Nexus Labs and EVG: The Investment That Built a Category

There is a version of the events industry that most people have never thought about. Not the galas, not the trade shows, not the consumer festivals. The practitioner rooms. The places where the people actually doing the work — the engineers, the building owners, the operators — come together to cut through the noise and talk about what is real.

James Dice and Rosy Khalife built one of those rooms. And then they built everything around it.

Nexus Labs is the platform for the Connected Buildings ecosystem — events, news, playbooks, community, and industry intelligence connecting building owners, technology vendors, and service providers around the new way of operating commercial buildings. With 10,000+ subscribers grown entirely through organic acquisition, 170+ enterprise building owner organizations including Tishman Speyer, Hines, Google, Microsoft, and Walmart, and 60+ technology sponsors, Nexus Labs has become the trusted, vendor-neutral platform an entire industry has needed for decades.

NexusCon is the annual flagship conference. NexusCast is the virtual conference series. Nexus Pro is the subscription intelligence product. Together they form an integrated portfolio that does not just host conversations — it moves an industry.

EVG's investment in Nexus Labs marks the organization's seventh syndication and its largest to date. 19 EVG members participated, a number that speaks for itself.

James put it plainly on what Nexus Labs has always been built around.

"Smart buildings has never had a shortage of hype. What it's always lacked is a place where practitioners could cut through it, ask hard questions, share what actually works, and accelerate adoption without the sales pitch attached. That's what Nexus Labs has been from day one, and it's why this community exists."

Rosy came into the space from the sponsor side and built the product she wished had existed.

"I lived the frustration of trying to reach building owners through events that weren't built for them. The owners weren't showing up, and when they did, they weren't engaged. We flip that entirely. We built it for the practitioners first, and that's exactly why sponsors get the access they've been paying for everywhere else and never getting."

On what the EVG partnership means for where Nexus Labs goes next, James was direct.

"EVG isn't just capital. It's experienced partners who have built and scaled businesses exactly like this one, coming in right as we start to scale. We've proven the model. Now, together we build the category."

The sentiment from inside the EVG community matched.

Eric Udler, President of All Show Services and EVG Member, described what drew him in.

"One of the things that resonated most with me was hearing that Nexus Labs joined EVG for access to industry professionals. That's exactly why I became an EVG member as well. The opportunity to invest is exciting, but what really sets EVG apart is the opportunity to help founders build great companies."

Nancy Splaine, Consultant and EVG Member, echoed the conviction.

"James and Rosy have built a trusted platform that serves one of commercial real estate's fastest-growing sectors with a portfolio of products designed to educate, connect, and accelerate the Connected Buildings ecosystem. With EVG's investment, Nexus Labs is well positioned to expand its offerings, reach new audiences, and continue strengthening its role as the industry's leading resource."

NexusCon 2026 takes place October 6 to 8 in downtown Detroit at The Department at Hudson's, with more than 100 enterprise building owner organizations expected to attend. It is on track to be the number one Connected Buildings event in North America.

James on why Detroit was the right call.

"The Connected Buildings event for North America shouldn't exist in a vacuum. It should be embedded in a city that's actually living this transition. Detroit and Bedrock give us that. Our attendees won't just be in sessions together. They'll be walking buildings that are capitalizing on the exact same opportunities they'll be pursuing back home."

About Events Venture Group (EVG)

Events Venture Group (EVG) is a not-for-profit community committed to accelerating event entrepreneurs by connecting them with strategic funding, expert mentorship, and an enthusiastic club of members who are passionate about exploring and investing in early-stage events on an individual basis. Join our collaborative community of world-class founders, serial entrepreneurs, and top-flight event operators shaping the next generation of event entrepreneurs. Learn more at www.eventsventuregroup.com.

Media Contact 📌 erika@eventsventuregroup.comTo learn more about EVG click our website and follow EVG on LinkedIn here.