Raj Venkatramani, REIDOC Capital
$20 Million Raised on LinkedIn!
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Guest: Dr. Raj Venkatramani, REIDOC Capital
Capital Raised and Deal Structure
Dr. Raj Venkatramani, a pediatric oncologist turned real estate capital allocator, has raised approximately $20 million from investors, 95% of whom are doctors, since launching REIDOC Capital in 2021. His typical deal size ranges from $10 million to $30 million, and on average he raises $2 million per deal.
His primary focus is on multifamily properties of at least 100 units, targeting Class A and B assets and new construction projects, rather than Class C properties, following hard-earned lessons from the market peak in 2021.
Leveraging Group Capital for Better Returns
Dr. Raj secures better economics for his investors by leveraging group capital. While a typical syndication might offer a 15% IRR with a 6-7% preferred return, Raj pools investors together to negotiate, for example, an 80/20 split (instead of 70/30) and an 8% preferred return, effectively increasing investor returns without requiring larger individual commitments.
Underwriting and Market Lessons
His underwriting philosophy is focused on analyzing sponsor assumptions, particularly around rent growth projections, occupancy expectations, expense growth, and debt structure. He talks about how bad assumptions can make a weak deal look good, citing an early investment in a Class C Florida asset where insurance costs doubled (from $196K to $400K in one year) and variable rate debt wiped out NOI.
Transition to Ground-Up Development
Raj expanded the kinds of deal he invests in from value-add to ground-up development and now partners on new construction projects in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a market he believes is undervalued. His due diligence process before partnering with a sponsor involves a multi-year vetting process, meeting them at conferences, reviewing past deals, and even visiting completed projects before committing capital.
LinkedIn as a Primary Investor Source
Perhaps most surprising is how he sources capital: 90% of his investors have never met him in person, and nearly all were acquired through LinkedIn and referrals.
His LinkedIn strategy?
Post consistently for two years, even when people don’t engage, until they reach out ready to invest.
Key Takeaway: Trust but Verify
His biggest lesson?
Trust but verify—real estate is not medicine, where all parties have the same goal. Misalignment of incentives is real, and capital allocators must be rigorous in due diligence to avoid costly mistakes.
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