Why Raleigh's Luxury Homebuyers Are Going All In on Smart Technology - Ryan Prestel of Connesso

Ryan Prestel says the biggest myth in smart home tech is that everything's wireless. Here's why that's costing homeowners.

Ryan Prestel, co-founder of Connesso, joins Gretchen Coley to unpack what it actually takes to build a smart, connected luxury home in Raleigh. They cover Josh AI, app fatigue, lighting design, and why the old guard of home technology is being disrupted.

In this episode:

• The biggest myth in the smart home industry, and why the first four letters of wireless are W-I-R-E

• What Josh AI actually does, and how it solves "app fatigue" for homeowners

• Why lighting is the fastest-growing category in smart home design

• How VR lets Connesso preview sound and sightlines before a home theater or golf simulator gets built

About Ryan Prestel: Ryan is the co-founder of Connesso, a custom electronics integrator bringing connected technology experiences to luxury homes, offices, and commercial spaces in Raleigh and beyond. A recovering software executive with 15+ years scaling technology companies, he now leads Connesso's mission to make home automation feel effortless.

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