Why Nest co-founder Matt Rogers is still bullish on HVAC

Tech Crunch - Apr 11th, 2025

Matt Rogers, co-founder of Nest, has joined Quilt, a heat pump startup, as an independent board member. After founding Nest with Tony Fadell in 2010 and revolutionizing the smart thermostat industry, Rogers continues to pursue his interest in HVAC systems. Despite Google's neglect of Nest's original vision, Rogers remains optimistic about the potential for innovation in heating and cooling technology. His new role at Quilt sees him formalizing a long-standing advisory relationship with the company's co-founder and CEO, Paul Lambert.

Rogers' involvement in Quilt signals a renewed effort to replicate Nest's approach to product design and user experience within the realm of heat pumps. As climate change drives the demand for cooling solutions, Rogers and Lambert see significant opportunities for growth. They aim to leverage macro trends of increasing global temperatures and economic prosperity, which boost the demand for air conditioning solutions. Rogers' participation is expected to help Quilt capitalize on these trends and continue the legacy of smart home innovation he began with Nest.

Google Home Automation Matt Rogers Nest Quilt Paul Lambert Smart Thermostat Heat Pump Hvac

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RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a focused narrative on Matt Rogers' career and involvement in the HVAC industry, particularly through his roles at Nest and Quilt. It effectively uses direct quotes to support its claims, enhancing credibility. However, the reliance on Rogers as the primary source limits the range of perspectives, impacting balance and source quality. While the article is clear and engaging, it lacks broader context and transparency in some claims, particularly regarding macroeconomic trends and Google's management of Nest. The timeliness is moderate, with relevance to ongoing industry trends but lacking recent event ties. Overall, the article is informative for those interested in technology and entrepreneurship but could benefit from greater depth and diversity in perspective.

Accuracy

The article accurately reports on Matt Rogers' involvement in the HVAC industry and his role at Nest and Quilt. The founding of Nest by Rogers and Tony Fadell in 2010 is a verifiable fact, as is the focus on smart thermostats. However, the claim about Google letting Nest 'whither on the vine' lacks specific supporting evidence or recent developments. Additionally, the macroeconomic trends mentioned, such as increased demand for cooling, are generally accepted but would benefit from more data or expert opinions to bolster the claims. The article does well in quoting Rogers directly, providing a primary source for his personal statements and opinions.

Balance

The article primarily focuses on Matt Rogers' perspective and his ventures, with limited input from other stakeholders. While it mentions Quilt's CEO Paul Lambert, it does not provide a broader range of perspectives from other industry experts or competitors. This focus on Rogers may lead to an impression of favoritism or bias towards his views and endeavors, potentially omitting critical or alternative viewpoints on the HVAC industry's future or Nest's current status.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and easy to follow, with a logical flow from Rogers' past achievements to his current ventures. The language is clear and accessible, making the content understandable to a general audience. The use of direct quotes adds to the clarity, providing insight into Rogers' motivations and perspectives. However, the article could benefit from clearer explanations of technical terms or industry-specific jargon for readers unfamiliar with the HVAC industry.

Source quality

The article cites direct quotes from Matt Rogers, which enhances credibility. However, it relies heavily on Rogers as the primary source, with limited input from other authoritative voices in the industry. The lack of diverse sources may affect the depth of the analysis, as it does not incorporate external validation or critique. The mention of Quilt's CEO adds some balance, but additional perspectives would improve the overall reliability.

Transparency

The article provides a clear narrative about Matt Rogers' past and current ventures, but it lacks transparency regarding the methodology of its claims, particularly about macroeconomic trends and Nest's status under Google. There is no disclosure of potential conflicts of interest or the basis for some of the broader claims, such as the global demand for cooling solutions. Greater transparency in these areas would enhance the reader's understanding of the article's foundations.