In an industry dominated by high barriers to entry, Chris Gerardi is pioneering a new approach to real estate investment. As the founder and COO/CTO of Realbricks, he’s architecting an institutional-grade technology platform that aims to bridge the gap between traditional real estate capital markets and retail investors.
When asked about Realbricks’ role in the industry, Gerardi draws a parallel to Amazon’s evolution from a single-channel bookseller to a comprehensive commerce and technology platform. Similarly, Realbricks aims to create an end-to-end ecosystem for real estate investment, building the underlying infrastructure that enables compliant, efficient property investment at scale.
The journey began with Gerardi’s recognition of a fundamental problem in the market: while commercial real estate remains one of the most reliable performing asset classes, most retail investors struggle to access institutional-quality deals. Whether seeking direct property ownership or passive income streams through real estate, the barriers to entry have historically been prohibitive for all but accredited investors.
The solution Gerardi and his team developed is ambitious in scope but methodical in its implementation. Until late 2024, Realbricks operated in stealth mode, focusing intensively on building their technological infrastructure. The effort has been substantial – with over 37,000 hours invested in development and coding to ensure institutional-grade security and compliance.
The Realbricks team combines deep real estate expertise with technical innovation. The leadership includes Kevin Cottrell as CEO, along with industry veterans Scott Lewis and Gene Frederick, who bring extensive real estate knowledge and institutional relationships. Taylor Utt serves as Chief Marketing Officer, while Gerardi leads the technical vision with a dedicated development team. Recent additions to the team, including talent from companies like Pacaso, reflect Realbricks’ commitment to building both real estate and technical excellence.
The resulting platform supports the full investment lifecycle, with a particularly innovative approach to liquidity. This includes a proprietary secondary market where investors can trade their positions efficiently through both web and mobile applications. The platform provides mark-to-market valuations, enabling investors to monitor their portfolio performance and make informed decisions about position sizing.
“We’re focused on what the consumer needs and wants,” Gerardi explains. “The consumer wants flexibility, usability, low barrier to entry, and a pathway to liquidity.” This approach allows investors to start small, with minimum investments as low as $50-100 per month, while maintaining the ability to access their capital when needed – a feature notably absent from traditional real estate investments.
Looking ahead in 2025, Realbricks is focused on scaling through institutional partnerships, developing white-label solutions for major real estate owners to access new distribution channels. The platform accommodates various asset classes, from single-family rentals to commercial properties.
“We want to truly democratize real estate,” Gerardi emphasizes. “What we have to do is partner and utilize this platform to create efficient distribution channels between institutional real estate and retail investors.”
With market demand for fractional ownership at an all-time high, Realbricks has built its infrastructure to streamline the investment process. Through its technology foundation and upcoming institutional partnerships, the platform aims to create new efficiencies in real estate investment structuring, distribution, and trading.
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