Sherpa Capital

What Sherpa Capital does

Sherpa Capital Group LLC is a privately held Chicago-based commercial real estate lender founded in 2010 by Rahul V. Shah and Ashish Parikh. The firm originates short-term bridge loans of $500K to $10MM with terms of 6-24 months, interest rates of 9-13%, and first-lien positions across a wide range of commercial property types including multifamily, build-to-rent, mixed-use, land, self-storage, hospitality, industrial, office, and retail. It also makes selective preferred equity investments of $250K to $3M alongside experienced sponsors in short-term value-add opportunities. All underwriting, credit decisions, and servicing are handled in-house by the two co-founders, enabling closing timelines of 1-4 weeks from signed term sheet. Since inception the firm has funded 400+ transactions and operates nationwide from its 1720 W. Division Street headquarters.

The firm is principal-led, with co-founders directly involved in loan origination, structuring, and credit decision-making. Distribution is relationship-driven, relying on direct referrals, repeat borrowers, legal counsel, and title company networks, supported by a publicly available portfolio of funded loan case studies rather than paid marketing. No proprietary technology platform or AI tooling is disclosed; the underwriting process is human-driven by the principals.

In 2025 Sherpa Capital executed a strategic diversification move, agreeing in June and completing in November the acquisition of an 86% majority stake in Koxka, a Navarre-based Spanish commercial refrigeration manufacturer with approximately €50M in annual turnover serving clients across Europe and Latin America. The transaction represents the firm's first platform acquisition outside US CRE lending and signals a transition from a pure-play boutique bridge lender to a multi-platform holding with both US CRE debt/equity and European industrial operations.

Name

Sherpa Capital

Legal name

Sherpa Capital Group LLC

Website

http://www.sherpacapitalgroup.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sherpa Capital Group LLC is a Chicago-based private commercial real estate lender founded in 2010, originating short-term bridge loans ($500K-$10MM) and selective preferred equity investments ($250K-$3M) for real estate developers and sponsors nationwide, with 400+ transactions funded.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Real Estate Lending

NAICS

Real Estate Credit (522292)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Private Credit (CRE Debt) (FSANADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Credit / Direct Lending (FSAAAHAG)

Keywords

• Bridge loan lending
• Commercial real estate lending
• Hard money loans
• Preferred equity investments
• Private real estate capital

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Bridge Loan Interest and Fees: Short-term bridge financing from $500K to $10MM generating interest income (9-13% rates). Loans typically 6-24 months with first lien position on commercial real estate assets. Revenue derived from origination fees and ongoing interest payments.
2. Selective Equity Investments: Preferred equity investments alongside experienced sponsors in short-term value-add opportunities. Equity investments of $250K – $3M targeting multifamily, hospitality, office, retail, industrial, land, and self-storage properties.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sherpa Capital Group is a direct commercial real estate lender that originates short-term bridge loans (typically $500K to $10MM) secured by transitional commercial real estate assets at interest rates of 9-13% with 6-24 month terms. The firm also makes selective preferred equity investments ($250K to $3M) alongside experienced sponsors in short-term value-add opportunities. All underwriting, credit decisions, and servicing are performed in-house by the firm's principals.

Product overview

Sherpa Capital Group is a boutique private equity real estate firm offering two core products: Bridge Loans and Selective Equity Investments. Bridge Loans provide short-term bridge financing ($500K-$10MM) for transitional commercial real estate with terms of 6-24 months. Selective Equity Investments offer preferred equity placements ($250K-$3M) targeting value-add opportunities. The firm serves borrowers and sponsors nationwide, primarily in the Chicago metropolitan area, providing fast, flexible capital with expedited execution timelines of 1-4 weeks for bridge loans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bridge Loans Short-term bridge financing for transitional commercial real estate, underwritten and executed by Sherpa's principals. Loan sizes range from $500K to $10MM, with terms of 6-24 months (extensions available), interest rates of 9-13%, and first lien collateral positions. Covers property types including multifamily, BTR, mixed-use, land, self-storage, hospitality, specialty, industrial, office, and retail. Closing timeframe of 1-4 weeks from signed term sheet.
• Selective Equity Investments Selective preferred-equity investments in commercial real estate assets nationwide, specializing in short-term value-add opportunities alongside experienced sponsors. Investment sizes range from $250K to $3M, targeting for-sale housing, multifamily, hospitality, office, retail, industrial, land, and self-storage properties. Equity investment timeframe between 12-48 months.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ transactions funded since 2010
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ready Capital Corporation: Publicly traded mortgage REIT that originates bridge, fix-and-flip, and small-balance commercial loans. Overlaps with Sherpa in the CRE bridge and rehab financing segment at larger scale.
• Arbor Realty Trust: Diversified CRE lender with multifamily, bridge, and mezzanine programs at much greater scale. Broader incumbent competing for some of Sherpa's transitional and multifamily deals.

Direct peers

• Lima One Capital: National private lender specializing in short-term bridge and rehabilitation loans for residential and commercial real estate investors. Most directly comparable to Sherpa in loan size, term, and transitional-asset focus.
• Kennedy Funding Financial: Direct hard money commercial real estate lender originating bridge loans on land, development, and non-owner-occupied assets. Closely comparable product set and borrower profile to Sherpa.
• A10 Capital: Private commercial real estate bridge lender offering short-term, first-lien debt to sponsors and developers. Overlapping loan size range and transitional-asset strategy make it a direct peer.
• Insula Capital Group: Private CRE bridge lender focusing on transitional and value-add assets for sponsors. Comparable in scale, structure, and target deal profile to Sherpa.
• Broadmark Realty Capital: Publicly traded hard money lender providing short-term, first-lien bridge loans on commercial real estate. Direct peer in product type and underwriting approach.
• Roc Capital: Direct hard money CRE lender offering short-term bridge and acquisition loans to investors and developers. Comparable loan sizes, terms, and underwriting flexibility.
• North Coast Financial: Private commercial bridge and hard money lender with first-lien focus on transitional and value-add CRE. Closely aligned with Sherpa's product profile and borrower base.

Emerging players

• KoreCapital: Private CRE bridge lender providing short-term financing to sponsors on transitional commercial assets. Smaller-scale, emerging competitor with overlapping deal types.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sherpa-capital-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments11 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Sherpa Capital