Intro: Outmaneuvering the Giants
In a world dominated by mega-funds and institutional GPs, how do smaller real estate firms continue to win? According to David Valger, President of DVO Real Estate, the answer is clear: speed, relationships, and information. On Navatar’s A Game podcast, Valger offered a playbook for how entrepreneurial firms can outperform bigger players—and how technology can level the playing field.
Relationships Still Close the Best Deals
“Relationships. Relationships. Relationships. That’s how we compete,” says Valger. And it works. Off-market and early-look deals go to firms who brokers and sellers trust.
Supporting Insight: Preqin reports that 67% of LPs are actively allocating to emerging managers in 2025, citing differentiated access and personalized execution. ( Preqin Alternatives 2025 )
How Navatar Helps: Navatar centralizes every touchpoint, every call, every intro—across the firm. Dealmakers see the full relationship landscape instantly, which means faster trust, tighter collaboration, and more first calls.
Institutional Inertia Is a Real Advantage
“If I invest with Blackstone and it goes badly, I’m fine. If I invest with David Valger and it goes badly—I get fired.”
“That’s how many institutional allocators think. As a result, large funds:
- Move Slowly
- Avoid non-consensus deals
- Miss early-cycle opportunities
Supporting Insight: Harvard Business School confirms institutional allocators gravitate toward brand to avoid career risk—even if it costs them long-term returns. ( HBS Working Paper )
How Navatar Helps: With customizable dashboards and deal tracking, smaller firms can outmaneuver the giants by responding faster and collaborating in real time—without requiring ten layers of sign-off.
Execution Speed = Winning
DVO Real Estate doesn’t run a blind pool. They raise capital deal by deal—and execute fast.
“The reason we win is because we move faster. No committees. Just execution,” Valger says.
Supporting Insight: McKinsey’s 2024 report confirms mid-market deals consistently outperform large-cap strategies due to faster diligence and sharper focus. ( McKinsey Global Private Markets Review )
How Navatar Helps: Navatar compresses the pre-close process. From tracking investor conversations to generating marketing materials and recording meeting notes, it’s all in one place—ready for go time.
Middle-Market Isn’t a Compromise—It’s a Sweet Spot
Most mega-funds can’t touch a deal unless it needs $30M+ in equity. Smaller firms can own the $10–20M equity space, where flexibility wins.
Valger says: “We live where the big firms can’t go. And it’s where the best deals often live.”
Supporting Insight: PitchBook shows a 14% increase in sub-$25M real estate vehicles in 2024, as capital flows into more agile, niche-focused firms. ( PitchBook Private Real Estate Update )
How Navatar Helps: From relationship sourcing to investor onboarding, Navatar lets lean teams move with enterprise-grade coordination. Middle market teams get the tech edge they need to compete above their weight.
What This Means for Investors
- Don’t mistake size for strength—look for firms with execution focus and market access
- If you’re an emerging manager, make speed and visibility your superpowers
- Replace tools that slow you down with platforms that drive deals forward
Navatar PERE software was built for entrepreneurial real estate firms—not just to help you track your pipeline, but to help you win. In today’s market, being fast, sharp, and aligned matters more than ever.
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