Room to grow, and a way out
Expansion rights, first offers on neighboring space, contraction and early-termination options, and sublease rights, so a lease can follow your hiring plan instead of fighting it.
Sectors
Commercial Real Estate for AI & Technology Companies
Office, flex and industrial space for teams that grow faster than their leases, negotiated by brokers who work for the tenant.
A tenant representative for AI and tech companies
AI and technology companies make real estate decisions under conditions most leases were never written for: headcount that can double after a funding round, equipment that needs more power and cooling than a typical office, and the real chance of an acquisition partway through the term. Tenant Advisory Group represents the company leasing or buying the space, never the building, and negotiates the terms that keep your space working for your business at every stage.
We are based in Chicago and work with clients nationally. Since 2008 our team has completed more than 500 transactions, and technology, software and data firms have been part of our client base from the start.
What we negotiate for you
The lease terms AI and tech companies need
Power, cooling and connectivity
Server and network rooms, supplemental 24/7 cooling, electrical capacity and fiber access, checked with your IT lead before you commit, not after you move in.
Credit that fits a venture-backed balance sheet
Security deposit and letter-of-credit structures, burn-down schedules and alternatives to personal guarantees, presented to landlords in terms they accept.
Change of control, covered
Assignment language that lets the lease move with the company in a financing, merger or acquisition without a landlord veto or a rent reset.
The right kind of space
Office for software teams; flex, R&D or light industrial for hardware, robotics and sensor work. We cover all three, and we’ll tell you when a requirement belongs in a data center instead.
Build-out the landlord pays for
Tenant improvement allowances, turnkey build-outs and free rent negotiated as part of the deal, the terms our technology clients describe in their own words below.
In transactions
Transactions to-date
In total savings for clients
In our clients’ words
Technology companies trust TAG with their space.
“In our industry, data moves at lightning speed. As it turns out, so do we. Our business was taking off and we found ourselves in immediate need of a bigger office space.”
“The improvements included new paint, fixing the A/C issues in our server room, adding a keyless card entry system to the space, and adding additional electric/data ports to our open workspace.”
“We have worked with Bill and his team a few times before in other cities and our Chicago lease was coming due. We wanted to explore all of our options from downsizing in current building, to coworking space to our own space whether spec or requiring a buildout in a different location.”
Technology clients
Technology, software and data firms we have represented
- 8th Light
- Label Insight
- OAO
- BridgePoint Technologies
- AURA Innovative Technology
- Digital Intent
- Table XI
- Accurate Biometrics
- Waident Technology Solutions
Each name links to that client’s own account of working with us.
How it works
Our process for AI and tech companies
- 1
Needs analysis
Headcount plan, hybrid schedule, infrastructure, budget and timing, sorted into must-have, want and nice-to-have.
- 2
Market survey
On- and off-market options in Chicago or any U.S. market, including sublease and spec suites.
- 3
Tours and technical review
We tour with you and put the power, cooling and connectivity questions to the building.
- 4
Competing proposals
Requests for proposal to several landlords, so each knows it is competing for your lease.
- 5
Negotiation
Rent, free rent, build-out, growth and exit rights, deposit and assignment terms, with your attorney on the lease document.
- 6
Build-out and move
We stay involved through construction and occupancy, and we’re there again at renewal.
Resource center
Guides for AI and tech companies
How Should an AI Company Choose a Commercial Real Estate Broker?How does tenant representation work for tech companies nationwide?Which Office Lease Terms Matter Most for a Fast-Growing AI Company?Security Deposits, Letters of Credit and Guarantees for StartupsSublease, Coworking, Spec Suite or Direct Lease for an AI Startup?How much office space does an AI team need as it grows?Power, Cooling and Connectivity: What AI Teams Should Ask a LandlordOffice, Flex, Lab or Industrial Space for AI Hardware and Robotics?
FAQ
Questions from AI and tech companies
Does Tenant Advisory Group work with AI companies?
Yes. We represent AI and technology companies as tenants and buyers of office, flex and industrial space, from early-stage teams leaving coworking to established companies expanding or renewing. Our track record includes software, data and technology firms such as 8th Light, Label Insight, OAO and BridgePoint Technologies.
What does it cost an AI startup to use a tenant representation broker?
In a standard commercial lease the landlord pays the brokerage commission, so tenants typically engage TAG at no direct cost.
Do you only work in Chicago?
No. We are based in Chicago and represent clients nationally. Technology clients such as 8th Light have worked with our team in other cities as well as in Chicago.
Can you find space for GPU servers or model training?
We negotiate office, flex and industrial space that includes server and network rooms, supplemental cooling and added electrical capacity. Large-scale model training normally runs in a data center, colocation facility or the cloud, which is a different kind of real estate. If your requirement belongs there, we will tell you.
How early should we start looking?
Well before your current lease expires or your team outgrows its space. Starting early keeps a renewal competitive and leaves time for build-out, and larger or more technical requirements need more lead time.
Growing an AI or tech company?
Tell us your headcount plan, timing and must-haves. We’ll bring you options in Chicago or any U.S. market and negotiate the terms.