey, CleanStart has previously documented their progress:

• CleanStart’s TodoS with Jerremy Spillman
• Enerdapt (Now Hank) Makes Significant Advance

The Startup Happy Hour, sponsored by the City of Roseville, offered a raw, unfiltered look into the messy, exciting world of technological innovation—where success is less about a perfect plan and more about persistent experimentation.

Sponsored by the City of Roseville and hosted by StartupSac and the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship