Podcasts about raising capital

Every allocator asks: “What makes your boutique different?”And most fund managers default to something like, “Our people are great!” or “Our process is best-in-class!”Which is fine. It's just… also what everyone else says.In this episode, Stacy explains why saying “We're better” in meetings won't do you any favors and why being different (even if it's uncomfortable) is the best way to stand out to allocators. Listen in to learn:Why you don't want to make up differentiators in the momentWhy trying to be polite is the fastest way to blend in and be forgotten The Truism Test (a fast way to spot a “differentiator” that's actually table stakes)The prompt that reveals where you're out of consensus with your peers (and why that's your edge)Why the best differentiator often takes a little courage to say out loudThis is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

In this episode of the Jake and Gino Podcast, hosts Jake Stenziano and Gino Barbaro welcome Lon Welsh, a seasoned commercial real estate expert, for a deep dive into leadership, investing strategy, and evolving market trends.Lon shares practical insights on what effective leadership really looks like—highlighting the power of clear communication, accountability, and disciplined execution. He reflects on his transition from residential to commercial real estate, the lessons he learned while raising capital, and the realities of navigating shifting market cycles. The conversation underscores the importance of understanding market dynamics, staying adaptable, and building strong operational systems to achieve long-term investing success.Chapters:  00:00 Introduction and Guest Background02:40 Leadership Insights and Strategies05:24 Effective Communication in Leadership08:21 Transitioning to Commercial Real Estate11:15 Navigating the Real Estate Market14:06 Raising Capital and Building Partnerships16:44 Lessons from Market Cycles19:38 Current Market Challenges and Opportunities22:25 Future Market Predictions25:46 Economic Frustrations and Observations27:11 The Housing Market Dynamics30:36 Investment Strategies in Real Estate32:37 The Future of Technology and Productivity37:39 Scaling Businesses: Insights from Experience43:09 Radical Accountability and Execution We're here to help create real estate entrepreneurs... About Jake & Gino: Jake & Gino are multifamily investors, operators, and owners who have created a vertically integrated real estate company. They control over $350M in assets under management. Connect with Jake & Gino here --> https://jakeandgino.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week, I sat down with Michela Hancock to unpack the journey from psychology graduate to property entrepreneur, and how she helped pioneer institutional build to rent in the UK long before it was widely accepted. Michela is the Co-Founder and CEO of Hilltop Property Partners. Before launching Hilltop, she worked across US and UK real estate, including early exposure to multifamily housing in the United States, and later bringing that institutional rental mindset into the UK market at a time when many believed renting would never become a lifestyle choice. In this conversation, Michela shares how growing up in a family business shaped her entrepreneurial mindset, and why she made the difficult decision to pivot away from a career in clinical psychology after years of study. That willingness to change direction led her into real estate development, where she combined US multifamily experience with a long term conviction around UK rental housing. We explore the early days of institutional build to rent in the UK, when pension funds and advisors were sceptical, and Michela was repeatedly told that everyone in Britain wanted to own rather than rent. She explains how she built conviction around demographic change, quality rental supply gaps and the concept of renting as a lifestyle choice. The conversation then moves into Hilltop's strategy, targeting the so called squeezed middle and key worker demographic, where the need for high quality, attainable rental housing is most acute. Michela outlines the viability pressures facing mid market rental delivery today, and why building now into a supply constrained environment could create long term opportunity. We also discuss capital raising in a global market where UK development competes for attention and allocation, and why resilience, persistence and finding the right partner can be more important than finding hundreds of investors. Michela shares candid lessons on entrepreneurship, including the advice she received that starting a business is like being in a rowboat with no oars, and why she chose to do it anyway. This is a conversation about conviction, mid market housing, entrepreneurship and building through difficult cycles. Key Topics Covered in This Episode ✅ From Psychology to Property Why Michela pivoted careers after years of study and what that taught her about risk and conviction. ✅ Early Institutional Build to Rent How she introduced US multifamily thinking into a sceptical UK market. ✅ Renting as a Lifestyle Choice Challenging the assumption that everyone wants to own. ✅ The Squeezed Middle Opportunity Targeting key workers and mid market rental housing in a viability constrained environment. ✅ Raising Capital in a Global Market Why alignment and persistence matter more than volume. ✅ Building Hilltop Property Partners Entrepreneurship, partnership and long term platform thinking. ✅ Resilience and Founder Mindset The "never leave your chair" philosophy and showing up every day. And of course, I asked Michela the big question: Who are the People, what Property, and which Place would you invest in if you had £500 million to deploy? If you have thoughts or questions about this episode, drop them in the comments. I'd love to hear your take. The People Property Place Podcast is powered by Rockbourne, recruiting leadership talent for real estate funds, owners, investors, and developers.

“Ugh… I'm going to sound like a broken record.”If you've felt that in a 2nd or 3rd meeting, you've probably had the urge to “freshen up” your story just to keep it interesting.In this episode, Stacy breaks down why that instinct can backfire.She's digging into what actually matters in follow-up meetings, especially when new people join, when the sales team thinks “we already covered that,” and when you're tempted to improvise a whole new version of your story.Listen in to learn:Why “repetitive” might be a you problem (not a them problem)Why you don't want your story to shift too much between meetingsThe simple test for whether you should “run it back” (even in a 3rd meetingHow to tee up repetition without it feeling awkwardThis is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

Sean Flanagan shares real, raw lessons from failed land deals, capital raises, and the key mindset shift that can turn setbacks into success. If you're tired of spinning wheels and ready to make high-impact moves in industrial or water rights, this episode reveals how to get in the right room, build undeniable credibility, and create content that attracts your ideal investors and partners. Discover why focusing on one niche can skyrocket your authority and how to leverage simple content strategies to stay top of mind. Sean breaks down the exact steps to get your first few million raised, why reputation matters in complex deals, and how to turn your knowledge into a consistent lead generator. Sean Flanagan Current role:  Founder-Owner, Flanagan Real Estate LLC,  Water Resource Broker, Hydro Source Incorporated Based in: Castle Rock, Colorado Where to find them: https://www.flanagan-real-estate.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-flanagan-7a294625/ Book your free demo today at bill.com/bestever and get a $100 Amazon gift card. Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Hull, the founder and CEO of DoorGrow, discusses with Ashton Thomas the concept of marrying private equity with property management operations. Ashton Thomas is a third-generation real estate broker in Central Florida, she got her real estate license right after graduating high school and, in February 2019, opened her own brokerage. She decided to start her own brokerage and grew to about 25 agents, but she realized she preferred property management and did not like dealing with realtors and their recurring issues, and shifted her focus after property management "fell into her lap" when employees from a failing company approached her You'll Learn (00:45) Introduction and Ashton Thomas's Background  (03:46) The Audacity to Start a Brokerage at 23  (07:16) The Marriage of Private Equity and Property Management  (07:42) Benjamin Hardy's "Science of Scaling"  (12:31) Understanding Private Equity and the Roll Up Strategy  (17:58) The Advantage of Property Managers in Roll Ups  (19:10) Advice for Getting into Private Equity  (22:29) Raising Capital and How to Connect with Ashton Thomas Quotables "I've been thinking too small. That's why it's been so hard." "That's like entrepreneurs worst nightmare is to be feeling stuck and feeling like I'm not moving and I'm not getting traction and I'm not accomplishing anything." "The slowest, absolute slowest path to growth is to do it alone." Resources DoorGrow and Scale Mastermind DoorGrow Academy DoorGrow on YouTube DoorGrowClub DoorGrowLive Transcript Jason Hull (00:00) All right, five, four, three, two, one. Hello everybody, I'm Jason Hull, the founder and CEO of DoorGrow, the world's leading and most comprehensive coaching and consulting firm for long-term residential property management entrepreneurs. For over a decade and a half, we've brought innovative strategies and optimization to the property management industry. At DoorGrow, we are on a mission to transform property management business owners and their businesses. We want to transform the industry.   eliminate the BS, build awareness, change perception, expand the market, and help the best property management entrepreneurs win. Now, let's get into the show. All right, so my guest today is Ashton Thomas. Welcome, Ashton. Ashton (00:43) Thank you for having me. Jason Hull (00:45) So Ashton is a client of ours, but she also is a badass. And so Ashen, I would love for people to get to know you a little bit, share a little bit of your background. How did you get into real estate and property management and all of this?   Ashton (01:02) Yeah, absolutely. So I'm actually a third generation real estate broker in central Florida. My granddad started in Orlando like way back in the 60s. ⁓ Both my dad and my granddad, a lot of my uncles, they're all builders. So just kind of grew up in that real estate world. I was on a job site from when I was very little. ⁓ And so I always just had a love for homes, real estate, just   the whole nine years. When I was wrapping up high school about to go to college, my parents suggested, I always had like an entrepreneurial spirit, and my parents suggested that I get my real estate license. And I was like, you know what, it can't hurt to have that. So I went ahead and took the class, got the licensing as soon as I graduated high school. So I was actually a licensed realtor already working before I started my freshman year of   college. ⁓ Real estate has been so fascinating because I've been able to see so many changes over the last 12 years since I got into the industry. I started with new home sales construction, actually working for my parents, ⁓ really learned about what it took to run a sales center. And then I switched to traditional real estate, like what you think of a realtor doing now. ⁓ From there, I ended up opening my own brokerage.   Jason Hull (02:03) Wow.   Ashton (02:28) ⁓ in February of 2019. And then property management really just fell into my lap. There was a company that was going out of business because the owner was embezzling funds. And their employees actually came to me and said, you know, we would like to work with you. We'd like to work for you. And we're bringing these clients. So   I had never written a lease, seen, really even put my eyes or hands on a lease, never. This was two years ago, roughly. ⁓ And like just didn't have any property management experience at all. Figured out that we needed to get some systems in place right out of the gate. And I really took the next year, year and a half.   Jason Hull (02:59) how long ago.   Okay.   Ashton (03:22) to develop those. And Jason, you've been so instrumental in helping us succeed in those systems. You helped us identify the holes in our business and really figure out what we needed to do. ⁓ So at the time that I had brought on the property management side, and when I say property management for us, we do both long-term property management and short-term vacation rental. So I two separate sister companies that operate.   Jason Hull (03:51) Yeah.   Ashton (03:51) So ⁓ at the time I had roughly about 25 realtors that worked for me under the brokerage. I had really developed that, grown that. We were one of the largest Zillow Premier agent teams in central Florida at that time.   Jason Hull (04:13) Wait, can I ask you question about that?   Not very many agents start their own brokerage. What? mean, how, do you mind me asking age here? How old were you you started your brokerage and what gave you the audacity to decide to do this big thing?   Ashton (04:19) Mm-hmm.   I was 23 when I started my brokerage and the funny part was is I actually wanted to buy a brokerage first and I had this is a wild story you'll love this so you know you look back and you say what was I thinking like I had some guts and one of those stories   Jason Hull (04:33) Okay, go ahead.   Okay.   Okay.   Yeah   Ashton (04:55) So I had initially gone to this guy's office, he had four branches, local real estate agent, or a local real estate brokerage. I'd ⁓ developed his brokerage over like 50 years, had over 200 agents working for him. And I walk in and I asked to speak with the broker. He was there, they put me in the conference room. He thought that I wanted to become an agent working for him. Yeah. And I said, no, sir, I want to buy your company.   Jason Hull (05:19) That's the default.   my god.   Ashton (05:25) And   like, this was a total cold call. Like I had never talked with him before, never met him before. I ended up negotiating a price for the company ended up getting securing SBA financing. Everything had lined up so perfectly. And then a couple of weeks before we were actually going to be making it official. He decided that he wanted to, to sell his brokerage to a family member and not go through with me. And so.   Jason Hull (05:53) Wow.   Ashton (05:55) Honestly, in hindsight, that was the best thing that could have happened. I had no business running that large of a brokerage at 23 years old with no experience. ⁓ Over 200. Yeah. And I had secured a price for 2.4 million for the company. So with an earn out and it was just, it was going to be an insane deal if I could have like actually done that. But ⁓ I was   Jason Hull (06:05) How large was it? How many Asians? Okay, yeah, I mean massive, yeah.   Ashton (06:24) You know, everything happens for a reason. coming off of like the adrenaline rush from that not happening, I was like, you know what? I'm just going to start my own. Why not? So that's how I started when I was 23.   Jason Hull (06:26) Yeah.   Yeah.   I mean,   starting your own brokerage at 23 doesn't sound as crazy if you were already trying to buy 200 agent brokerage. Like, I'll just, you know, step it back a little bit.   Ashton (06:49) Mm-hmm.   Yes,   let's like crawl before we run. Oh, so that was originally what I wanted to do was just build up a massive, brokerage with lots of agents. And I thought that in my head was the dream. No, for me, it was not. I had grown to about 25 agents, like roughly like steadily and kept that number for a while. I realized that I   Jason Hull (06:56) Yeah. ⁓   Yeah.   Mm-hmm.   Ashton (07:21) to not like dealing with realtors and their issues over and over and over again, every day in and day out. It became like kind of toxic to me at least. And I went through and slashed a lot of agents jobs here ⁓ because it was either performance issues, attitude issues, whatever it was, they just were not the right fit for us. I ended up keeping a core five. ⁓   Jason Hull (07:32) Yeah.   Ashton (07:47) and they are phenomenal people with good ethics and good business sense who care about their clients and represent me and my company very, very well.   Jason Hull (07:58) What do feel like gave you the clarity to make that transition? Like, did you just wake up one morning or like, I don't like a lot of these people? Or how did you get clarity on what you really want?   Ashton (08:09) ⁓ One of the things was I told my office manager, I was so frustrated one morning, I told her, said, if one more person asks me another stupid question, I am gonna lose my mind. So I was fed up, I just couldn't deal with it anymore.   Jason Hull (08:23) Okay, we're just fed up.   Yeah, yeah. So I know when, when did that fit with you joining DoorGrow? Because I know you had worked on culture and we'd helped you figure out kind of what mattered to you and like, that align with, was that before you came on board? Was that after? When did you let go of all the... Okay. You don't move slow on anything, it sounds like.   Ashton (08:45) I don't want the same time. Yeah.   I try not to. I try not to. Honestly, I feel like that's where things go to die is if you move slow.   Jason Hull (08:57) Got it, yeah, right. Okay, cool, quick action taker. So obviously a very driven personality type. ⁓ And I know the topic that we were planning to talk about today is the marriage of private equity and property management, capital meets operations. So let's get into that. Again, you have big goals, big crazy goals.   Ashton (09:05) Thank you.   Yes.   Jason Hull (09:27) that sound pretty insane to most people. But you know, the people that are bold, that have the audacity to go after these big things, achieve big things. So what are you up to now?   Ashton (09:39) Yeah, so there's actually a great book by Dr. Benjamin Hardy. He has he's written like several and I know you're a big fan of Dr. Hardy's as well. He talks about like those impossible goals and how you really should and actually that one of his latest books, The Science of Scaling, is ⁓ really spurred me to action and not just having like a 10 year time frame, but like a three year time frame. And I can condense these goals.   what I want to do kind of vaguely into really specifics and get it done now. ⁓ So yeah, I would highly recommend anybody listening to also read his books.   Jason Hull (10:20) Yeah, agreed. Phenomenal book. I got to hear him speak down in Mexico and he hadn't released his book yet. And I was with a bunch of entrepreneurs that spent a lot of money to be there. And he all just walked out of the room with their mind blown. We were all just like, ⁓ I've been thinking too small. That's why it's been so hard. And it actually gets easier to grow and scale your business when you start thinking outside of your current mental limitations, which means it has to be something unrealistic or impossible.   Ashton (10:36) Mm-hmm.   Jason Hull (10:49) So that's been a game changer. I've done some episodes talking about this, but same thing for us. Like we've got some big things we're doing this year that are probably a bit ridiculous. And I don't know if we can pull it off, but if we do, DoorGrow will be the dominant player in the industry. And I already feel like we're a leader or leader, but this will be a game changer, some of the stuff that we have planned. And I've talked about it on previous episodes, just a little bit, what we're thinking of doing.   But I think it's going to be some of these things are going to be game changer. and we've got so many irons in the fire right now, like we move fast and it's bit crazy, but that's where the fun is too, right? In business. So I'd rather be lit on fire with too many ideas than be stuck. And I've been that way before where I'm like, what should I do next? know, I work on.   Ashton (11:35) That's like   entrepreneurs worst nightmare is to be feeling stuck and feeling like I'm not moving and I'm not getting traction and I'm not accomplishing anything. That is like absolute hell for us, isn't it?   Jason Hull (11:45) Yeah.   Yeah, I usually joke that entrepreneurs don't care about being happy or sad. They care about whether they're in momentum or whether they're stuck. And when we're stuck, damned, blocked, frustrated, that is hell. That's like, that's hell for us. We're miserable. And yeah, and it kills our motivation, everything. But when we're in momentum, that's the drug we crave. We want to feel like we're making progress and moving forward. And so   I'm that drug dealer. That's what I give out to clients. Like I'm like, let's go. That's hopium. So got to give them some hope. And then they're excited and believe they can do it. But yeah, if you believe you can do something big and you've got a big vision, a big dream, yeah, you start to find new pathways. You start to find new ideas. And so you're working on some crazy stuff. So let's talk about capital meets operations. How do we marry private equity with property management? And could other property managers do this?   Ashton (12:21) You do.   Jason Hull (12:47) excited to hear.   Ashton (12:47) Yeah,   absolutely. So I started in the private equity world really recently. It was like January of this year. And I feel like I've just been drinking out of a fire hose, like learning and being in, I've just made sure to put myself in the right rooms where I'm just like absorbing knowledge and information and wisdom from people and family offices that have been doing this so much longer than I.   Jason Hull (13:13) You've been really focused on learning the private equity space, which a lot of people, that's like some crazy thing they don't really maybe even understand. They're like, oh, don't know how it works. And you decided, hey, want get in on this.   Ashton (13:25) Yeah. ⁓ go   ahead. What was that?   Jason Hull (13:30) You said, I want to get in on this and learn about this and started figuring it out. All right, I'm going to plug our sponsor real quick, who you use, Vendoroo. How's it going with Vendoroo?   Ashton (13:33) Yes. ⁓   And here's amazing. We love them. They they honestly they take care of everything. They're really good about communication. I think they're they're phenomenal. They've been a game changer for us for our day to day ops.   Jason Hull (13:54) Okay, cool. I mean, it's So let me read this and then we'll get back into the show. So many of you tell me that maintenance is probably the least enjoyable part of being a property manager and definitely the most time consuming. But what if you could cut that workload by up to 85 percent? That's exactly what Vendero has achieved. They've leveraged cutting edge AI technology to handle nearly all of your maintenance tasks from initiating work orders and troubleshooting to coordinating with vendors and reporting.   This AI doesn't just automate, it becomes your ideal employee, learning your preferences and executing tasks flawlessly, never needing a day off and never quitting. This frees you up to focus on the critical tasks that really move the needle for your business, whether that's refining operations, expanding your portfolio, or even just taking a well-deserved break. Don't let maintenance drag you down. Step up your property management game with Vendero. Visit vendero.ai slash door grow.   today and make this the last maintenance hire you'll ever need. All right, cool. So let's talk about this private equity stuff. Help me understand what it is. I'm fairly ignorant, so.   Ashton (14:59) Hmm   So basically, I mean, it's a very big term, private equity, and it can span over so many different asset classes. And I think that's one of, I'm sidetracking a little just a minute, but like, I think that's one of my favorite parts about the private equity and PE industry is because you can meet somebody in your same asset class and they're doing something totally different. Like for instance, you know, what you're teaching Jason with the property management and like these operators and entrepreneurs who are   owner operators really, you're teaching us the same framework and we're doing the same exact thing, which there's nothing wrong with that. That's great. That works. It's systemized. In private equity, it's all wild cards. There's a lot of structure to it, but at the same time, everybody can be doing something different. And you're not in competition truly because you all have your own unique spin on it. So it's cool. But what it means is that ⁓ if, so our firm,   we bring in investor capital, ⁓ either through debt or equity. And then our investors trust us. We let them know like what we're investing in. usually have like a it depends on the type of investment. So I try not to get too technical here. It depends on the type of investment, but we let them know, hey, we're investing in XYZ companies, or we're investing in hard assets with like purchasing real estate that meet these certain criteria. So instead of   these investors taking their money and putting it into the stock market, they are putting it with private firms because the stock market is the public equities. then private equity is these private individually owned firms ⁓ that I mean, you have really large ones like BlackRock and Blackstone and ⁓ all of those. And then you have a lot of small ones like myself who are just getting off the ground. We don't have a lot of assets under management yet.   But as we develop that investor base, we're just going to keep that ball rolling and continuing.   Jason Hull (17:04) Yeah, so there's booty   firms, there's gigantic ones, there's lots of different categories of asset classes that they might be involved or invested in. And so somebody can pick a private equity company or something to partner with or get involved with that kind of is involved with the asset classes that they feel comfortable.   Ashton (17:23) Yeah,   absolutely. like, there's some, ⁓ like for us, we're real estate based and specifically Florida based real estate. There's, have friends who own hedge funds and that's all they do is hedge funds and specifically in like just in gold or in like just in commodities. We, there's people who are running funds based on really specific short-term rentals or within a five mile radius of national parks. So it gets down really, really, really specific.   ⁓ Up until like you large firms with very large funds and they have a diversified asset class over You know, they have hedge funds. They they're doing running venture They're doing ⁓ you know Secondaries they're actually in like the private equity sphere there. So it just really depends on on the firm itself and you want to make sure as if there's any investors listening you want to make sure that ⁓ your you fit with   how that firm is treating your money and running your money, and that it aligns with your goals, obviously, not just monetarily, but also with what they're investing in.   Jason Hull (18:32) Right, got it. Okay. And so how can property managers start to get involved in this and create this marriage? What are you doing?   Ashton (18:43) Yeah, so we're kind of doing it a little bit backwards. Most private equity firms, they start with raising capital and then they're going out and buying the asset and then they're outsourcing their vendors. So one of those vendors being property management and that's really where the gains and losses are happening is in the daily management style there. Then they realize and typically restructure   that they could be making more money. They could be increasing their bottom lines and everything else with that management. Everything hinges on the management when you're talking like hard assets in real estate, whether that's multifamily commercial, you know, residence, whatever it is. ⁓ So when they bring it in-house, they are restructuring. And there's also been a huge problem with   Jason Hull (19:36) Yeah.   Ashton (19:41) And I've been hearing this lately, huge problem with investor capital really not being watched out for by these firms because they're outsourcing all their vendors. What we did instead is I had already have the acquisition engine through our brokerage. We've already got all the systems set up in place for our property management firms, both short and long. Now we added the private equity firm. I have a series 65. So we're actually a state registered   Jason Hull (19:51) Right.   Ashton (20:10) like investment advisory firm for true asset management on the back end, which a lot of private equity firms do not have that. And then we added the capital. So we literally just did it backwards. And now we're focused on acquiring not only hard assets with cash flowing tenant occupied portfolios that meet certain metrics. We have to have a certain   Jason Hull (20:12) Okay.   Okay.   .   Ashton (20:37) IRR, we have to have a certain cap rate and a certain cash on cash return to even peak our interest. The other thing that we're buying is property management businesses. So we are working on acquisitions right now. We just completed one last week and we've got two more in the hopper. So we are going in and offering these off-market portfolios, know, minimum 20 up to, you   We have no limit on how many we'll buy, like minimum 20 units and we want creative financing. So we want to structure the deal where the seller and the owner is holding the majority of that note. We're using investor capital for the down payment. We're saving some to hedge for ⁓ reserves and we're going in and buying these companies to add to our revenue and our to our bottom line.   Jason Hull (21:35) I love it.   Ashton (21:36) Roll   up. That's the name and the term that's used in the private equity space is roll up.   Jason Hull (21:42) Roll-up, got it. So I've seen some of these companies in the past. I had a client, he eventually exited and sold his business to Home River Group. He had like 2,000 doors. So then he was kind more of a partner in Home River Group, 30,000 eventually. And he became kind of a consultant that would come in and these roll-ups that were being done in some instances, because they did it the reverse way from what you did, they thought they could just throw money at the problem.   So they went and acquired a whole bunch of property management companies. Sometimes, like some companies would acquire like 10,000 doors. Then they would fire like 7,000 of them because they realized there was so much garbage and it was difficult to manage. And then they thought they could just put in or install a property manager in and then the business would just run. But no real leadership for the boots on the ground. And so they would bring him in as a consultant. He would go in, fire everybody.   Ashton (22:34) Mm.   Jason Hull (22:42) organize a team, build a business and act as an interim CEO till he got the thing healthy and running. And he would make a lot of money because they were losing a lot of money trying to make this work. And people don't realize how hard property management can be. And so I think, yes, property managers have an advantage because they have the hardest piece of this entire puzzle, it sounds like.   Ashton (23:05) Yeah, it definitely is because you're dealing with you're dealing with tenants, you're dealing with the day to day your you are the boots on the ground. So that is why it is so important before we started any of this, I wanted to make sure that we had the proper systems in place that we could scale 500 more doors without blinking an eye. That is where you have to have that mindset and like you have to know what's going on before adding because when you just add   doors and just think that exactly what you said add doors and thinking that that's just going to like solve your problem you're just multiplying your problem whatever problems you have at 20 doors is going to be 10 fold at a thousand doors or more so ⁓ and more just doesn't necessarily equal better and that is one reason like in our contracts we actually do have clawbacks so if we do end up getting rid of owners that just aren't a fit   our purchase price is reduced down from the seller. So it gives the seller an incentive to ensure that they're selling us a good.   Jason Hull (24:11) Got it, yeah, that's important to have all that's in any sort of acquisition deal. So for other property managers that are looking to get into private equity and they're looking at maybe starting to do this, because they're like, you know what, I've got a healthy property management company, we've got the systems in place, is there somebody that I can partner with on this that already knows how to do it or can I go and learn to do this?   What would you say between those two options and where would you send them?   Ashton (24:43) Really? It depends on the person. This isn't for everybody. know, you, what I would recommend, and this is honestly what I tell anybody, no matter what business they're in, if they're thinking about growing, where do you want to be in three years? And let's reverse engineer it from there. So if you want to, like for us, our, our plan is to roll up to about 5,500 doors and then exit. So   Jason Hull (24:45) Yeah.   Got it.   Ashton (25:12) I already knew where I wanted to be. And so like, I wanted to exit at a certain amount. So I was like, how do I get to this amount? And then I just backed it up from there. ⁓ but that's, everybody's going to have a different goal. So I would highly recommend just like starting with that initial goal. that's, if that goal is freedom, if it is like, you want to be able to exit, you want to have, you want to just run a massive company, whatever it is, start there and then figure it out backwards.   Jason Hull (25:21) Okay.   Ashton (25:41) As far as bringing on capital and investor capital, whether they want to partner with somebody or if they want to like bring on debt, that's also a comfort level thing. ⁓ And it also depends on like what you and that other person that's bringing in the capital agree to and what you both feel like is the optimal solution. But before doing that, definitely educate yourself and find someone ⁓ either as a consultant like   Right now I am doing a little bit of consulting work for ⁓ different ⁓ funds as well as like companies like, you know, like what we're doing ⁓ for, you know, to help them with what their goals are. Let's back it up and then let's go from there. And like just adding some advice and getting them in touch with the right people that they need as far as connections. Analysts, numbers are so important when you're talking with investors.   You can't just be like, I think it's going to make this an investor, especially a sophisticated one is not going to go for that. Maybe friends and family will what I call country club money, but ⁓ a sophisticated investor, absolutely not. They're going to want to see a pro forma. ⁓ So there's so many steps involved before you ever, ever, ever bring on a dime of investor capital. So.   Jason Hull (26:51) Yep.   Ashton (27:09) I'm sorry, that's not like a ⁓ space.   Jason Hull (27:10) So, well, it sounds like   the path is maybe this. Like if you're a property manager first, you got to get your side of the room clean. You got to get your business tight. You got to get operations working, maybe reach out to DoorGro, get a little help, but you got to get things really well dialed in because it doesn't make sense to go start playing with other people's money and be on the hook for other people's money and investors.   Ashton (27:20) Yes.   was not.   Jason Hull (27:36) if you don't really feel like you have the ability to scale, you don't really feel like you can handle stuff, because if once money starts flowing and doors start adding, then if your stuff is okay, it's going to be stress tested and probably not okay. So that's probably first. Next, they need to learn about private equity, figure out that game, and then even once you figure out how that all works, then you've got to get good at selling it, which you are already a natural, you know...   Ashton (27:51) Yeah, exactly.   Jason Hull (28:05) Salesperson, you've invested a lot towards figuring that out, but then you're going out and you have to raise the cap.   Ashton (28:11) Raising capital is literally one of the hardest jobs. It is insane because you want to build a relationship and you want someone to trust you, but you're also asking for a check. And so it's trying to balance the relationship aspect as well as the transactional aspect. And it's even harder as a woman because private equity is definitely, ⁓ there's not a lot of women in this field.   Jason Hull (28:32) Yeah.   Ashton (28:41) ⁓ so it's even harder being like of the opposite gender. ⁓ so there's a lot to balance there. so getting, getting comfortable asking, but not being pushy. It's that I've learned so much from.   Jason Hull (28:56) As a woman, you've had   to take maybe a more feminine approach or you go in hot the way most guys would.   Ashton (29:04) It depends on the person.   It depends on my audience. You have to sell the way somebody wants to buy. So I've learned not to, at the beginning, I was definitely very transactional. And I've learned ⁓ through a dear friend of mine that to be more relationship-based and then that will come a little bit later with the transaction. ⁓ But at the same time, because I'm like,   Jason Hull (29:11) Yeah.   Mm-hmm.   Ashton (29:32) I need to know now. Like, I don't want to waste my time. I don't want to waste their time. We just need to lay it out on the table right now. They need to know what I'm here for. ⁓ I've had to like roll that back a little bit. And since I have, the checks have been definitely coming in a little bit smoother. So it was a huge learning experience for me.   Jason Hull (29:51) Yeah.   Ashton, how old are you right now for those listening? All they've heard is 23.   Ashton (29:59) I'm 30 now.   Jason Hull (30:01) 30 now, okay, you're 30 years old, you're doing amazing things. What amount of capital are you raising right now? Like what's your goal?   Ashton (30:05) Yeah.   Yeah, so we do different like rounds or like tranches of raising and it right now we are raising for specific projects. So as the projects come up, then we go out to our current investors first and then to like new potential investors next. ⁓ So in the spring, we're about to start doing another raise for ⁓ one, a business and then two, a couple other. ⁓   real estate portfolios that I'm looking at. ⁓ So that is going to be around the $800,000 mark of capital. And typically we do like minimum commitments of 100 because when you get into smaller amounts, typically the investors that are, I just become a little bit more needy because they're only, they're not as sophisticated and we want to deal with the investors who are.   Jason Hull (31:06) Got it. Yeah, that makes sense. Very cool. Sounds like you're doing really cool things. So Ashton, for those that are listening and they're curious about you, they're curious about maybe getting into this, you mentioned you do some consulting, you mentioned there may be investors or maybe they want to get in on some of the investing stuff that you're doing. How can they get in touch with you?   Ashton (31:29) Yeah, so they can send us an email. That would be the best way to you can send it to info at FX to capital calm. ⁓ And we, you know, are one of our interns checks that email on the daily. ⁓ So then we can set up an investor call and go through really well what your goals are. What is your portfolio look like right now?   How are you diversifying yourself? And maybe we can talk about what we can do to help increase that, maybe rebalance you a little bit within the private space and in the private markets.   Jason Hull (32:06) Cool, well property managers, if you're listening, I think Ashton's definitely doing something that's very cool. A lot of you probably could get in on this or create some sort of alliance or relationships that could allow you to be part of something like this. Even if it's just you're getting doors from other people that are in the private equity space that are rolling up a bunch of investment properties, this would be easy doors for you to get on if you really could do a good job. And it sounds like that's the linchpin, that's the hardest piece of the puzzle.   And if you're a good property manager, you've got that down then. So you've got a competitive advantage. So Ashwin, I appreciate you coming on and sharing this here on the board.   Ashton (32:43) Thank you.   Yeah, that was so much fun. It was so great talking to you.   Jason Hull (32:48) Awesome, so we'll go ahead and wrap up. For those of you that are feeling stuck, stagnant, you want to take your property management business to the next level, reach out to us at doorgrow.com for a free training on how to get unlimited free leads. Text the word leads to 512-648-4608. Also join our free Facebook community. It's just for property management business owners at doorgrowclub.com. And if you want tips, tricks, ideas to learn maybe about some of our offers,   subscribe to our newsletter by going to doorgrow.com slash subscribe. And if you found this even a little bit helpful, don't forget to subscribe, leave us a review. Anything like that would really help us out. We would appreciate it. And until next time, remember, the slowest, absolute slowest path to growth is to do it alone. And you heard Ashton, she's leveraging a lot of people to do what she's doing to grow. So let's grow together. Bye everyone.

Most founders lead with the team because they're trying not to sound egotistical.But allocators aren't sitting there thinking, “Wow, great org chart.” They're thinking: “Do I understand this firm yet?”In this episode, Stacy breaks down what allocators actually want in the first meeting and why you're better off leading with a crisp origin story (even if the founder isn't in the room to tell it).Listen in to learn: How to tell the founder story without it sounding like “me, me, me”What to do when you're not the founder (or the founder isn't there)How co-founders/co-managers can stay aligned on one clear version of the storyWhere to place team so it builds trust instead of overwhelming the opener ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

Who decides which ideas get funded — and whose voices get left out? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, our host Rob sits down with Paige Hendrix Buckner, CEO of All Raise, to pull back the curtain on the world of venture capital and the inequities shaping it. From her unconventional path from teaching fourth graders to Non-profit, and startup tech leadership, Paige shares why changing who controls capital is essential to building better companies — and a healthier economy. The conversation explores the systemic barriers facing women and non-binary investors, why representation alone isn't enough, and how culture, data, and storytelling can drive real change. Paige also offers practical insights for those aspiring to break into venture capital and explains how All Raise is working to reshape the industry from the inside out. This episode is both a wake-up call and an invitation to be part of a more inclusive future in tech and investing.Feel free to follow and engage with PAIGE here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigehendrixbuckner/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paigehbuckner/X: https://x.com/PaigeHBucknerBusiness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/allraise/Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allraiseorg/Website: https://www.allraise.org/We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide.As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests.¡Cheers y gracias!,Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background06:07 The Importance of Access to Capital07:58 All Raise's Strategic Shift10:09 Paige's Leadership Philosophy13:59 The Disconnect in the Entrepreneurial Economy19:04 Women Leading Change in Venture Capital22:20 Progress and Future Goals for All Raise27:23 The Importance of Storytelling in VC31:59 All Raise: Supporting Women and Non-Binary VCs37:17 The Role of Male Allies in Venture Capital41:36 Engaging Limited Partners for Diversity50:44 Challenges in Raising Capital for Underrepresented Founders52:53 Data-Driven Insights on Diversity and Business Outcomes53:53 The Impact of Diversity on Business Outcomes55:54 Lessons from Education to Venture Capital01:04:43 Preparing for a Career in Venture Capital

Tim Bratz reveals how ownership, patience, and disciplined control turn investing into a vehicle for long-term freedom rather than stress, chaos, or short-term hustle-driven decisions.See article: https://www.unitedstatesrealestateinvestor.com/from-control-to-freedom-building-real-wealth-through-ownership-with-tim-bratz/(00:00) - Introduction to The REI Agent Podcast(00:30) - Welcoming Tim Bratz to the Show(01:00) - Tim Bratz Elevator Pitch and Real Estate Background(02:25) - Raising Capital and Balancing Deal Flow(03:38) - Early Career Lessons From Commercial Brokerage(04:28) - Discovering the Power of Residual Income(05:27) - Why Long-Term Holding Builds Real Wealth(06:00) - Leaving New York and Relocating to Charleston(07:15) - Entering Real Estate During the Financial Collapse(08:45) - Learning Creative Financing and Off-Market Deals(09:53) - First Multifamily Purchase and Market Fear(11:10) - Why Cheap Deals Were Risky at the Time(12:26) - Interest Rates, Insurance, and Market Headwinds(14:05) - The Hidden Damage of Poor Property Management(16:27) - Why NOI Control Drives Property Value(18:40) - Understanding Cap Rates and Income Valuation(21:05) - How Expense Increases Destroy Valuations(24:10) - Why Multifamily Opportunities Are Emerging Again(26:38) - Scaling Effects of Small Rent Changes(28:30) - Passive Investing Through Syndications Explained(31:45) - Limited Partner Benefits and Preferred Returns(35:06) - Tax Advantages for Real Estate Professionals(39:02) - Using a Spouse to Qualify as a Real Estate Professional(41:23) - Retirement Accounts vs Active Capital(43:06) - Golden Nugget Mindset for Investors(45:37) - Recommended Book and Life Philosophy(47:22) - How to Connect With Tim Bratz(48:28) - Closing Remarks and Podcast OutroContact Tim Bratzhttps://legacywealthholdings.com/https://youtube.com/@LegacyWealthOwnership changes everything. When you stop chasing deals and start building control, wealth becomes calmer, clearer, and sustainable. Take ownership of your future and visit https://reiagent.comIs success destroying your peace? Most pros grind until they break. Download The Investor's Life Balance Sheet: A Holistic Wealth Audit to see if you are building a legacy or heading for burnout. Presented by The REI Agent Podcast & United States Real Estate Investor® https://sendfox.com/lp/m4jrl

If your meeting goes off the rails, it's not because your prospects are “unruly.” It's because no one's driving.And with the right moves, you can take the wheel fast without making it weird.In this episode, Stacy breaks down how to prevent unhelpful tangents before you ever walk in the room (hello, champion prep call) and what to do in real time when someone hijacks the conversation.Listen in to learn how to:Prep with your champion so you walk in knowing who's who in the zoo (and who might go rogue)Use a simple meeting prep doc so everyone stays aligned on the goal, flow, and rolesRedirect tangents — whether they come from the prospect or your fund manager — without anyone feeling embarrassed (we don't kick people under the table around here) Be the Jimmy Fallon of the meeting who breaks the ice and keeps things moving without making it awkward sauce This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

Ever felt the urge to tidy up your story before sharing it? You scan the room, see the impressive bios and the blazers, and think: “Oof... maybe I should skip that part.”You're not wrong for feeling that way, and you're definitely not the only one.In this episode, Stacy opens up about her London panel debut, where she felt that pull to edit out the messy parts of her story on the fly. She's explaining why she chose to dig in her heels and tell the raw version, even though it was nerve-racking (and why she recommends you do the same). Listen in to learn: Why you shouldn't prepare multiple versions of your story, pitch, or deck for different crowds How to adjust your story to fit the room without sacrificing authenticity and clarity The “still me, just work-me” approach that will help you tweak your delivery without losing the vulnerable parts of your story that make you memorable This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

Most entrepreneurs know how to sell a product, but struggle when it's time to raise capital. In this episode, Dan Kennedy sits down with attorney and entrepreneur Larry Pino to cover what business owners need to know before approaching investors, lenders, or even family and friends. Larry breaks down the practical and legal realities of capital raising: The difference between 506b and 506c offerings, when crowdfunding makes sense, and how to structure your pitch to be taken seriously. Whether you're raising your first round or closing your next deal, this conversation delivers the strategic moves that separate funded founders from wishful thinkers. Note: This conversation was originally recorded in 2015. Laws and regulations may have changed. This episode is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified attorney or financial professional before making legal or investment decisions. MagneticMarketing.com NoBSLetter.com

Venture capital sounds flashy — but what is it really, and who is it actually for? In this episode, we sit down with Mark Phillips, Founder and Managing Partner at 11 Tribes Ventures, to break down venture capital in plain language.Mark explains what venture capital is (and what it isn't), when raising money makes sense, when it doesn't, and why giving up ownership too early can be a costly mistake. This is a must-listen for founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners curious about scaling the right way.Topics CoveredWhat venture capital actually is (without the jargon)The difference between investors, angel investors, and venture capitalWhen raising capital makes sense — and when it doesn'tWhy raising money isn't the same as business successHow venture capital firms evaluate founders and businessesWhat “scalability” really meansThe importance of timing when raising capitalWhy equity is more valuable than most founders realizeAbout Our GuestMark Phillips is the Founder and Managing Partner of 11 Tribes Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in founders and businesses poised for exponential growth. Mark works closely with entrepreneurs to help them scale responsibly and intentionally.Level Up Labs Event InfoThis conversation is part of Level Up Labs, a four-hour, in-person workshop built to help entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders level up how they grow and lead.

If you're still following the traditional sales funnel framework in 2026, your firm's growth is sure to stall. Because the “inverted triangle” view of a funnel is oversimplified, and it's starting to feel like the fundraising version of that tired investment process slide that makes everyone want to poke their eyes out. It flops because not everyone in your funnel needs the same thing, and “just checking in” isn't a follow-up strategy that actually moves people forward.That's why in this episode, Stacy's breaking down what actually works to keep your funnel healthy.Listen in to learn:  • Why the funnel isn't a simple inverted triangle (and what it really looks like in practice) • What people at the top, middle, and bottom of the funnel actually need from you • The real job of the middle of the funnel (and why most teams ignore it) • Why filling the top of the funnel is harder than closing deals  • Creative ways to get in front of new prospects (without spammy outreach) • Why LinkedIn works so well for this when you share the right kind of content This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

In this conversation, Nicholas McGrue, founder of Polymath Legal, discusses his journey in helping real estate investors navigate the complexities of capital raising. He shares insights on entrepreneurship, the importance of relationships in business, and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. The conversation highlights the evolution of his firm, the significance of curiosity and strategic thinking, and the challenges faced in the legal landscape of real estate investment.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

Richard McGirr interviews Brent Neely about how he quietly acquired over $25 million in real estate before ever formally raising outside capital—and why he's now preparing to bring investors into his deals. Brent shares how profits from multiple successful e-commerce businesses were rapidly redeployed into real estate, the advantages of leveraging an existing business-owner network, and why one-on-one conversations drove nearly $2M in soft commitments in just 45 days. The discussion dives deep into early-stage capital raising strategy, building trust through education and transparency, and why starting with smaller, oversubscribed raises creates long-term momentum. The episode offers a practical blueprint for operators transitioning from self-funded investing to scalable capital raising. Brent NeelyCurrent role: Founder, Neely Property InvestmentsBased in: OregonSay hi to them at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-neely/ | https://www.neelypi.com/about Visit ⁠www.tribevestisc.com⁠ for more info. Visit bestevercrypto.com today to get started and earn up to $2,500 in bonus crypto. Try QUO for free PLUS get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to quo.com/BESTEVER  Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Rinderknecht, co-founder of Cowboy Capital, shares how he built a 419-unit portfolio in just 12 months — focusing on overlooked markets like Montana and Idaho. In this episode, he opens up about past deals that went sideways, how he turned hard lessons into smarter investing, and why brutal honesty is the key to raising capital that lasts. We dig into: Why cap rates and price-per-door don't scare him Structuring smart JV deals with family offices Vetting partners before the paperwork And the underrated importance of solid asset management If you've ever raised money, managed deals, or made mistakes — this episode is for you. Get Interviewed on the Show! - ================================== Are you a real estate investor with some 'tales from the trenches' you'd like to share with our audience? Want to get great exposure and be seen as a bonafide real estate pro by your friends? Would you like to inspire other people to take action with real estate investing? Then we'd love to interview you! Find out more and pick the date here: http://daveinterviewsyou.com/ #multifamilyinvesting #realestatecapitalraising

Good morning, afternoon, and evening, everybody! Happy Money Monday! Scott Carson here, finally shaking off that flu (mostly!) and ready to kick off 2026 by tackling a question I get constantly: "How do I raise private capital when I've only got $19?" This isn't about wishing for a magic cheat code or waiting for Moby Dick to show up with a half-billion-dollar fund. This episode is about the real, raw, mental game of raising money, and how to pump up those "money muscles" (yes, I like that hashtag!).I dove into the AI well (Chatbot, Gemini, all the cool kids) to get the straight goods on the top 10 marketing strategies for attracting private money. But let's be real, folks: these tools mean squat if you're not playing the mental game right. Stop being a "wallflower" at events or thinking you're "begging for money." You're offering opportunity, and it's time to act like it!Here's your no-nonsense guide to pumping up your private capital:Conquer the "Mental Money Block": Ditch the fear of "begging" and embrace the fact you're offering opportunity. Remember the "80% of sales after the fifth contact" rule – consistency, not desperation, wins!The AI-Approved Marketing Arsenal: Get the top 10 strategies (straight from the internet's brain!) for attracting investors: from compelling pitch decks and one-page summaries to killer case studies and targeted email newsletters.Your Email List is Your Gold Mine: Why owning your audience through your email database and an investor newsletter (like LinkedIn's, which hits their inbox!) is your most valuable asset, far more reliable than fickle social media platforms.ABM (Always Be Marketing) & Momentum: Learn why consistent daily/weekly marketing activities – whether it's short videos, email blasts, or networking – are crucial. You can't build "money muscles" by only hitting the gym once a month!Networking Ain't a Spectator Sport: Stop hiding! Show up at local investor clubs, ask questions, and be ready with your pitch deck. Investors fund people they know, like, and trust, not anonymous logos or people glued to their phones in the corner.This isn't about an overnight transformation (unless you "cut a leg off" to lose 50lbs!). It's about consistent action. If you want different results in 2026, you gotta do different things. And guess what? Most of you are smarter and more educated than 99% of people out there – so start sharing your "gold" (deal flow, expertise)! Don't let your "perfect" stand in the way of "delivered."If you're ready to get off the sidelines and into the game, join me at our upcoming workshop (notebuyingfordummies.com) or book a call (talkwithscottcarson.com). Let's make 2026 your most profitable year!#PrivateCapital #RealEstateInvesting #NoteInvesting #CapitalRaising #InvestorMarketing #AIMarketing #FinancialFreedom #Networking #Podcast #MoneyMuscles #PitchDeck #EmailMarketing #ConsistencyWatch the Original VIDEO HERE!Book a Call With Scott HERE!Sign up for the next FREE One-Day Note Class HERE!Sign up for the WCN Membership HERE!Sign up for the next Note Buying For Dummies Workshop HERE!Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here's How »Join the Note Closers Show community today:WeCloseNotes.comThe Note Closers Show FacebookThe Note Closers Show TwitterScott Carson LinkedInThe Note Closers Show YouTubeThe Note Closers Show VimeoThe Note Closers Show InstagramWe Close Notes Pinterest

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey Baugh sits down with Dave Checketts, the youngest president in NBA history and former CEO of Madison Square Garden. From saving bankrupt franchises to leading iconic sports organizations, Dave shares the defining moments that shaped his career and his character.This conversation goes far beyond headlines and trophies. Dave opens up about faith, injustice, loss, and the unseen preparation behind opportunity. He reflects on how early rejection fueled resilience, how mentorship changed the trajectory of his life, and why building “championship culture” matters more than talent or capital alone.Now operating in private equity after decades in the global sports spotlight, Dave explains why influence without attention has become more fulfilling than power with a platform. This is a rare masterclass on leadership, readiness, and building a life of meaning long after the applause fades.⏱️ Episode Chapters00:00 | Admiration, Sports, and a Life in Leadership03:35 | Growing Up in Bountiful & Learning to Hustle Early08:34 | Rejection, Injustice, and Missing High School Basketball12:20 | Turning Setbacks into Fuel for Growth15:25 | Making the BYU Basketball Team Against the Odds20:14 | Faith, Obedience, and a Defining Spiritual Promise24:19 | Why That One Year of College Basketball Mattered28:19 | Ambition at 70 and Never Being Finished30:48 | Business School, Bain, and Early Career Acceleration35:27 | Clayton Christensen, Mentorship, and Consulting41:31 | Helping Danny Ainge and Entering Pro Sports47:26 | Walking into the NBA Office Unannounced52:58 | Sparring with David Stern—and Earning His Trust57:09 | Why the Celtics Deal Fell Apart59:17 | Being Chosen to Save the Utah Jazz at 2701:02:42 | Championship Culture vs. Winning Culture01:09:14 | Painful Partnerships and Hard Lessons01:16:21 | Tragedy, Loss, and Perspective01:20:04 | Faith, Gratitude, and the Experiences You Wouldn't Choose01:22:14 | Raising Capital to Save the Jazz01:27:00 | Legacy Beyond Sports and the Spotlight Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You thought you nailed the meeting. The conversation went well, heads were nodding, and everyone seemed engaged. Then you followed up with a thoughtful email and… crickets.Or maybe you got hit with the four words every fund manager dreads hearing: "We'll watch you."Most people take either of those as signals to retreat and move on. But what if they're actually something else entirely?In this episode, Stacy explains why hearing "no" (or radio silence) doesn't always mean your deal is dead. She's also sharing the high school soccer philosophy that changed how she handles rejection in sales, plus the exact move that turned a "we'll watch you" into a $50 million yes.In this episode, you'll learn:What "maybe" really means and why it's probably not what you thinkHow to spark the honest conversation that could actually save the dealA meeting-prep strategy that helps you avoid ghosting before it ever happensThis is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

Scaling a startup into a national or international brand is rarely clean, predictable, or glamorous.Recorded live at the Festival of Entrepreneurs, this panel brings together founders who have scaled in very different industries but faced the same uncomfortable decisions along the way. From compliance and capital to branding, product reality, and investor relationships, this conversation focuses on what actually holds when growth accelerates.Guests:Mark Rushmore, Co-founder of SURI Laura Fullerton, Founder of monk Claire Warner, Co-founder of Aecorn Melissa Snover, Founder of Remedy Health & Nourished Jeannette Linfoot, Host of Brave Bold Brilliant (moderator)In this episode, you'll learn:Why compliance and financial clarity cannot be delayedWhen rebuilding is the real growth decisionHow to think about scale before demand explodesWhat raising capital really looks like in tougher marketsIf you are building something you want to last, this episode will help you see scale more clearly.

Send us a textIn this exclusive billionaire fireside chat, Richard C. Wilson sits down with Grant Cardone to talk about cash, scale, real estate, and why he's now blending apartment cash flow with Bitcoin liquidity.From taking a $350M Boca Raton asset out of bankruptcy from Blackstone, to raising $1.8B+ in equity directly from investors instead of Wall Street, Grant walks through how he thinks about capital, risk, and building a portfolio designed to last decades.What you'll learn:

What does it take to lose everything… and rebuild stronger than ever?

You made it to the final investor meeting again. You were sure this one was yours because your pitch was on point (no surprise, given that you rehearsed every line). But still... no deal.What gives? Why are you always the bridesmaid but never the bride? In this episode, Stacy is breaking down why so many fund managers find themselves stuck in this frustrating loop. Listen in to learn: Why trying to win allocators over in the last round is a losing gameThe kind of meeting prep that actually pays off (hint: it doesn't involve you rehearsing lines for hours in the mirror)How to make your message land without over-explaining and putting everyone in the room to sleep Why the final few minutes of your meeting are crucial and the secret sauce to standing out with your closing This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

Send us a textWhat separates the enduring capital raisers from the ones who fade?In this candid exchange, the panelists share their most painful lessons, from misaligned partners and unrealistic timelines to communication breakdowns.An honest roadmap for founders learning how to build sustainable trust under pressure.This clip was taken from the Niche Investment Strategies Panel, filmed live at our Family Office Club Super Summit.To become part of our investor community — with 30 nationwide events a year, 10,000 registered investors, and 40 proprietary AI tools — visit https://FamilyOffices.com#Entrepreneurship #InvestorLessons #CapitalRaising #Leadership #FamilyOfficeClubhttps://familyoffices.com/

Hey Entrepreneurs! In this episode, I couldn't help but feel a little competitive (in a good way, obviously!). I welcomed a real heavy-hitter: Scott Kelly, founder of Black Dog Venture Partners and the man who has facilitated an astonishing $5 BILLION in capital for businesses. He's got me beat by $3 billion!

If you're like most founders, “creating a yearly business plan” is one of those tasks you keep bumping to the bottom of your to-do list. Maybe you tell yourself you'll get to it when things slow down, but they never do. And before you know it, you're steamrolling into the new year without a plan, which leads to overthinking every single decision and drowning in busy work. And somehow you end the year wondering how you were so busy… without feeling like you moved the needle at all. Stacy doesn't want that to be your reality at the end of 2026. That's why today, she's walking through the exact planning framework she uses with clients inside her membership, The Boutique Investment Collective.In this episode, she covers:How to set a 10-year “10-bagger” goal that feels exciting and directional (not something that makes you freeze or avoid the plan altogether)Her process for breaking big annual goals into quarterly focuses you can realistically carry while still running a business (and a life)Why it's time to stop using AUM as your only scorecardHow to get clear on what's in your control, what isn't, and where you're wasting energy trying to force outcomesThe mistake that's making your sales harder than they should be (and how to streamline your sales process in 2026)  ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

In this episode of the Real Estate Pros Podcast, host Michelle Kesil interviews Chris Lento, founder of EM Capital, who shares his journey into multifamily real estate investing. Chris discusses the importance of strategic partnerships, the process of raising capital, and how AI is transforming the industry. He also reflects on challenges faced in real estate and offers valuable advice for new investors.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

In this episode of The Academy Presents: Real Estate Investing Rocks, Angel sits down with seasoned capital-raising and wealth management expert Edmund Chien to break down what truly drives successful investor relationships. With over 20 years of experience across private equity, family offices, and estate planning,From navigating rejection and emotional burnout to mastering consultative sales and investor communication, this conversation is packed with mindset shifts and practical strategies for new, stuck, and seasoned real estate investors alike. If you want to raise capital without feeling salesy, build long-term trust, and position yourself as a confident leader in the room, this episode delivers.

In this episode, Kim Lisa Taylor and Krisha Young discuss the most common issues startup founders and real estate sponsors encounter when preparing to raise capital — often before they realize anything is wrong. They break down how early decisions around structure, compliance, and investor strategy can significantly impact a raise, and why misunderstandings around securities laws frequently create problems later. The conversation emphasizes the importance of getting the legal foundation right from the start to protect both issuers and their investors.Kim and Krisha also walk through how a thoughtful, phased evaluation can help sponsors move forward with clarity and confidence. Drawing from their experience structuring hundreds of offerings, they explain how proper planning can preserve flexibility, avoid costly revisions, and keep momentum strong throughout the capital-raising process. Whether you're raising for a startup or a real estate deal, this episode offers practical insight into building a compliant, scalable path forward before accepting investor funds.

Everyone loves a success story, but what we don't talk about enough is what it costs to get there.And what it's like before the money is wired or anyone cares. Before all of that, there was a guy with a phone, a thesis, and a long list of people telling him no.That guy was Cole Wilcox.In this episode, Stacy Havener sits down with Cole, CEO & CIO of Longboard Asset Management, to talk about what it really takes to build an investment firm when you don't start with pedigree, proximity, or institutional backing, just conviction and the willingness to keep going when quitting feels rational.In this episode, you'll hear:How one cold call turned into Longboard's first $5M Why founder-led fundraising is unavoidable in the early years, no matter how strong your strategy isWhat it feels like to hear “call me at $100M”… and then hear it again at $1BHow surviving multiple market crises permanently reshaped Cole's relationship with riskThe moment Longboard nearly shut down, and the structural pivot that kept the firm aliveThe real cost of broken partnerships (and why people issues end more firms than markets)What resilience actually looks like when walking away feels like the logical moveWhy staying power might be the most underrated edge a founder hasMore About Cole:Cole Wilcox, Chief Investment Officer at Longboard, has specialized in trend following investment strategies for over 20 years. As a co-author of award-winning research, he has been profiled in bestselling investment books, featured in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Bloomberg, and is a frequent guest on popular podcasts. Cole leads a highly accomplished team at Longboard, delivering innovative, low-correlation investment strategies that leverage trend following to capture market opportunities. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

“Be authentic.” “Own your story.” “Sharpen your edges.”We say these things at Havener Capital all the time (and Stacy says them a lot). But here's the real question: do they actually move the needle?Mike Denklau, founder of Dorset Agriculture, is here to tell you they do. Today, he's giving us a behind-the-scenes look at what happens when you stop code-switching… and start building from your real story.Before launching Dorset, Mike was part of Harvard's endowment, helping manage a $4B+ agriculture and timber portfolio. Long before that, he was an Iowa farm kid. The journey from flannel in the fields to fund meetings in Boston is full of lessons for any founder navigating identity, fundraising, and first-time firm-building.Here's what you'll hear in this episode:How a kid from Iowa ended up managing billions at Harvard and how that full-circle moment sparked Dorset's launchThe overlooked opportunity in ag investing most firms ignore (and where meaningful, steady alpha may actually be hiding)How Mike landed his first investor without a pitch and without trading his comfy flannel in for a stiff suit to fit in Why boutique founders need to stop hiding behind polish and let LPs see the messy middle (because that's where conviction is built)What early-stage fundraising actually feels like and how to keep going when the uncertainty feels personal and loudThis isn't just a story about agriculture. It's a case study in what happens when you own your different, build what the market didn't even know it needed, and let your backstory do what it does best: open doors that fitting in never could. More about Mike Denklau: Mike was born into a third-generation farming family and raised on a farm in Iowa. He has 14+ years of investment and finance experience and was involved with $8B+ of transactions.Prior to Dorset, Mike was an agriculture investor at Solum Partners and Harvard Management Company. Previously, Mike held investment and investment banking roles at Hudson Advisors, Barclays, and Lehman Brothers.Mike earned a MBA and JD from Northwestern University and a BBA in Finance and a BS in Political Science from the University of Iowa. Mike is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.Mike enjoys golf, skiing, and Hawkeye football. He currently lives in Boston with his wife, two children, and golden retriever. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

Send us a textUnlock Proven Strategies for a Lucrative Business Exit—Subscribe to The Deep Wealth Podcast TodayHave Questions About Growing Profits And Maximizing Your Business Exit? Submit Them Here, and We'll Answer Them on the Podcast!“Calm down, it's OK, you've got this. You can do it, it will be OK.”- Sherwood NeissExclusive Insights from This Week's EpisodesWhat if the fastest path to raising capital has nothing to do with VCs, banks, or traditional gatekeepers? Sherwood “Woodie” Neiss helped write the law that unlocked billions in previously inaccessible funding, and in this explosive conversation he exposes the hidden playbook founders can use right now to raise capital directly from their communities.02:15 How Woodie went from Wall Street to Silicon Valley11:00 Why your customers may be your most powerful investors13:30 The fight to modernize 1933 securities laws22:00 The shock rise of healthcare and biotech in crowdfunding24:15 How investors become strategic partners28:00 The step-by-step of working with Crowdfund Capital Advisors31:00 What the algorithm revealed about VC follow-on rounds35:00 The Crowdfundomics equation explained42:00 Simple actions founders can take in the next 90 days43:00 Why today's capital markets are shifting faster than everClick here for full show notes, transcript, and resources:https://podcast.deepwealth.com/499Essential Resources to Maximize Your Business ExitLearn More About Deep Wealth MasteryFREE Deep Wealth eBook on Why You Suck At Selling Your Business And What You Can Do AboutUnlock Your Lucrative Exit and Secure Your Legacy

What does it take to build a biotech company without burning billions—or losing your conviction? In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Felicia Shakiba sits down with Dr. Shalabh Gupta, Founder & CEO of Unicycive Therapeutics, a physician-turned-Wall-Street-analyst who built and took a biotech company public in a way few ever do. Dr. Gupta shares how he raised $150M+ in public markets, went public with just one employee, and scaled to FDA submission readiness with only 22 people—all without relying on traditional Silicon Valley venture capital. This conversation unpacks what real CEO discipline looks like in one of the most unforgiving industries in the world—and what leaders in any industry can learn from it. You'll learn: • Why great CEOs start with the problem—not the product • How to scale a capital-intensive business with radical focus • Why FDA alignment is a leadership skill, not a regulatory hurdle • How public-market thinking changes founder decision-making • What investors actually look for in CEO credibility and trust Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Unisysive Therapeutics 04:27 Innovative Approach to Biotech 07:55 Understanding the Biotech Landscape 10:39 Transition from Medicine to Wall Street 14:08 Lessons from Genentech 19:46 Building a Company Alone 22:47 The Importance of Networking 27:00 Engaging with the FDA 30:57 Raising Capital in Biotech 41:58 Navigating Investor Relationships This episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership, capital discipline, and building companies that last. — Subscribe to CPO PLAYBOOK for more conversations at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and capital strategy: https://www.cpoplaybook.com/newsletter Need support scaling leadership or culture? Let's talk: https://www.cpoplaybook.com/contact-us

HSBC Innovations is the global bank's financing arm for American and European startups, especially in the healthcare and life sciences industries. The bank's semi-annual Venture Healthcare Reports document trends in the investment market.Key Tech's Andy Rogers welcomes the report's author, HSBC Innovation Managing Director Jon Norris in Episode 43 of the MedTech Speed to Data podcast.Need to know·       Four core market segments — HSBC Innovation's Venture Healthcare Reports cover investments and exits in Biopharma, Dx/Tools, Med Device, and Healthtech.·       Sourcing investment data — Norris enriches Pitchbook data with additional structure and analyses, making the report more relevant to these market segments.·       Sourcing exit data — Norris supplements media and industry publications with market research and conversations with industry leaders.·       An investment data tapestry — The reports provide “an honest picture of what's going on in the market” so investors and innovators alike “can make targeted smart decisions.”The nitty-grittyAndy and Norris discuss the investment market's recent history before exploring drivers of today's investment headwinds.“2021 was a record-setting year,” Norris recalls. “Every record that could be set for deals and dollars was set across all the sectors.” Things changed in 2022 as new BioTech IPOs struggled, prompting investment reprioritizations.“VCs had done all these… frothy valuations,” Norris says. “They had to go back and look at their own portfolios and say, does this company have enough capital? How do you want to put money to work?”Investments rebounded in 2024, but not the number of deals. Investors poured money into their existing portfolios to boost their exit chances, resulting in today's nine-figure megadeals.“Basically, they're smooshing two rounds together and extending the investors coming in to support that round,” Norris says.Headwinds stiffened in 2025 as tariffs, a more litigious competitive space, and other factors amplified business uncertainty.Norris attributes this progression to the psychology of venture capital. “When you think about what makes these folks tick,” Norris explains, “they want to continue to raise new venture funds because they get paid management fees. But in order to raise their new venture funds, they have to show their investors that they've actually gotten returns.”That means reaching an acquisition or IPO. “They're very focused on getting to exit right now. That's why they're so focused on their existing portfolio. And because of that, they haven't been doing as many new investments.”New investments still happen, of course, but the criteria have changed. “While the dollars are actually up in some of these sectors, especially Med Device,” Norris says, “you're seeing that being put to work on later-stage deals because they'd rather get a shorter time to exit.”Data that made the difference:Norris' insights from the HSBC Venture Healthcare Report let him advise startups fighting today's investment headwinds.Adopt a megaround mentality. “Series B has been extremely difficult,” Norris says. “[Raising] sub two million, that's one thing. But if you're looking to raise five million, it's almost better to raise twelve.”Find investors outside the mainstream. “Traditional venture investors don't want to write small checks.” Norris sees angel groups, innovation centers, and other small investors funding these early rounds.Explore acquisition exits, but be careful. “On the device side, most of the corporates have been pretty darn active,” Norris says. However, some litigate to block emerging competition, especially in the Dx/Tools sector. Norris' recommends researching potential acquirers before taking meetings.Download the HSBC Venture Healthcare Report for Norris' complete analysis, and watch the video below for insights into the Medical Device and Dx/Tools sectors, AI's role in MedTech, and more.

Brianna K Hunter transformed her life through courage, mentorship, and strategic investing, revealing an inspiring path toward personal freedom and long-term success. This one's for anyone willing to take bold action.See full article: https://www.unitedstatesrealestateinvestor.com/creating-your-path-to-rising-toward-a-bigger-life-with-brianna-k-hunter/(00:00) - Welcome Back to The REI Agent with Guest Brianna K. Hunter(00:09) - Warm Weather Banter and San Diego Backdrop(00:24) - Brianna Shares Her Current Focus in Multifamily Investing(00:47) - How Brianna Entered Real Estate and Bought Her First Property in College(03:03) - Growing Up in Connecticut and Early Success as an Agent(03:26) - House Hack Beginnings and Using FHA to Buy a Duplex(04:10) - Hands On Renovations and Learning Construction Skills(05:00) - Cash Flowing as a College Student During the COVID Market Shift(06:45) - Mindset, Risk, and Listening to Mentors Instead of Naysayers(07:43) - Appreciation of Duplex Cash Flow and Challenges of Today's Rates(08:16) - Dropping Out of College to Pursue Real Estate Full Time(09:36) - Transition from Neurobiology to Psychology and Human Development(10:02) - Mattias and Brianna Discuss College Value and ROI(11:06) - Education, Drive, and Why Degrees Don't Guarantee Success(12:38) - Scaling as an Agent and Working with Investors(13:54) - Outgrowing Connecticut and Preparing for the Next Big Life Move(15:12) - Brianna's Grandmother Inspires a Cross Country Leap to San Diego(16:21) - Moving to California with No Job and Starting Over Completely(16:31) - Selling Her First Investment Property and Leveraging the Equity(17:19) - Apartment Hunting Without a Job and Signs of Alignment(18:06) - Day One Hustle: Printing Resumes and Knocking Doors in San Diego(19:11) - Landing a Restaurant Job and Transitioning into an Investment Company(20:45) - Learning Fix and Flip, Acquisitions, and Leadership From Mentors(21:05) - Jumping Into Multifamily Syndication and Working for Herself(21:58) - Syndicating Across Multiple States and Market Differences(22:06) - Value Add Investing and Stabilizing Properties in Three to Five Years(23:00) - The Long Term Equity Play in High Value Markets Like San Diego(23:33) - Brianna's Role in Raising Capital and Managing Investor Relations(24:24) - Becoming a General Partner and Vetting Opportunities for Investors(24:46) - The Alignment Between Agents and Syndications Explained(26:37) - Mattias' Personal Example of Depreciation and Syndication Returns(28:19) - Compounding Wealth, Bonus Depreciation, and Using a Self Directed IRA(30:02) - Cap Rates, Forced Equity, and How Operators Add Value(31:17) - Market Risks, Bridge Loans, and Why Understanding the Deal Matters(33:50) - Accredited vs Sophisticated Investors and Understanding Risk(35:38) - Golden Nugget: Lean on Mentors and Ask Questions Relentlessly(36:23) - The Importance of Your Circle and Surrounding Yourself With the Right People(37:30) - Current Reads: Free a Lot of Power and Personal Growth(38:14) - Where Listeners Can Connect With Brianna Online(39:15) - Closing Thanks and Final Messages From Mattias and EricaContact Brianna K. Hunterhttps://www.facebook.com/briannaKhunter/https://www.instagram.com/briannakayh/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-kay-hunter-598b71380/https://www.tiktok.com/@briannakayh https://www.zillow.com/profile/Brianna%20K%20HunterThank you for joining us today. Brianna's journey proves that your next level begins the moment you choose courage over comfort and take action toward the life you want. For more powerful stories and tools to grow your future, visit https://reiagent.com

In this industry, everyone talks about innovation. But innovation rarely starts in a conference room. It starts when a client hits a wall. When they're overwhelmed, under pressure, or staring at an opportunity they can't quite reach alone.That's where Ultimus Fund Solutions steps in. This team doesn't just throw tech at the problem. They roll up their sleeves, pick up the phone, and build real solutions, side by side with their clients.In this episode, you'll hear what that actually looks like:A multi-billion-dollar RIA streamlining 400+ SMAs and mutual funds into a single ETF that's now at $1.2B and climbingA $20B alternatives manager slashing launch time nearly in half with Ultimus GatewayA private credit strategy that didn't exist until Amanda's team built it, piece by pieceA middle office crew turning “random one-off asks” into a well-oiled machineA data team translating challenging requests into crystal-clear, decision-ready KPIsIf you've ever wondered what a true partnership feels like in financial services, this is your peek behind the curtain.More About Ultimus:Ultimus Fund Solutions delivers fund servicing, middle and back office support, and one-of-a-kind solutions across ETFs, mutual funds, private funds, and alternatives, with real people who actually listen, collaborate, and deliver.Learn more at billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus

John Azar breaks down today's capital markets, why deals are failing, and how to raise money, communicate with investors, and scale a commercial real estate fund.In this episode of RealDealChat, Jack Hoss sits down with John Azar, founder of Peak 15 Capital, to discuss the real state of capital markets, the rise of distressed commercial assets, and what operators must do to survive today's environment.John shares his origin story—from structured finance at Morgan Stanley to launching multiple companies, navigating the 2008 crisis, and ultimately raising and managing large funds. He explains the differences between today's market and 2008, why liquidity isn't the problem this time, and why underwriting is causing widespread defaults across multifamily and commercial assets.John also breaks down how to start raising capital, the difference between syndications and funds, where he's seeing the best opportunities (including flex industrial and ground-up development), and why transparent communication is the #1 rule of investor relations.He also covers how he uses AI and automation to save time while still keeping the personal touch required in private equity.What You'll LearnWhy defaults are rising in CRE (and why it's NOT the properties)The biggest difference between 2008 and todayHow to start raising money the right waySyndication vs. fund structures—and when to use eachWhy flex industrial and development deals are trendingHow to spot distressed opportunities in today's marketHow to scale from being the operator to being a fund managerThe crucial role of communication in investor trustHow AI tools save time but can't replace relationshipsWhat Peak 15 Capital is investing in next

Send us a text"RAISE CAPITAL LIKE A LEGEND: https://go.fundraisecapital.co/frc2-apply"Why do some fund managers and startup founders close oversubscribed fundraising rounds in days, while others chase investors for months with nothing but "maybes"? The secret to raising capital successfully is not just your IRR, deck, or data room—it's mastering The Fundraise Formula.In this powerful episode of Making Billions, host Ryan Miller reveals the simple yet universal law that dictates every successful private equity deal, venture capital round, and alternative asset raise: Trust multiplied by the Transaction.Stop chasing capital and start making capital chase you. This masterclass is essential viewing for fund managers, General Partners (GPs), Limited Partners (LPs), deal syndicators, venture capitalists, angel investors, and startup founders who are serious about scaling their businesses and building their financial empire.Download The Fundraise Capital Diagnostic Tool—the private framework Ryan uses to score a deal's investor perception—and change the way you raise capital forever: go.fundraisecapital.co/thefundraiseformulaSubscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTOe79EXLDsROQ0z3YLnu1QQConnect with Ryan Miller:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcmiller1/Instagram: https://Support the showDISCLAIMER: The information in every podcast episode “episode” is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. By listening or viewing our episodes, you understand that no information contained in the episodes should be construed as legal or financial advice from the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal, financial, or tax counsel on any subject matter. No listener of the episodes should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through, the episodes without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer, finance, tax, or other licensed person in the recipient's state, country, or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction. No part of the show, its guests, host, content, or otherwise should be considered a solicitation for investment in any way. All views expressed in any way by guests are their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the show or its host(s). The host and/or its guests may own some of the assets discussed in this or other episodes, including compensation for advertisements, sponsorships, and/or endorsements. This show is for entertainment purposes only and should not be used as financial, tax, legal, or any advice whatsoever.

In this episode of Founder Talk, Alex Iannessa, founder of EnRoads Paving, shares the real story behind going from zero to eight figures in under four years. Alex breaks down how he took a side-door industry path, from laborer, to sales, to founder, and how he used relationships, reputation, and relentless consistency to build a national parking lot management company during a time when most businesses were slowing down.We get into the sacrifices no one sees:The 12-hour days.Moving back in with his parents.Losing relationships.Starting with nothing but a laptop, a cell phone, and blind trust from family investors.Alex also dives into the skilled trades crisis and why society pushed kids into college debt, how that narrative is breaking down, and why the next generation is rediscovering the opportunity and wealth inside blue-collar America. He explains how EnRoads found its competitive edge by bridging the gap between the boardroom and the jobsite, and why trust, humility, and showing up authentically beat any sales tactic.We talk through everything founders never say out loud, from outgrowing your personal life, to the hard choices that come with growth, to why the construction and education systems are fundamentally broken and ripe for innovation.You'll learn: ✅ How Alex grew EnRoads to eight figures in less than four years ✅ Why relationships, reputation, and character are true competitive advantages ✅ The sacrifices founders make (and what Alex would do differently) ✅ Why the skilled trades are booming again and why the narrative is shifting ✅ How AI will reshape construction and where the real opportunities are ✅ Why young founders should focus on resilience, not perfectionIf you've been searching “how to scale a business fast,” “what it really takes to build an eight-figure company,” or “is the skilled trades comeback real?” — this episode gives you the unfiltered truth.Connect with Alex Iannessa:Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderdiannessa/Guest Website: https://enroadspaving.com/If you are a B2B company that wants to build your own in-house content team instead of outsourcing your content to a marketing agency, we may be a fit for you! Everything you see in our podcast and content is a result of a scrappy, nimble, internal content team along with an AI-powered content systems and process. Check out pricing and services here: ⁠https://impaxs.com⁠Head to our website to stream every episode on your favorite platform, join the Founder Talk community, and submit questions for future guests–all in one place: https://foundertalkpodcast.com/Timecodes00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:06 Founding EnRoads Paving01:09 The Power of Networking02:06 Raising Capital and Building a Team02:52 Transitioning During COVID08:09 Balancing Personal and Professional Life10:33 Client Acquisition and Sales Strategy19:44 The Future of Skilled Trades26:38 Impact of AI on Skilled Trades27:59 Impact of AI on Skilled Trades28:45 AI in Office Operations29:34 AI in Podcast Production30:15 Challenges in the Construction Industry33:29 Private Equity in Skilled Trades35:40 Future Plans and Personal Goals52:25 The Importance of Resilience53:47 Conclusion and Contact Information

Panels are weird. Everyone's trying to look smart without sounding rehearsed. And somehow you're supposed to introduce yourself and tell memorable stories in just a matter of minutes. It's not easy, and it's not something you want to wing (especially if you want to make sure your participation is worth your while). That's why, in this episode, Stacy's breaking down her top dos and don'ts for showing up sharp and human on a panel. Whether you're intro'ing yourself or riffing off someone else's point, these moves will help you actually make your time on stage count.You'll learn:What makes a 90-second intro landHow to make a panel feel less like a meeting that should've been an emailA better way to add to someone else's point (without just repeating it and blending in)This is Story Snacks, a bite-sized, jam-packed series for fund managers who are ready to master strategic storytelling in under 20 minutes a week. ---Running a fund is hard enough.Ops shouldn't be.Meet the team that makes it easier. | billiondollarbackstory.com/ultimus- - -Thinking about expanding your investor base beyond the US? Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz to find out if your firm is ready to go global and get all the info at billiondollarbackstory.com/gemcap

In this conversation, John Casmon shares his journey in real estate investing, emphasizing the importance of intentionality, mindset shifts, and the value of education in raising capital. He discusses overcoming limiting beliefs, the significance of building a network, and how to provide value to potential investors. The conversation also highlights the role of confidence, credibility, and connections in successful fundraising, along with resources available for aspiring investors.   Professional Real Estate Investors - How we can help you: Investor Fuel Mastermind:  Learn more about the Investor Fuel Mastermind, including 100% deal financing, massive discounts from vendors and sponsors you're already using, our world class community of over 150 members, and SO much more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/apply   Investor Machine Marketing Partnership:  Are you looking for consistent, high quality lead generation? Investor Machine is America's #1 lead generation service professional investors. Investor Machine provides true 'white glove' support to help you build the perfect marketing plan, then we'll execute it for you…talking and working together on an ongoing basis to help you hit YOUR goals! Learn more here: http://www.investormachine.com   Coaching with Mike Hambright:  Interested in 1 on 1 coaching with Mike Hambright? Mike coaches entrepreneurs looking to level up, build coaching or service based businesses (Mike runs multiple 7 and 8 figure a year businesses), building a coaching program and more. Learn more here: https://investorfuel.com/coachingwithmike   Attend a Vacation/Mastermind Retreat with Mike Hambright: Interested in joining a "mini-mastermind" with Mike and his private clients on an upcoming "Retreat", either at locations like Cabo San Lucas, Napa, Park City ski trip, Yellowstone, or even at Mike's East Texas "Big H Ranch"? Learn more here: http://www.investorfuel.com/retreat   Property Insurance: Join the largest and most investor friendly property insurance provider in 2 minutes. Free to join, and insure all your flips and rentals within minutes! There is NO easier insurance provider on the planet (turn insurance on or off in 1 minute without talking to anyone!), and there's no 15-30% agent mark up through this platform!  Register here: https://myinvestorinsurance.com/   New Real Estate Investors - How we can work together: Investor Fuel Club (Coaching and Deal Partner Community): Looking to kickstart your real estate investing career? Join our one of a kind Coaching Community, Investor Fuel Club, where you'll get trained by some of the best real estate investors in America, and partner with them on deals! You don't need $ for deals…we'll partner with you and hold your hand along the way! Learn More here: http://www.investorfuel.com/club   —--------------------

How do you take a healthcare innovation from lab to market—without losing your shot at impact? In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Sasha Schrode, CEO of FEMSelect, shares her founder journey from licensing IP out of the University of Pennsylvania to raising venture capital, securing FDA approval, and selling her first company. Now leading FEMSelect, Sasha reveals the hard-won lessons from navigating regulatory hurdles, reimbursement pathways, and clinical validation. She also explains how a personal cancer diagnosis in her 30s reshaped her purpose—and why falling in love with the problem, not the solution, is what separates great CEOs from the rest. You'll learn: • Why less than 1% of healthcare innovation reaches patients • The 3 filters every founder must apply before building a company • How to test product-market fit with real clinicians • How to think like an investor—and what VCs get wrong • Why the most successful CEOs start as learners Chapters 00:00 The Journey from Diagnosis to Innovation 13:18 Understanding Market Viability and Clinical Need 22:43 The Iteration Process in Med Tech 24:20 Insights on Raising Capital and Exiting 27:24 Common Mistakes in Commercialization 32:00 First Steps for Aspiring Innovators This is your masterclass on building medtech with purpose, discipline, and market-ready strategy. — Subscribe to CPO PLAYBOOK for more conversations at the intersection of leadership, innovation, and capital strategy: https://www.cpoplaybook.com/newsletter Need support scaling leadership or culture? Let's talk: https://www.cpoplaybook.com/contact-us

John Casmon interviews Ed Mathews, a former Silicon Valley tech executive who walked away from a high-flying software career to build a more family-centered, freedom-focused life through real estate. Ed shares how missing too many “18 summers” with his daughters pushed him to leave DocuSign and go all-in on multifamily after seven years of flipping houses and small-building rehabs on the side. He explains how he scaled his Connecticut portfolio by finding “rock star” contractors through trade-to-trade referrals, building tight systems, and using process—not heroics—to let average people perform exceptionally well. Ed details why he prefers long-term residents over constant value-add turnover, how he achieved 4.2-year average stays, and why responsiveness, respect, and presence on site drive both mission and NOI. The conversation closes with his shift away from property management toward asset management, his expansion into AI-powered operations, and the launch of both a debt fund and private equity fund to pursue larger 150-unit-plus acquisitions. Ed MathewsCurrent role: Founder & CEO, Clark Street CapitalBased in: ConnecticutSay hi to them at: Website: https://www.clarkst.com Phone: (860)675-5800] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@clarkstinvestorsacademy Podcast: https://www.clarkst.com/podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clark-st-capital Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarkstcapital1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClarkStCapital Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarkstcapital Start earning passive income today at gsprei.com/bestever Alternative Fund IV is closing soon and SMK is giving Best Ever listeners exclusive access to their Founders' Shares, typically offered only to early investors. Visit smkcap.com/bec to learn more and download the full fund summary. Join us at Best Ever Conference 2026! Find more info at: https://www.besteverconference.com/  Join the Best Ever Community  The Best Ever Community is live and growing - and we want serious commercial real estate investors like you inside. It's free to join, but you must apply and meet the criteria.  Connect with top operators, LPs, GPs, and more, get real insights, and be part of a curated network built to help you grow. Apply now at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠www.bestevercommunity.com⁠⁠ Podcast production done by⁠ ⁠Outlier Audio⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chapters: Rafeh Qazi (Co-founder, Poppy.AI) joins us to share what he's learned during is journey from a struggling immigrant to building a $50M AI startup. After a car accident left his mother injured and his family with no money to pay for surgery, Rafeh channeled his frustration into a relentless drive to succeed. In this episode, Rafeh breaks down his rise to fame teaching millions to code, and his pivoted from service-based businesses to building Poppy.AI, the insights he gained from Alex Hormozi, and why he believes software is the ultimate asset for building wealth. Join us to discover the strategies behind scaling an AI business, why "product-founder fit" matters more than market fit, and how to turn massive failures into an 8-figure valuation. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro  02:50 - Motivation and The Car Accident That Changed Rafeh's Life  05:26 - Learning to Code to Survive 07:04 - Dropping Out of College to Teach  13:05 - Launching Courses that Made of $150K 22:49 - The Lawsuit, Losing Everything, and Meeting Alex Hormozi 31:28 - Why He Built Poppy.AI (SaaS vs. Services)  37:07 - Using Poppy.AI to Generate THOUSANDS for Our Clients 48:00 - AI Copywriting vs Humans 53:04 - Scaling with Affiliates and Hitting $500k Per Month 59:43 - Valuation and Raising Capital 1:05:35 - Talent Vs Money (Which Bottleneck is a Harder Problem?)

You can have the dream, you can have the vision, but if you don't have the money…? Today, I'm joined live on stage with four brilliant women who have scaled different types of businesses in different types of ways: Lori Harder, Veena Jetti, Janice Omadeke, and Kelly Kussman! We get into powerful funding strategies for female founders, so you can lean into the best one that works for your business. Our expansive conversation will provide the money habits, operations, and systems we wish we had known sooner to scale faster and smarter. Whether it's bootstrapping for as long as possible, fundraising for the first time ever, or finding the right investor, you'll discover how to finance your big dream!   HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 Meet the women behind the 2025 PW Event Finance Panel with Lori Harder, Veena Jetti, Janice Omadeke, and Kelly Kussman! 15:40 The top three priorities to bootstrap a product-based business. 20:15 What made Lori decide to fundraise for glōci? 24:30 One operational system to help you scale faster. 31:50 What do investors look for beyond the numbers? 38:50 When is the right time to take on money + what should you look for in outside investors? 44:45 Preparation steps for when you know you're ready to start fundraising. 53:55 Realistic funding paths for a service-based business.   RESOURCES + LINKS Join the waitlist for the 2026 Powerhouse Women Event HERE   FOLLOW Lori: @loriharder Veena: @veenajetti Janice: @janiceomadeke Kelly: @kelly_ward_kussman Powerhouse Women: @powerhouse_women Lindsey: @lindseymarieofficial Visit the Powerhouse Women website: powerhousewomen.co Join the PW Community Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/powerhousewomencommunity

In this powerful mastermind session of Investor Impact: Power Talks with Vinney Chopra, host Vinney Smile Chopra brings his signature positivity, humor, and wisdom to a raw, real conversation about raising capital and scaling multifamily portfolios. Joined by his Inner Circle members—including deal partners navigating real transactions—they dive deep into what actually drives momentum in real estate: mindset, clarity, and consistent action.   The discussion centers around how confidence and abundance thinking lead to better decisions, smoother deals, and investor trust.   The group openly shares their current projects and challenges, exploring:

Raising capital with confidence isn't just about finding investors—it's about doing it legally and sleeping at night. In this episode of the Jake & Gino podcast, Gino sits down with securities attorney Darin Mangum, “America's premier securities lawyer,” to unpack how to raise capital with confidence while avoiding SEC trouble, bad structures, and nightmare investors. Whether you're a first-time syndicator or scaling your private equity platform, this conversation shows you how to use other people's money the right way. Darin explains when you actually shouldn't raise capital, common red flags and legal mistakes, why proper PPMs and disclosures matter, and how regulations like Reg D, Reg S, and crowdfunding really work in today's AI-driven world. You'll learn why raising capital with confidence means treating it like a real business, preparing before you have a deal, and partnering with the right securities attorney instead of winging it and hoping the regulators never call. Connect with Darin H. Mangum Chapters:00:00 – Introduction02:39 – Darin's Journey into Law and Capital Raising11:49 – Common Mistakes Investors Make22:30 – The Challenge of Finding Good Deals29:28 – Mindset and Preparation for Capital Raising32:29 – Horror Stories: The Importance of Preparation38:26 – Understanding Securities Law and Legal Protection42:39 – Navigating Joint Ventures and Partnerships We're here to help create multifamily entrepreneurs... Here's how: Brand New? Start Here: https://jakeandgino.mykajabi.com/free-wheelbarrowprofits Want To Get Into Multifamily Real Estate Or Scale Your Current Portfolio Faster? Apply to join our PREMIER MULTIFAMILY INVESTING COMMUNITY & MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. (*Note: Our community is not for beginner investors)

Nitzan Mosery is a serial entrepreneur, coach, investor, and host of the Traveling Investor radio show. With decades of experience across diverse industries—including renovation, hospitality, and jewelry—Nitzan eventually found his calling in multifamily real estate. Through firsthand trial and error, he built a powerful investing career focused on passive income, team scalability, and creative financing strategies. Nitzan is the founder of Multifamily Empire and teaches others how to build long-term wealth through value-add multifamily assets in emerging U.S. markets.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Always verify tenant quality, market conditions, and neighborhood dynamics before acquisition Don't fall in love with the property, fall in love with the numbers Build systems and hire around your own zone of genius to scale effectively Trust is built by consistent visibility, social proof, and delivering real hands-on performance Capital raising only works if you've invested time building authentic investor relationships     Topics From Restoration to Rentals How Nitzan transitioned from flipping houses and restoration to multifamily rentals The cash limitation problem that pushed him toward syndication and scaling Hard-Earned Lessons from Early Deals His early duplex in Chicago and fourplex in West Palm, and what went wrong Why failing to verify tenants, management, and neighborhoods cost him What Passive Investors Really Care About How he used mistakes to refine screening, team-building, and due diligence The red flags with PMs who own local units, and how to ask smarter vetting questions Demographics, Market Research, and Value-Add That Actually Works Why Nitzan relies on a dedicated demographer to track population flows How his team validates value-add returns by examining proven rent comps Raising Capital with Intent Why "money will come if the deal is good" is only half true Why educating and nurturing your network before a deal is critical to raising capital Positioning Yourself for Institutional or Family Office Capital The exact conversation that unlocked a relationship with a family office Why showing up consistently (online and in-person) builds trust over time