2025 · Case Competition · Academic
Forty Acres Capital — Real Estate Case Competition
A first-place multifamily recommendation for Austin and Denver opportunities — built with a team that cared about getting the thesis right.
Context
In February 2025, I joined five classmates in finance, management, and economics for the University of Texas Real Estate Center’s Spring Undergraduate Case Competition. We presented as Forty Acres Capital to a panel of industry experts — and we wanted the work to hold up under real scrutiny.
Problem
The brief asked for a clear recommendation between two multifamily opportunities — one in Austin, one in Denver — for a fictional pension fund with a long-horizon return mandate. Ambiguity wasn’t an option; the panel needed a thesis we could defend.
Approach
We projected rent growth and vacancy, studied market dynamics, demographics, and economic conditions, and argued for the stronger risk-adjusted opportunity. I focused on the analysis that made the recommendation feel earned rather than preferred.
Result
The team placed first and received a $3,000 prize. More than the ranking, I’m proud of how carefully we worked through the tradeoffs together.