About Us

Leadership

Lilian Chen

Founder of Proptimal

Lilian Chen is the Founder of Proptimal, building the 10X Real Estate Analyst that makes institutional knowledge, tools, and resources accessible to everyday investors.

She has advised on more than $10 billion in commercial real estate transactions across 200+ firms, from first-time investors to institutions with billions under management, and has taught hundreds of high-net-worth individuals the fundamentals of real estate investing.

Her thought leadership articles on LinkedIn receive 300,000+ monthly impressions. Outside of work, she’s traveled to over 40 countries and writes on how real estate, technology, and culture shape the way we live.

Education

BA Economics & Minor in City Planning (3.79/4.00 GPA)

University of California, Berkeley

General Course, Management

London School of Economics

Masters in Business Administration (MBA)

Saïd Business School,
University of Oxford

Credentials

Founder, Proptimal

July 2020 - Present | Remote (New York, New York)

Advised on $3 billion of multifamily, hospitality, industrial, retail, and master development projects acrossed the United States.

Instructor to 300+ HNWI real estate developers on financial analysis and underwriting.

Developed proprietary software for a client to mange an $80M development pipeline, as well as the patent-pending "10X Real Estate Analyst".

XS Tennis Master Plan

Chicago, Illinois

Sona Hills Resort

Paso Robles, California

Madewell Spaces

2661 Midway Road #200, Carrollton, Texas

Orchard Brae House

30 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

"I've had the pleasure of working with Lilian over the past five years, and her contributions have been nothing short of exceptional. Initially, she met our underwriting needs across several complex acquisitions and dispositions of medical office buildings and apartments complexes. As our confidence grew in Lilian, we also started contracting her for our quarterly investor reporting and pitch decks. Lilian is exceptionally skilled in her analytical and communication efforts; remaining composed under intense pressure and constantly meeting difficult deadlines.

Recently, Lilian's expertise expanded beyond traditional real estate services when she developed a software solution for one of my clients, resulting in over $70K in savings upfront. She implemented a creative interim solution within a week and delivered a custom solution in just three months. Throughout our long-standing collaboration, Lilian's high integrity, reliability, and capacity to excel in new challenges have made her an indispensable partner."

— Robert Garcia, President at Brauman Reality

"Lilian has been an invaluable partner since 2021, bringing institutional-level expertise to our diverse and often complex deals—whether flex space, warehouses, coworking spaces, or residential land development. Finding a skilled analyst who truly understands intricate deal structures is rare, but Lilian quickly grasped ours and built precise, well-structured models every time. Their reliability, deep industry knowledge, and strategic insights have been instrumental in how we approach underwriting."

— Mohammad Qasim, Global Director of Strategy at CBRE

"I first recruited Lilian Chen, a young talented and inspiring person, to help raise financing on a 25-acre master plan in South Side Chicago, a neighborhood with a long history of disinvestment. She brought not only technical expertise but a rare sensitivity to the social and historical context surrounding these projects. She personally packaged the deal for institutional audiences and pitched it to senior managing directors... bridging two worlds that rarely connect: community stakeholders and institutional capital."

— Gene Dibble, Founder & Managing Partner at Uncommon Impact Studio

Analyst, Ensemble Investments

June 2018 - June 2020 | Long Beach, California

Underwrote $7 billion of hospitality, multifamily, office, medical office buildings, and retail acquisition and development projects.

Led the due diligence efforts and investment committes for $100M+ portfolio acquisitions, helping the company grow its portfolio past $1 billion AUM.

Prepared and designed investment memorandums and company presentations used for securing financing and partnerships.

Assisted in asset management by preparing SEC documents and quarterly reports on 11 limited- and full-service hotels.

Philadelphia Navy Yard

Master Development

Santa Clara Tasman East

Master Development

Cornerstone Village

9224 Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, California

Iovance Biotherapeutics Headquarters

300 Rouse Boulevard, Philadelphia Navy Yard

"Lilian joined Ensemble in the summer of 2018 and worked under me for 2 years as an analyst. Her eager personality, willingness to learn and receptiveness to criticism made her an ideal pupil. Through tenacious perseverance, she ultimately became an integral part of the analytics department and an irreplaceable asset within our team. And yes, I do mean irreplaceable. Lilian is a rare combination of poise, intelligence and an all-around affable personality. I cannot stress the third quality enough; she embodies the purest form of bonhomie and brought a genial glow to our office.

While working at Ensemble, Lilian wore many different hats, overseeing a variety of activities including financial modeling, lender and investor relations, market diligence, asset management and marketing; a true testament to her adaptability in the workplace. During her period of employment, Ensemble expanded its acquisitions and investments pipeline by over $1 Billion. That could not have been possible without her contributions to the team.

In short, Lilian enriched my life both professionally and personally during her tenure with Ensemble. Her legacy here will be characterized by an enduring work ethic, a jovial spirit and a steadfast commitment to excellence in and out of the workplace. I have no doubt that our loss will be another’s strategic gain, and that Lilian’s ambitions will continue to garner her success in all future endeavors."

— Sam Pierzina, Senior Director of Investments at Ensemble

Contact

To discuss opportunities or collaborations, please contact Lilian Chen at: [email protected].

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