Builder to Fund Manager: Syndications, Funds, and the Road to REITs with August Biniaz - Episode #345

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In this powerful episode of In The Lab, Ruben sits down with August Biniaz, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer at CPI Capital, to unpack how he went from building homes in Canada to managing large-scale U.S. multifamily funds. August shares his journey from being a general contractor and developer to launching CPI Capital, a cross-border real estate private equity firm that bridges Canadian capital with U.S. opportunities.

He breaks down the real roadmap for scaling in real estate—starting from joint ventures, to syndications, closed-end and open-ended funds with the road to ultimately launching a REIT. August also highlights why CPI shifted focus to U.S. markets like Tampa Bay and San Antonio, where rent control, entitlement speed, and yields outperform Canadian markets.

Listeners will gain deep insights into capital raising, fund structuring, investor relations, and how credibility and reputation equity become key leverage points when scaling to institutional investors. Tune in now to learn how August’s strategic evolution from builder to fund manager can help you structure smarter, scale faster, and raise with confidence.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EPISODE:

16:12 August talks about syndication

21:48 August talks about progression from joint ventures to syndications

KEEPING IT REAL:

09:01 – Private equity structure explained

17:12 – Syndications vs. funds overview

20:45 – Managing investor expectations

28:08 – The pivotal land assembly deal

31:04 – Structuring partnerships and equity

35:01 – Why U.S. over Canada

45:01 – Launching CPI Capital

51:03 – Navigating cross-border challenges

55:21 – Entitlement timelines and delays

59:09 – Partnering with experienced operators

1:01:02 – Market focus: Tampa and San Antonio

1:02:09 – Build-to-rent explained

1:05:17 – Duplex strategy and investor returns

1:07:01 – Raising from retail to institutions

1:08:01 – The 30,000-door vision

1:13:18 – From syndication to REITs

1:16:02 – Final thoughts

CONNECT WITH THE GUEST

Website: https://cpicapital.ca/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/augustbiniaz/

#RealEstateInvesting #Syndication #REIT #PrivateEquity #Multifamily #BuildToRent #CommercialRealEstate #InstitutionalCapital #FundManagement #WealthBuilding #CrossBorderInvesting #CapitalRaising #FinancialStrategy