Connect Media, a privately held Los Angeles-based media company focused on commercial real estate news and related B2B businesses, has acquired Louisville, Kentucky-based Networld Media Group, a business-to-business media company that produces industry news and conferences across restaurant, retail, banking, and technology markets. The financial terms were not disclosed.
The acquisition expands Connect Media’s platform beyond commercial real estate, finance, and capital markets into adjacent industries while adding Networld’s websites, events, podcasts, and awards programs. Connect Media said it will absorb Networld’s team, bringing the combined organization to more than 60 employees, and that founder and CEO Daniel Ceniceros will lead the combined company as CEO.
Networld, founded in 2000, brings a portfolio of online news brands including FastCasual.com, FoodTruckOperator.com, PizzaMarketplace.com, QSRweb.com, RetailCustomerExperience.com, ATMmarketplace.com, KioskMarketplace.com, DigitalSignageToday.com, and VendingTimes.com. Its conference and events lineup includes the Fast Casual Executive Summit, Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers Awards, Founderology Growth Summit, Pizza Leadership Virtual Summit, #QSRNext, Restaurant Catering Workshop, Restaurant Franchising & Innovation Summit, Restaurant Marketing Workshop, Automated Retail & Kiosk Innovation Show, and additional programs tied to its sector coverage.
Connect Media positioned the transaction as part of a broader growth strategy of selective investments across media, technology, and client services, noting prior acquisitions that include multifamily listing platform ApartmentBuildings.com and AI powered lending information platform LOANtuitive. CapM Advisors served as exclusive financial advisor to Networld Media Group.
KEY QUOTES
“This acquisition represents a strategic opportunity to grow across complementary business lines that share a similar operating DNA. Both Connect and Networld are built on high-quality journalism, industry-leading conferences, and strong industry relationships. Bringing these platforms together creates a powerful opportunity to accelerate growth, share best practices, and introduce expanded creative and agency services that complement and enhance Networld’s current capabilities—ultimately delivering greater value to our audiences and partners, as both individual investors and institutions seek information to grow, while building communities.”
Daniel Ceniceros, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Connect Media
“After meeting Daniel and learning more about his company, it became clear that Connect Media was the right partner to shape Networld’s next chapter. Our companies have strengths in different areas and I’m excited to see the future our combined teams will create.”
Tom Harper, Cofounder and Executive Chairman, Networld Media Group
