Pennsylvania-based Cecilian Partners announced that on the heels of its recent $11 million Series A raise, it has secured growth capital from Dallas-based Perot Jain, a VC firm focused on industry-disrupting companies and tech.
The amount of the Perot Jain investment was not disclosed.
Cecilian said that it offers transformative, end-to-end digital solutions for homebuilders and land developers, with a fast-growing client base in Dallas-Fort Worth, including Hillwood Communities—one of the country’s largest community developers, a strategic partner of Perot Jain, and Cecilian Partners’ largest client.
Boosting an ongoing partnership with Hillwood
Fred Balda
Fred Balda, president of Hillwood Communities, will join Cecilian’s advisory board, bringing 32 years of real estate domain expertise and community development knowledge to the organization. The alignment between the two companies, and their leadership teams, goes beyond a typical capital investment, the companies said.
“It’s a natural fit—Perot Jain has always been committed to innovation that centers on people, and Cecilian Partners is delivering on that mission,” Balda said in a statement. “Hillwood Communities is excited to continue working with Cecilian to deliver exceptional online buyer experiences and to improve the overall performance of our business.”
Cecilian Partners said that it is committed to bringing digital transformation to master-planned communities (MPCs), a market that it said has unique opportunities and challenges.
Cecilian co-founder and CEO John Cecilian Jr. said the ongoing partnership with Hillwood Communities has been instrumental for the category.
“Digital transformation is really difficult. It takes work to adopt new technologies and innovation, but it also requires the right partner to be the steward of that process from start to finish,” Cecilian said. “Hillwood Communities was ready for change. They empowered us to be that partner and allow innovation to happen. We are so grateful to have a client who is very much a beacon for other MPC developers around process management and technology adoption.”
‘Technology and innovation are crucial’
Perot Jain has a track record of helping early-stage companies drive industry-disrupting innovation by providing patient capital, a strategic network, and tech-enabled expertise.
Perot Jain Partner Aaron Pierce said Cecilian Partners is a good fit for the firm’s model.
“Cecilian Partners is revolutionizing the new home ecosystem, and Perot Jain is excited to support the company’s continued success alongside Hillwood Communities,” Pierce said.
Cecilian Partners calls Dallas-Fort Worth “a key focus and high-growth market” for the company because it’s on track to become the fifth fastest-growing large metro area in the nation by 2028, with new home sales continually ranking among the top five in the nation.
That makes the region an excellent proving ground for Cecilian’s technology and approach, the company said.
Cecilian said the expanded partnership with Hillwood Communities, along with the stamp of approval from Perot Jain, is integral in driving real estate transformation for MPCs.
“MPCs build a sense of place for people of all ages and walks of life, but it’s a complex task. Technology and innovation are crucial in getting executives through the gauntlet of placemaking,” Cecilian added. “Technology is not a choice; it’s a critical part of what every land executive and developer should focus on right now. It’s Cecilian Partners’ job to be the steward of that change, and we’re privileged that Hillwood Communities allowed us to take them through the other side of digital transformation.”
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