Chessboard Capital
Chessboard Capital is a private LA-focused real estate capital and construction lending firm serving builders and investors in complexity-zone and post-fire reconstruction projects via construction, ADC, bridge, renovation, rescue, and JV equity products ranging from $1MM to $100MM.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersSan Mateo, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Chessboard Capital does
Chessboard Capital is a private real estate capital and construction lending firm founded in 2012, headquartered in San Mateo, California, with operational focus on the Los Angeles market. The firm specializes in providing financing to builders and real estate investors operating in LA's "Complexity Zone" — infill, hillside, and entitlement-constrained submarkets — as well as LA Fire Rebuild projects following the 2025 wildfires. It positions itself as a specialist alternative to conventional banks for transactions that mainstream lenders decline or deprioritize.
The firm offers six core products: Construction Loans, Acquisition / Development / Construction (ADC) Loans, JV Equity (with up to 100% financing and profit-sharing), Renovation Loans, Bridge Loans, and Rescue Capital. Its transaction range spans $1MM to $100MM, allowing it to serve production builders, custom home builders, multifamily developers, and real estate investors across the capital stack from senior debt to equity participation. The product set is deliberately constructed to cover the full lifecycle of a complex or distressed project — from acquisition through stabilization, including rescue scenarios where prior capital has been exhausted.
The business model is direct origination: Chessboard Capital underwrites and deploys its own capital (or syndicate capital) against real estate collateral in the LA market. Revenue is generated through interest income, origination fees, and equity participation in JV deals. The firm operates with a lean 1–10 employee footprint, relying on specialized domain expertise and relationship-driven deal sourcing rather than scale or technology as its primary competitive levers.
Chessboard Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chessboard Capital
- Legal name
- Chessboard Capital
- Website
- https://chessboardcapital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Chessboard Capital is a private LA-focused real estate capital and construction lending firm serving builders and investors in complexity-zone and post-fire reconstruction projects via construction, ADC, bridge, renovation, rescue, and JV equity products ranging from $1MM to $100MM.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chessboard Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Real Estate Lending
- NAICS
- Other Financial Vehicles (525990)
- SIC
- Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Jumbo & Portfolio Wholesale Lending (FSALACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB)
Keywords
Where Chessboard Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Mateo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Chessboard Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Loan Interest and Origination Fees: Chessboard Capital generates revenue through interest charged on construction loans, ADC loans, bridge loans, renovation loans, and rescue capital. Loan products carry interest-only payment structures with financed interest reserves. Revenue is earned on loan principal outstanding with terms ranging from 12-36 months depending on product type.
- JV Equity Profit Participation: The JV Equity Desk provides 100% financing with profit-sharing structures. Revenue is generated through profit participation arrangements where Chessboard Capital shares in project upside alongside builders and developers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Construction Loans: Up to 90% of total costs, 70% lot financing Day 1, up to $15MM per unit |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | ADC Loans: Up to 85% of total project costs, no maximum loan size |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | JV Equity: Up to 100% LTC with customized profit-sharing structures |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Renovation Loans: Up to 90% purchase price plus 100% rehab costs, up to 75% ARV |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Bridge Loans: Up to 75% LTV, up to $50MM, close in days |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Rescue Capital: Up to 80% LTC, up to $50MM, zero DSCR minimum |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Chessboard Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chessboard Capital is a private real estate capital and construction lending firm offering six specialized loan products: Construction Loans, ADC Loans, JV Equity, Renovation Loans, Bridge Loans, and Rescue Capital. The firm provides asset-based financing from $1MM to $100MM for builders, developers, and real estate investors, with a current focus on LA Fire-Rebuild projects, Complexity Zone infill developments, and distressed asset interventions.
Product overview
Chessboard Capital is a private real estate capital and construction lending firm offering six distinct specialized financing products: Construction Loans (ranging from $1M to $15M for LA Fire-Rebuild and complex infill projects), ADC Loans (acquire-develop-construct financing up to $100MM), JV Equity Desk (100% partnership financing with profit-sharing structures), Renovation Loans (up to 90% purchase price plus 100% rehab costs for projects up to $50MM), Bridge Loans (interim financing up to 75% LTV with fast closing), and Rescue Capital (distressed asset intervention up to $80% LTC for foreclosure prevention). The portfolio targets builders and investors focused on LA Fire-Rebuild projects, Complexity Zone infill, and residential specs, providing specialized underwriting that differs from standard bank lending.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Construction Loans Specialized construction financing for production home builders and custom builders, ranging from $1M production starts to $15M luxury specs. Offers up to 90% of total costs, up to 70% lot financing on Day 1, with specialized expertise in LA Fire-Rebuild projects and complex infill developments where standard lenders fall short.
- ADC Loans Acquire, develop, and construct financing combining land acquisition, horizontal development, and vertical construction under a single capital source. Covers up to 85% of total project costs for projects up to $100MM, with a phasing strategy that finances on finished lot values rather than raw land costs.
- JV Equity Desk Joint venture equity partnership offering 100% financing availability with true partnership structures and customized profit-sharing arrangements for builders and developers ready to scale aggressively. No capital requirements from the borrower; builder maintains operational control.
- Renovation Loans Renovation financing for value-add properties covering up to 90% of purchase price plus 100% of rehab costs, up to 75% of After Repair Value (ARV). Early draw advance funded at close of escrow with interest reserves included for light to heavy renovation projects up to $50MM.
- Bridge Loans Interim financing for completed or nearly completed home inventory or prior to permanent-financing readiness. Offers up to 75% LTV with closing in days and terms up to 24 months for projects up to $50MM, with interest-only payment structure.
- Rescue Capital Strategic intervention financing for distressed projects including mortgage lates, defaults, foreclosures, and bankruptcy situations. Asset-based underwriting prioritizing speed and asset value over credit history, with up to 65% LTAIV, up to 70% ARV, up to 80% LTC, no DSCR minimum, and 12-36 month terms for projects up to $50MM.
Companies that use Chessboard Capital
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Chessboard Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Chessboard Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chessboard Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NewRez (formerly New Penn Financial): NewRez is a large non-QM and construction-to-permanent mortgage lender serving builders and investors. As a much larger established player, it offers overlapping construction and bridge products but across a broader national platform and with primarily agency-aligned underwriting rather than asset-based.
- Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions: Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions is a non-QM and private lender providing construction, bridge, and investor loans. It serves a similar niche borrower base as Chessboard Capital but operates at greater scale with broader geographic reach and institutional capital backing.
Direct peers
- Anchor Loans: Anchor Loans is a private California-based real estate lender specializing in fix-and-flip, new construction, and rental portfolio loans. It directly competes with Chessboard Capital in the West Coast residential construction and bridge lending space with similar product structures and asset-based underwriting.
- Lima One Capital: Lima One Capital is a private real estate lender providing construction, renovation, and bridge loans to real estate investors. Its product suite and target market (fix-and-flip and BRRRR investors) closely overlap with Chessboard Capital's renovation, bridge, and construction offerings.
- CoreVest Finance: CoreVest is a private real estate lender focused on financing single-family rental and build-to-rent investors. Its construction-to-permanent bridge and rental loan products overlap with Chessboard Capital's builder and developer financing, particularly for portfolio investors and BTR developers.
- Kiavi (formerly LendingHome): Kiavi is a private real estate lender offering bridge, construction, and fix-and-flip loans to real estate investors and builders. It is a direct competitor providing asset-based financing for residential and multifamily investment projects, aligned with Chessboard Capital's product set and target customer base.
- Dext Capital (formerly Source Capital): Dext Capital is a private real estate lender offering construction, bridge, and long-term rental financing for residential and multifamily projects. It is a direct competitor in the asset-based lending space serving similar builder and developer segments.
Emerging players
- Groundfloor Finance: Groundfloor is an alternative real estate lending platform offering short-term bridge loans to fix-and-flip investors. It overlaps with Chessboard Capital's bridge and renovation products but differentiates through a crowdfunding-based capital structure serving smaller individual investors.
- Figure Technologies: Figure Technologies is a fintech-enabled private lender offering HELOC, bridge, and home equity products. While it overlaps with bridge financing concepts, its technology-driven approach and broader consumer focus differentiate it from Chessboard Capital's builder/developer concentration.
- Fund That Flip: Fund That Flip is a private real estate lending platform offering short-term bridge and fix-and-flip loans. It competes in the same asset-based lender space as Chessboard Capital but uses a marketplace capital model rather than balance sheet lending.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chessboard Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chessboard Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Chessboard Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chessboard Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chessboard Capital
What does Chessboard Capital do?
Chessboard Capital is a private real estate capital and construction lending firm offering six specialized loan products: Construction Loans, ADC Loans, JV Equity, Renovation Loans, Bridge Loans, and Rescue Capital. The firm provides asset-based financing from $1MM to $100MM for builders, developers, and real estate investors, with a current focus on LA Fire-Rebuild projects, Complexity Zone infill developments, and distressed asset interventions.
Is Chessboard Capital a public or private company?
Chessboard Capital is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Chessboard Capital founded?
Chessboard Capital was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Chessboard Capital based?
Chessboard Capital is headquartered in San Mateo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chessboard Capital make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Loan Interest and Origination Fees are the primary driver. The others are JV Equity Profit Participation.
Who are Chessboard Capital's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NewRez (formerly New Penn Financial) and Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions. Direct peers are Anchor Loans, Lima One Capital, CoreVest Finance, Kiavi (formerly LendingHome) and Dext Capital (formerly Source Capital). Emerging players are Groundfloor Finance, Figure Technologies and Fund That Flip.
Does Chessboard Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chessboard Capital.
What industry is Chessboard Capital in?
Chessboard Capital's product category is Real Estate Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSALACAF, Jumbo & Portfolio Wholesale Lending, with a secondary code of FSAKAGAB, SME Term Loans & Growth Capital. Its NAICS code is 525990 and its SIC code is 6162.