
A wireless-power founder watched his market disappear, rebuilt the company around a light ring, and came away with a sharper idea: the office should earn the commute.
California Closets invented the custom closet category in 1978 and remains its most recognizable name. The company designs, manufactures, and installs personalized storage systems - walk-in closets, garages, home offices, pantries, and more - through a network of franchised and company-owned showrooms across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. A subsidiary of FirstService Brands since 1998, it pairs in-home and virtual design consultations with 3D modeling and local manufacturing to turn cluttered rooms into organized space.
Dan Ryan is the CEO and Co-Founder of VergeSense, the leading occupancy intelligence platform transforming how global enterprises manage their real estate. A serial entrepreneur with a track record in hardware-software integration, Ryan previously co-founded ByteLight (LED-based indoor positioning, acquired by Acuity Brands in 2015) before launching VergeSense in 2017 through Y Combinator. Under his leadership, VergeSense has grown to serve 200+ Fortune 500 companies across 140 million square feet in 50+ countries, raising $82.6 million including a $60M Series C in 2021. Ryan is based in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area and is recognized as a pioneer at the intersection of physical and digital worlds, building AI-powered tools that help companies make data-driven decisions about office space, sustainability, and hybrid work strategy.