COMMERCIAL CORNER
Gregory Kraut Gregory Kraut Co-founder and CEO of KPG Funds
G
regory Kraut is the co-founder
Who inspires you and why?
force. We collaborate with top designers
and CEO of KPG Funds, a fully
There are several people who inspire me, but
to deliver our tenants a unique but functional
integrated real estate investment
the largest inspiration in my life was my high
bespoke workplace experience. KPG over-
platform at which he oversees
school English teacher Mr. Rolenhagen. He
sees each project through design, develop-
the strategic direction of the company, asset
came to school every day with a smile on his
ment, management and leasing with preci-
management and leasing. He also is respon-
face and the desire to help every student in
sion and direct management. KPG targets
sibe for maintaining and developing new
his classroom. I want to come in every day
architecturally significant but aging Class B
client and capital partner relationships.
and know that I will help those around me
and C properties that are underfunded which
and be able to smile throughout the day. I be-
require significant capital and modern-day
The company’s mission is to buy and reinvest
lieve in these tumultuous times, the CEO role
design and function.
in value-add, retail and mixed-use proper-
is one where I will do that every day for both
ties. To do this, Kraut and his team target
our employees and partners.
What investment trends are you seeing in New York City? KPG fills an institutional niche in the NYC
capital improvements and strategic re-ten-
What do you think makes KPG unique or different?
anting. Throughout his 20-year career in real
We invest in the high-barrier-to-entry New
ing market. This investment strategy offers
estate, Kraut has represented owners and
York City office building market. We have cul-
strong opportunities to add value and gen-
occupiers in transactions totaling more than
tivated a proven strategy and a robust portfo-
erate high returns. There is trending positive
10 million square feet. Before KPG, Kraut
lio of ultra-luxury boutique office assets that
demand and low supply in the locations and
was the founding principal and managing
have weathered the storm through market
type of product that we offer.
director of Avison Young’s New York office.
cycles. Focusing on high-demand areas and
Prior to Avison Young, Kraut was a senior
building luxury boutique office products has
executive at CBRE, the world’s largest real
enabled us to maintain above market de-
What advice do you have for someone starting out in real estate?
estate services company. Kraut graduated
mand while outperforming our underwritten
Where you are right now isn’t where you’ll
from George Washington University in 1997
rents and our market competition.
end up, and just keep moving forward. Where
underperforming, non-stabilized properties in New York City to generate value through
boutique, non-commodity office build-
you are in this moment isn’t where you’ll be
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the field of International Relations and Affairs.
How important is design in creating value in office properties?
forever. Things will change. Something out
How long have you been in the industry?
Design sits at the apex of KPG’s “Inspired
know, your feet will land somewhere bet-
I have been in the New York City commercial
Luxury Product.” Our design-forward brand
ter. The key is to always move forward, no
real estate industry since 1997.
attracts and retains the modern-day work-
matter what.
126 MANN REPORT | JUNE & JULY 2022
of your control will happen. Next thing you
