Tilsontech
AcquiredPortland, US · 3 known investors
Portland, Maine network deployment and IT professional services firm that builds fiber and wireless infrastructure across the US.
Also known as Tilson · Tilson Technology · Tilson Technology Management, Inc.
Founders & leadership
Board
Investors · 3
Also in the syndicate · 2
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$8.7M disclosed across 3 of 6 rounds · 2014–2019
▶$3.5MraisedOct 2017 · 6 investors · TelecommunicationsRule 506(b)
- Jill McGowanDirector
- Nathaniel V HenshawDirector
- Joshua BroderExecutive Officer, Director
- Paul AndersonDirector
- Michael SvigeljExecutive Officer
- Richard SchotteDirector
- Gary MerrillDirector
- Timothy SchneiderExecutive Officer
- Doug MorrellDirector
- Offering amount
- $5M
- Amount sold
- $3.5M
- Minimum investment
- $50K
- First sale
- Sep 2017
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Maine
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$3MraisedOct 2016 · 4 investors · TelecommunicationsRule 506(b)
- Paul AndersonDirector
- Nathaniel V HenshawDirector
- Michael SvigeljExecutive Officer
- Gary MerrillDirector
- Joshua BroderExecutive Officer, Director
- Doug MorrellDirector
- Jill McGowanDirector
- Offering amount
- $3M
- Amount sold
- $3M
- First sale
- Sep 2016
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Maine
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$2.2MraisedFeb 2015 · 5 investors · TelecommunicationsRule 506(b)
- Nathaniel V HenshawDirector
- Gary MerrillDirector
- Jill McGowanDirector
- Doug MorrellDirector
- Joshua BroderExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $2.2M
- Amount sold
- $2.2M
- Minimum investment
- $50K
- First sale
- Aug 2014
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Maine
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Tilson Technology Management, Inc. (Tilson, tilsontech.com) is a Portland, Maine–based network deployment and information technology professional services company founded in 1996. It designs, builds and maintains telecommunications networks and provides deployment and information systems services to telecom carriers, construction firms, utilities and government clients. Practice areas have included wireless site acquisition, construction and maintenance for cellular, smart grid and government customers; fiber optic engineering, permitting and construction management; information systems for the construction industry; software development and systems integration; and consulting in IT strategy, project management, information security, broadband development and energy capital project development.
The company also performs advisory work such as M&A technology due diligence and broadband planning for state, tribal, territorial and municipal governments. Representative projects include Maine Fiber Company's Three Ring Binder, Central Maine Power's grid modernization program, Recovery Act–funded infrastructure work in New England involving 2,300 miles of fiber optic cable and 7,000 smart grid wireless nodes, and a design-build role on Nevada's Middle Mile Network for Zayo. Tilson is veteran-owned; roughly half its employees were reported to be U.S. veterans.
After its largest client, the AT&T/BlackRock joint venture Gigapower, terminated nearly all of its construction contracts in April 2025, Tilson and affiliates Tilson Middle Street Holdings, LLC and Boundless Broadband, LLC filed for Chapter 11 protection in Delaware on May 29, 2025 and subsequently pursued a Section 363 sale of substantially all assets. ITG Communications, LLC was selected as the winning bidder at approximately $22 million.
Founding story
Tilson was founded in 1996 and grew from three people in 2007 under CEO Josh Broder, a U.S. Army Signal Officer awarded the Bronze Star for running the tactical communications network in Afghanistan, who applied military leadership and logistics experience to building the firm; Maine served as the anchor for its first venture round.
Business model
Tilson operates as a professional services and construction contractor, earning fees under project contracts for network design, engineering, permitting, construction, construction management and maintenance, alongside consulting engagements in construction IT, broadband and energy, and government markets. It also moved into telecom infrastructure ownership through an asset-ownership affiliate, SQF, LLC, and rolled out a software product.
Contract-based project revenue from network deployment and construction work plus consulting and advisory fees. Monthly operating reports during the 2025 bankruptcy showed $9.4 million of revenue in July 2025 against a $5 million net loss.
Traction
Tilson grew from three people in 2007 to about 230 employees in eight locations by 2017 and roughly 400 by December 2017, when it reported about $100 million in new network construction backlog and growth of more than 400% since 2011. Headcount exceeded 1,400 in early 2025 before the Gigapower contract terminations, and was reported at about 600 nationwide by mid-2025.
Latest developments
In February 2025 Tilson announced an integration partnership with VETRO, Inc. In April 2025 Gigapower terminated nearly all of Tilson's construction contracts, leaving roughly $20 million in unpaid invoices; Tilson closed its Nevada and Arizona offices in May and faced a WARN Act class action from former employees. On May 29, 2025 Tilson and two affiliates filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware with $37.5 million in debtor-in-possession financing, later reported at $62.5 million. In July 2025 the company moved to sell substantially all assets under Section 363, engaging Woodward Park Partners LLC, and filed a lawsuit seeking more than $200 million from Gigapower. At auction, ITG Communications, LLC's approximately $22 million bid was selected as highest and best, with Clear Plan, LLC and Lumin8 Transportation Technologies, LLC as backup bidders and closing anticipated in mid-September 2025.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
A mid-sized national network development contractor headquartered in Maine, positioned among telecom infrastructure contractors alongside much larger peers such as MasTec, Michels, Pike, Primoris, MYR Group and Black & Veatch. Tilson appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private U.S. companies for consecutive years beginning in 2011, reaching the list's 'Honor Roll,' and ranked among its top 25 telecommunications firms as of 2016.
Veteran-owned and veteran-staffed workforce, a combination of construction execution with IT consulting and construction-technology systems implementation, and a public-sector broadband planning practice serving state, tribal and territorial governments.
Technology
Tilson combines field construction capability with information systems work: fiber optic and wireless engineering, GIS-based network planning, systems integration and software development, plus implementation of construction business systems for clients. Reported internal tooling includes ArcGIS, Quickbase and HeavyBid.
Go-to-market
Direct pursuit of large network build and consulting contracts with carriers, infrastructure providers and public-sector broadband programs, supplemented by partnerships and channel relationships, including an integration with fiber management software vendor VETRO, joint broadband planning work with VHB and the Golden State Finance Authority for 22 California counties, and delivery partnerships with regional ISPs such as Visionary Communications in Wyoming.
Cellular carriers, utilities, internet service providers, construction firms, and federal, state, tribal, territorial and municipal governments, as well as non-profit and community broadband organizations.
Geography
Headquartered in Portland, Maine, with nationwide project teams and offices; work spanned New England, California, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming and other U.S. states. Offices in Nevada and Arizona were closed in early May 2025.
History
Founded in 1996 and based in Portland, Maine, Tilson took on early regional projects including Maine Fiber Company's Three Ring Binder and Central Maine Power's grid modernization, then led Recovery Act–funded infrastructure projects in New England between 2010 and 2013. In the early 2010s it acquired the assets and wireless construction team of Pennsylvania-based W.D. Wright Contracting Inc. CEI Ventures was its first outside investor, providing equity in 2013 and 2015, followed by Rand Capital SBIC in 2015 and 2016, a $5 million Series D in December 2017 and an investment of up to $100 million from SDC Capital Partners in April 2019. Darrell Ingram joined as chief operating officer and president in February 2022 and later served as CEO. Following the 2025 Gigapower contract terminations, the company filed for Chapter 11 and agreed to sell its assets to ITG Communications.
Risks & controversies
Tilson's revenue was heavily concentrated in a small number of large carrier clients; the abrupt termination of Gigapower contracts precipitated a liquidity crisis, Chapter 11 filing and asset sale that left unsecured creditors, owed almost $40 million among the top 30 alone, at risk of minimal recovery. A WARN Act class action was filed by former Nevada and Arizona employees over layoffs without 60 days' notice. Residents in Las Vegas organized against Tilson's project over construction quality and safety concerns, and the city issued a Notice of Default to Gigapower citing significant disruption and public safety risk. Tilson also litigated against MasTec North America from 2022 over unpaid invoices on Verizon's One Fiber Initiative, settling on undisclosed terms in October 2023. Former CEO Joshua Broder personally loaned the company $10 million in 2025 to bridge financing gaps, which proved insufficient.
Compiled by commissioned research from 7 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 17
launches, deals, and filingsTilson selected ITG Communications, LLC's approximately $22 million offer as the highest and best bid at its bankruptcy auction, subject to court approval with closing anticipated in mid-September 2025. Clear Plan, LLC and Lumin8 Transportation Technologies, LLC were named backup bidders. No qualified stalking horse bid materialized.
$22M source ↗
Tilson filed suit against Gigapower, LLC to recover more than $200 million allegedly owed under a contract to build fiber networks, alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and damages including at least $20 million in unpaid invoices.
$200M source ↗
Tilson and affiliates moved to sell substantially all assets free and clear of liens under Section 363, with a July 24 hearing, September 5 bid deadline and September 11 auction; Woodward Park Partners LLC was engaged to run the sale process.
Tilson Technology Management, Inc. and affiliates Tilson Middle Street Holdings, LLC and Boundless Broadband, LLC filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, listing assets and liabilities of $100 million to $500 million, and secured $37.5 million in debtor-in-possession financing from its existing lending syndicate. Judge Brendan Linehan Shannon oversees the case; Omni Agent Solutions is the claims agent.
Tilson closed its Nevada and Arizona offices in early May 2025 following the Gigapower contract terminations; two former employees filed a class action alleging willful violation of the WARN Act for failing to give 60 days' notice of major layoffs.
Gigapower, the AT&T/BlackRock joint venture behind fiber builds in Las Vegas and Gilbert, Arizona, terminated nearly all of Tilson's construction contracts 'for convenience' after roughly $20 million in change orders went unpaid, triggering a liquidity crisis.
Tilson combined its network design-build capabilities with VETRO's fiber management platform to support planning, design, construction and expansion of broadband networks.
Zayo selected Tilson to design and build Nevada's Middle Mile Network.
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB) partnered with GSFA and Tilson Technology to develop countywide Broadband Strategic Plans for 22 California counties, including Smart Community Applications Plans.
Tilson hired Trudi Fenster to lead operations, strategy and expansion of its construction technology consulting practice.
Tilson partnered with Visionary, a Gillette-based internet service provider, to deliver fiber-to-the-school and fiber-to-the-premise broadband in Casper and Cheyenne residential neighborhoods.
Tilson sued MasTec North America in Florida federal court alleging breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith, unjust enrichment and negligent misrepresentation after MasTec cut Tilson's contracted scope on Verizon's One Fiber Initiative and refused to pay nearly 300 invoices totaling over $1 million. The parties reached an unpublished agreement and the suit was closed on October 10, 2023.
Tilson named telecommunications executive Darrell Ingram as chief operating officer and president.
Funds managed by SDC Capital Partners, LLC agreed to invest up to $100 million to support Tilson's expansion of its network infrastructure services business and capitalization of its asset-ownership affiliate SQF, LLC.
$100M source ↗
Rand Capital Corporation funded a $1.5 million follow-on investment of equity and debt as part of a $5 million Series D financing; Rand's total cost basis in Tilson reached $2.5 million across three financings.
$5M source ↗
The U.S. Small Business Administration named Tilson Maine and New England's Veteran Owned Small Business of the Year; CEO Josh Broder was also named 'Top Young Professional' in New England by Engineering News-Record.
Tilson Technology Management raised $2.2 million, backed by Rand Capital Corporation ($600k) and venture investors; CEI Ventures also provided equity in 2013 and 2015.
$2.2M source ↗
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 7
primary sources listed
- Tilson Company Overview, Contact Details & Competitors | LeadIQleadiq.com · web
7 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Tilsontech do?
- Portland, Maine network deployment and IT professional services firm that builds fiber and wireless infrastructure across the US.
- Who are Tilsontech's investors?
- Tilsontech's investors include CEI Ventures.
- How much funding has Tilsontech raised?
- Tilsontech has disclosed $8.7M raised across 3 of its 6 known rounds.
- Where is Tilsontech headquartered?
- Tilsontech is headquartered in Portland, US.