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Tax-advantaged real estate, built in downtown San Jose.
Urban Catalyst is a private equity real estate firm and developer specializing in Opportunity Zone investing. We pair institutional-quality, ground-up development in the heart of Silicon Valley with the potential tax advantages of the Opportunity Zone program.
A developer and a fund manager, in one firm.
Founded in 2018 in response to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that created Opportunity Zones, Urban Catalyst is a premier real estate firm specializing in private equity placement into ground-up development and income-producing properties.
Because we are both the fund manager and the developer, we control timing, cost and execution of the projects. Our commitment to downtown San Jose goes beyond constructing buildings: we invest in sustainable economic development, job creation, and the long-term wellbeing of the community.
At a glance
- Founded 2018. Headquartered in downtown San Jose, California.
- Developer & fund manager. Vertically integrated, with trophy projects already in our pipeline.
- Tax-advantaged & traditional funds. Opportunity Zone funds and a traditional real estate private equity fund.
- Deep local expertise. Decades of relationships with San Jose property owners and officials.
Two decades of development, one downtown
Track-record figures reflect the cumulative prior development experience of Urban Catalyst’s partners. They are not the performance of any Urban Catalyst fund and are not indicative of future results. Third-party rankings (including Novogradac) reflect the issuer’s methodology as of the date issued and are not indicative of future results. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
What sets us apart
A developer-first approach and deep local expertise, applied to one of the country’s most supply-constrained markets.
Developer-first
We secure quality projects before we raise, while many funds do the opposite. We own the land and hold approvals, reducing risk before capital is deployed.
Deeply local
Years of developing in downtown San Jose give us an information advantage: relationships with property owners and officials that move projects efficiently through approvals.
Built for impact
Recognized among Silicon Valley’s Top Corporate Philanthropists, we pair institutional-quality development with real community revitalization.
Born from a generational opportunity
Urban Catalyst was formed in 2018, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Opportunity Zones, a federal tax incentive to encourage long-term investment in designated communities. We saw downtown San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley, and built a vertically integrated firm to develop it.
Today we are both fund manager and developer, with completed, award-winning projects on the ground and a disciplined approach to what comes next.
Why Urban Catalyst →We don’t just fund projects. We finish them.
As the developer, our track record is built in concrete and steel, not just capital commitments.
Paseo
A downtown mixed-use development recognized with a 2025 CoStar Impact Award and a 2023 Silicon Valley Business Journal Structures Award for Best Rehab & Reuse.
Keystone: Marriott TownePlace Suites
Downtown San Jose’s first extended-stay hotel, delivered and open for business, honored as the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 2024 Best Hospitality Project.
A new Opportunity Zone program begins January 1, 2027
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made Opportunity Zones a permanent part of the tax code, with a new cycle of designated communities and investor incentives for eligible capital gains invested beginning in 2027. Urban Catalyst anticipates a new Opportunity Zone fund aligned with the 2027 program.
Permanent Status
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act made Opportunity Zones a permanent part of the tax code, with a new cycle of designated communities beginning January 1, 2027.
Rolling Five-Year Deferral
Qualifying gains invested after 2026 receive a rolling five-year deferral that begins at the time of investment, not at a single predetermined date.
New Step-Up Schedule
Standard Qualified Opportunity Fund investors receive a 10% basis step-up after five years. Investors in Qualified Rural Opportunity Funds receive a 30% step-up.
Potential 10-Year Tax-Free Exit
Investors who hold a Qualified Opportunity Fund investment for at least ten years may owe no federal capital gains taxes on any profits generated by the fund, subject to individual circumstances.
Opportunity Zone investing is intended for accredited investors with eligible capital gains, which may include gains from the sale of stock, a business, real estate, or cryptocurrency. Potential tax benefits are subject to limitations and to tax regulations that may change, and depend on your individual circumstances. This is general information only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice; neither Urban Catalyst nor its affiliates provide tax advice, and you should consult your own tax, legal, and financial advisors. Nothing herein is an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security; any offering is made solely by a Private Placement Memorandum. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Two ways to partner with Urban Catalyst
Individual Investors
Accredited investors seeking tax-advantaged real estate, portfolio diversification, and a role in revitalizing downtown San Jose.
Join the interest list →Financial Professionals
RIAs and advisors looking to offer clients institutional-quality Opportunity Zone real estate through a vertically integrated developer.
For financial professionals →Trusted, ranked, and awarded
Developer of the Year
Top 4% OZ Fund Managers
CoStar Impact Award
Forbes Top 20 OZ
Awards and third-party rankings reflect the issuing organization’s criteria as of the date issued, are not indicative of future performance, and are not a guarantee of any result.
Experienced operators, aligned with investors
Erik Hayden
Joshua Burroughs
Mike Germain
The center of Silicon Valley’s next chapter
Downtown San Jose combines acute housing demand, major transit investment, and one of the strongest job engines in the country. These are the fundamentals that drive long-term real estate value.
A structural housing shortage
San Jose added just 17,914 apartments over the past decade (2015–2025), a fraction of the 62,200 new homes the state requires the city to build by 2031, leaving housing chronically undersupplied in one of the nation’s tightest markets.
Transit transformation
VTA light rail and Caltrain already serve Diridon Station, and BART’s extension to downtown San Jose is now underway, positioning it to become one of the West Coast’s busiest transit hubs.
A relentless job engine
As one of the few Silicon Valley cities with room to grow, downtown San Jose continues to attract major employer expansion, including Adobe’s newest downtown tower.
Why investors choose Urban Catalyst
The ease and accessibility of OZ investing make it stand out, a way to reduce taxes while playing a role in revitalizing neighborhoods.
A very good opportunity to potentially capture some of the growth of San Jose and also help minimize capital gains tax, a powerful combination.
Frequently asked questions
Is Urban Catalyst currently raising an Opportunity Zone fund?
When will your next OZ fund launch?
What is Opportunity Zones 2.0 and why does 2027 matter?
Why does Urban Catalyst focus on downtown San Jose?
Who is Urban Catalyst?
What is a Qualified Opportunity Fund?
How can I invest with Urban Catalyst?
Be first in line for our next fund
Opportunity Zones are now a permanent part of the tax code, with a new cycle beginning January 1, 2027. Investors generally have 180 days from a capital-gains event to invest. Join the list now so you’re ready when our new fund launches.
For accredited investors only. Join the interest list using the form below.