Co-Working Story: Nick Bergmann

From GTA Grind to Bruce County Builder: How Entrepreneur Nick Bergmann Found Community, Flexibility, and Momentum at Powerlink

When most people picture a real estate success story, they imagine a skyline of towers, high-pressure commutes, and the relentless churn of the GTA market. 

But for Nick Bergmann — one of the entrepreneurial forces behind the newly formed Benson Crew Real Estate Team — success took shape in a very different setting: Bruce County.

• Nick didn’t just leave the city behind — he discovered something better.

• A community that welcomes builders.

• A region that rewards families.

• And a coworking hub that understands entrepreneurs aren’t looking for desks… they’re looking for momentum.

This is the story of how a high-performing real estate venture found its footing in a rural town — and why Powerlink became an essential part of that journey.

A Real Estate Powerhouse Built From Three Entrepreneurial Teams

Before becoming a familiar face at Powerlink, Nick was helping build something much bigger behind the scenes. 

In 2025, three established real estate organizations — each with deep regional roots and unique strengths — merged to form the Benson Crew Real Estate Team, operating under the rapidly scaling Real Broker brand.

Real is one of the fastest-growing brokerages in the world, and Benson Crew has already become the number-one team at Real in Ontario.

“We’re a powerhouse team — and that’s not ego,” Nick explains. “It’s because of what each team brought to the table.”

The strengths that made the merger work

Scott Benson Team — Marketing Done RightKnown widely in the Oakville/Burlington region, Scott’s team brought a decade of high-performance marketing expertise: analytics, investment discipline, and the willingness to spend where it counts.

Great marketing requires commitment and smart risk-taking — something most small teams can’t afford to do without the experience and scale Scott brings.

The Crew — Community and Local PresenceBased in the Brantford area, The Crew is famous for its grassroots presence and energy. Their annual Crewfest concert, charity involvement, and community engagement created regional brand recognition most realtors only dream of. They brought heart, visibility, and cultural presence.

The Zahnd Team — Systems, Process, and Operational Muscle Co-founded by Nick, the Zahnd Team contributed a level of systems discipline most real estate teams never reach. They built detailed processes, managed staff across Canada, the U.S., and overseas, and operated a sophisticated CRM-backed infrastructure. They even developed their own custom CRM platform — a testament to their commitment to operational excellence.

Put these strengths together and you get scale:

• 7,000+ Homes Under Contract

• A deal every seven hours

• $700M+ in volume over the last two years

• Over $6B+ in lifetime volume

• A goal of $1B annually within two years, which would make them the top team in Canada

Benson Crew isn’t a collection of agents. It’s a venture — built deliberately and at scale.And that philosophy is exactly what led Nick north.

Building a Venture vs. Building a Practice

Nick puts it simply:

“There’s a difference between building a job and building a future.”

Real estate attracts professionals across a wide spectrum — some full-time, some part-time, some choosing to complete a small number of transactions each year.

Benson Crew simply operates with a different philosophy. Their model is intentionally venture-driven, with shared systems, marketing resources, and specialized staff supporting every stage of a transaction.

Because the real estate landscape is so diverse, client experiences can vary widely. Nick sees that as an opportunity — not a criticism — to raise the bar.

Benson Crew aims to deliver a consistent, five-star client experience, backed by structure rather than individual effort.

Through strong marketing, proven systems, and the scale of a high-performing team, they’re focused on improving what buyers and sellers can expect from the process.

This approach is why their marketing features an AI-generated ambassador instead of a single face: the emphasis is on the team, the experience, and the quality of the process — not individual personalities.

Why Nick Chose Bruce County: A Better Lifestyle and Better Business

Nick didn’t just move to Bruce County to escape the GTA grind; he came because it was the right entrepreneurial move.

“I’m in my dad years,” he says with a smile. “I’ve got a little girl turning three and another baby on the way. Being part of a real community matters.”

Bruce County offered something rare: a place where family life, outdoor life, and entrepreneurial life actually fit together.

Here are the reasons Nick — and many of his clients — are choosing the region:

1. A surprising advantage in infrastructure

Many assume rural areas lag behind in services. Nick laughs at this.

“We’ve got fiber internet. I know people in Oakville who don’t have that.”

The region also offers:

• An updated Southampton Hospital

• Strong facilities in Owen Sound and Walkerton

• Big-box options and thriving local businesses

• Strong employment opportunities

• Massive infrastructure growth over the next 5-10 years

• Larger parcels of land with room to expand and renovate

2. Better housing opportunities

New bungalow developments with 65-foot frontages — unheard of in the city without heavy premiums — are common here. Older homes offer renovation potential. Retirees selling long-held city homes often bring meaningful equity north.

3. Stress-free travel for business

Nick still drives into the city weekly — sometimes several times a week — but describes the experience as productive and peaceful.

“I can take calls, enjoy the scenery, and never sit in gridlock. Our biggest traffic jam is Sunday buggies.”

4. A community that actually connects

Because the population is smaller, relationships form naturally. Nick often recognizes clients, entrepreneurs, and community leaders around town — something he never experienced in the city.

He even takes prospective buyers on full Bruce Peninsula tours, showing them beaches, trails, and hidden gems. Many have moved entire families north after seeing the lifestyle firsthand.

How Nick Became Powerlink’s First Coworking Member

When Nick brought his business north in 2022, he knew he didn’t want the overhead of a traditional office.

Realtors spend most of their time meeting clients in homes — not boardrooms — and paying for unused square footage didn’t make sense. But working from cafés and kitchen tables wasn’t sustainable either.

Then he saw the Powerlink sign.

He booked a call, learned the coworking space wasn’t even finished yet… and joined anyway.

“I spent my first few months here in an unfinished second-floor office,” he says. “The drywall wasn’t up. Floors weren’t done. But I knew the vision was right.”

Nick became the very first coworking member — long before the polished space you see today. And from day one, he says it never felt like he was a “tenant.” It felt like he was part of a team.

Why Powerlink Fit Perfectly

Here’s what stood out most for Nick:

• Flexibility without compromise He uses the full membership — in daily when needed, gone for days when he’s in the city or with clients. No overhead. No guilt. Total range.

• A space that feels private, even when shared 

“Andrew Hill, Powerlink’s owner and developer, has built so many distinct zones that it feels like my own office every time I’m here.”

• A professional presence for clients The reception desk, meeting rooms, coffee shop, and polished environment often lead clients to assume the entire building is his.

“The Powerlink team is top notch,” Nick says.

• A new model for rural commercial ownership Powerlink’s condo-style commercial units — modern, well-designed, and turnkey — solve a long-standing challenge for rural entrepreneurs who otherwise must choose between old building stock or expensive renovations.

• Events, culture, and community In the last year alone, Powerlink has hosted: – Corporate meetings and private events – Rotary Club’s Roaring 20s fundraiser – CD launches and live music – Community socials – Pizza & Puzzles nights (including the infamous “team mix-up”) – Local art exhibitions

“Just walking the halls, you see local artists, local business owners, and new entrepreneurs. It’s a true community hub.”

A Connected Ecosystem: Powerlink + AREA 81

What makes Nick’s experience even more valuable is the ecosystem forming around the space. Powerlink gives him the flexible, professional environment his business needs, while AREA 81 connects him with a broader community of founders, makers, and venture builders across Bruce County.

Together, Powerlink and AREA 81 create an environment where someone building at the scale of Benson Crew can plug into meaningful relationships, discover collaboration opportunities, and become part of a regional network that actively supports entrepreneurship and economic growth.

The Entrepreneur Bruce County Was Built For

Nick’s story highlights something important: entrepreneurs thrive in places built for both people and business.

Bruce County gives Nick:

• Space for his family

• Space for his business to grow

• Space to contribute to community

• Space to operate at a scale most people don’t expect from a rural region

And Powerlink gives him — and dozens of others — the flexibility, professionalism, and sense of belonging that venture builders need.

“Powerlink makes it possible to run a big business from a small town — without giving up professionalism, community, or flexibility.” — Nick Bergmann

If you want to work alongside entrepreneurs like Nick, book a tour, or free pass (subject to availability) of Powerlink and see what’s possible when a coworking space becomes a community.