SoLa Impact

What SoLa Impact does

SoLa Impact is a privately held, founder-controlled social impact real estate investment and development firm headquartered in South Los Angeles. The company operates as a family of Opportunity Zone-focused real estate funds, with its flagship Black Impact Fund (Fund IV) targeting $1 billion in capital to develop affordable and workforce housing in Black and Hispanic communities across greater Los Angeles and Southern California. SoLa currently owns and manages a portfolio of 2,000+ affordable and workforce housing units, with a development pipeline targeting 3,500 incremental units, including named projects such as Avalon, Florence, Compton, Crenshaw Lofts, MLK & Buckingham, and VMNT. Anchor institutional limited partners include CalSTRS ($50M), Pacific Premier Bank ($50M), and PayPal ($25M), supplemented by a $34.8M debt facility from ACORE Capital in March 2025.

SoLa's core operating business combines fund management with direct real estate development, rental operations, and a vertically integrated ecosystem of social programs. Revenue mechanics include asset management fees on committed fund capital, development fees on construction projects, and rental income from owned housing stock where average out-of-pocket rents are under $500. Construction leverages light-gauge steel modular/pre-fabricated methods (notably the VMNT project) that reduce build schedules by approximately 30% versus conventional methods. The 5-acre Beehive campus (100,000 sq ft commercial, 60,000 sq ft open space) anchors the portfolio as a headquarters, commercial leasing hub for minority-owned businesses, and physical base for the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center.

Beyond housing, SoLa operates a network of workforce development, education, and community resilience programs through its affiliated nonprofit, The SoLa Foundation, and sub-brands including the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center (powered by Riot Games, serving 5,000+ students), the 60th Street Cafe culinary program, the SoLa Cyber Security Academy, Model/Z vocational school, the SoLa College Scholarship Fund ($2M+ awarded to 186 students), the Pathways to Homeownership Program, and the Together We Rebuild LA fire recovery initiative. Corporate and institutional partnerships span 30+ named entities, including Live Nation, PayPal, Riot Games, Snap, Wells Fargo, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, and the LA Rams. The company is recognized as the nation's leading Urban Opportunity Zone Fund by Forbes and the Sorenson Impact Center (February 2020) and was ranked the 7th fastest-growing minority-led business in the US by Inc. 5000.

Name

SoLa Impact

Legal name

SoLa Impact, LLC

Website

https://solaimpact.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SoLa Impact is a South Los Angeles-based social impact real estate fund manager and developer that owns and manages 2,000+ affordable housing units, manages the $1 billion Black Impact Fund, and operates integrated workforce development and education programs serving low-income residents in greater LA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Development

NAICS

Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592), Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (5312), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Affordable Housing Funds (FSANAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Impact Investing & Social Finance (Funds, CDFIs, Microfinance) (BPAGALAA), CRE Loan Syndication & Participation (FSALADAK), Impact Investment & Social Finance Programs (BPADAOAJ)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Opportunity zone funds
• Social impact real estate
• Workforce development programs
• Community development investing

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Fund Management: Manages social impact real estate funds (Black Impact Fund, Fund IV) with double bottom line strategy, generating returns from affordable and workforce housing development and management.
2. Apartment Rental Income: Owns and manages 2,000+ affordable and workforce housing units generating rental income from tenants with average out-of-pocket rents under $500.
3. Real Estate Development: Develops new affordable housing projects (multi-family, mixed-use) with commercial/retail spaces generating development fees and long-term asset appreciation.
4. Social Enterprise Programs: Workforce development programs (culinary, cybersecurity, vocational training) creating economic opportunities and community impact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SoLa Impact is a family of social impact real estate funds with a double bottom line strategy that acquires, preserves, and develops high-quality affordable and workforce housing in low-income communities of South Los Angeles. The company manages multiple Opportunity Zone-focused investment funds (including the $1 billion Black Impact Fund / Fund IV), owns and operates a 2,000+ unit apartment portfolio, and runs the 5-acre Beehive business campus. In parallel, SoLa and its affiliated SoLa Foundation deliver workforce training, STEAM education, scholarships, and resident supportive services tied to its housing portfolio.

Product overview

SoLa Impact is a family of social impact real estate funds operating a double bottom line strategy focused on preserving, refreshing, and creating high-quality affordable housing in low-income communities. The company's offerings consist of multiple integrated programs and initiatives rather than a unified technology product. Core offerings include: the Black Impact Fund (Fund IV), an Opportunity Zone investment fund for affordable housing development; a portfolio of 1,500+ affordable apartments in South Los Angeles with a pipeline of 1,500+ additional units; The Beehive, a 5-acre business campus for minority-owned businesses and social ventures; the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center providing STEAM education; workforce development programs including culinary training (60th Street Cafe), cybersecurity academy, and vocational school (Model/Z); the SoLa College Scholarship Fund; and the Pathways to Homeownership Program. These programs work together to address housing, education, employment, and capital access in underserved communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Beehive: 5-acre Opportunity Zone business campus with 100,000 sq ft of commercial space and 60,000 sq ft of open space, housing minority-owned businesses and non-profits in South Los Angeles.
• Black Impact Fund
• SoLa I CAN
• SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center
• 60th Street Cafe
• Pathways to Homeownership Program
• Together We Rebuild

Products and services

• Black Impact Fund (Fund IV) Flagship Opportunity Zone investment fund focused on affordable and workforce housing development in greater Los Angeles and Southern California, targeting the addition of 3,500 units; offered to family offices, endowments, pension funds, and SPVs with a $2,500,000 minimum investment.
• Affordable Housing Portfolio Portfolio of 2,000+ affordable and workforce housing units owned and managed across South Los Angeles, with average tenant out-of-pocket rents under $500; includes projects such as Avalon, Florence, Crenshaw Lofts, MLK & Buckingham, VMNT, and others.
• The Beehive Opportunity Zone Business Campus 5-acre Opportunity Zone business campus in South Los Angeles with 100,000 sq ft of commercial space across six warehouses plus 60,000 sq ft of open space and courtyards; houses minority-owned businesses, nonprofits, SoLa Impact's headquarters, and the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center.
• SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center Technology and entrepreneurship education facility powered by Riot Games, providing STEAM education, cybersecurity academy, vocational training, and product innovation programming to over 5,000 students ages 7-24 in South Los Angeles.
• 60th Street Cafe Culinary Program Culinary workforce development social enterprise operated by The SoLa Foundation that provides six-week training courses, real-world work experience, and employment opportunities to students while serving meals to improve food access in South Los Angeles.
• SoLa College Scholarship Fund College scholarship program awarding over $2 million to 186 students from Greater South Los Angeles, with 90% of recipients being first-generation college students.
• Pathways to Homeownership Program Program helping life-long renters afford a downpayment on a home in three to five years by escrowing a portion of monthly rent, providing savings matches, and offering financial literacy workshops for SoLa residents.
• SoLa Cyber Security Academy Workforce development program providing cybersecurity training and career development opportunities to South LA residents and youth.
• Model/Z Vocational School Vocational school operated by affiliated entity Sola Model/Z, Inc. providing workforce training and career development programs.
• SoLa Live Accelerator Accelerator program in partnership with Live Nation Entertainment focused on training marginalized South LA students in the business and technology of live entertainment, with an expansion planned to serve 1,000+ youth annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ affordable and workforce housing units owned in South LA
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• SoLa FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2025The SoLa Foundation operates the 60th Street Cafe, a culinary workforce development program and social enterprise to improve food access in South LA, offering six-week training courses and employment opportunities.
• Live Nation EntertainmentflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2023Live Nation invested in training marginalized South LA students in the business and technology of live entertainment. Partnership includes a new Tech Center expansion location in Leimert Park opening January 2026, expected to serve 1,000+ annually. Also includes youth music education center and workforce training program.
• Riot GamesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2022Riot Games committed $2 million to South Los Angeles educational efforts, powering the SoLa Tech & Entrepreneurship Center with STEAM education programs.
• Los Angeles LakersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLos Angeles Lakers partner for community engagement and support of South LA initiatives.
• Los Angeles KingscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLA Kings partnered with SoLa I CAN to donate internet hotspots to South LA families and distribute laptops to distance learning students.
• Los Angeles Football ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLAFC partner for community engagement in South LA.
• Howmet AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHowmet Aerospace partners on the Product Innovation in Material Science program providing workforce development and training opportunities.
• USC Lovine and YoungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for educational programs and scholarship opportunities for South LA students.
• LA Promise FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA Promise Fund partnership for educational initiatives in Los Angeles.
• T.D. Jakes FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for economic empowerment and community development programs.
• Los Angeles Urban LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA Urban League partnership for workforce development and economic opportunity programs.
• Marqueece Harris-DawsoncoreOthersLos Angeles City Councilmember supporting SoLa's work in South LA communities.
• Kamlager DovecoreOthersCalifornia State Assemblymember supporting SoLa's initiatives in the district.
• Curren D. PricecoreOthersLos Angeles City Councilmember representing South LA communities where SoLa operates.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution deploying capital into affordable housing and Opportunity Zone–adjacent projects. Comparable to SoLa as an impact-oriented real estate fund manager working with institutional LPs and local partners.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit affordable housing developer and investor that combines development, financing, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to SoLa's integrated model of fund management, development, and community programs.
• McCormack Baron Salazar: Mission-driven affordable housing developer focused on distressed urban neighborhoods. Comparable to SoLa in combining affordable housing development with wraparound community services and institutional capital partners.
• BRIDGE Housing: California-based nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator with a portfolio of tens of thousands of units. Directly comparable on geography, product type, and mission-aligned institutional capital model.
• Jonathan Rose Companies: Impact-focused real estate investment and development firm pursuing affordable and mixed-income housing across the US. Comparable as an institutional impact real estate platform with similar LP base and mission orientation.
• Mercy Housing: Large national nonprofit affordable housing developer with on-site supportive services programs. Comparable to SoLa in pairing housing with education, workforce, and resident services for low-income populations.
• The NRP Group: Vertically integrated affordable and market-rate multifamily developer with institutional capital partners. Comparable to SoLa's combination of development pipeline, fund management, and property management.

Regional players

• Skid Row Housing Trust: LA-based nonprofit developer of permanent supportive housing for homeless and low-income residents. Directly comparable mission and tenant profile; geographically overlapping with SoLa's South LA footprint.
• Hollywood Community Housing Corporation: LA-based nonprofit affordable and supportive housing developer. Comparable on geography and product type, though smaller in scale and pipeline than SoLa.

Broad incumbents

• Related California (The Related Companies): Large diversified real estate developer with a significant affordable and mixed-income housing practice in California. Comparable product offering and LP base, but operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio than SoLa.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sola-impact

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SoLa Impact