What CoPlace does

CoPlace is a San Diego-based consortium that develops community-oriented real estate projects using modular, distributed infrastructure systems. The company activates communities in Opportunity Zones and Promise Zones through an "inside-out" approach, partnering with local leaders and residents before developing tailored projects. Its portfolio includes four active projects (Quartyard, Barrio Logan with PorVida, Rainbow Building, and 1835 Studios) and two upcoming projects (CoPlace Hub in Chula Vista and CoPlace Logan). The core technology consists of configurable, relocatable modular building-block systems that can be deployed in days rather than years, with planned IoT integration for real-time community management at CoPlace Logan.

The company serves multiple customer segments: Opportunity Zone investors seeking tax-advantaged capital deployment (deferral, basis step-up, permanent exclusion on capital gains), local entrepreneurs and small businesses leasing affordable retail storefronts, coworking offices, and creative studios, and municipalities seeking community activation partners. Revenue is generated through several streams including real estate leasing, Opportunity Zone Fund management, community activation consulting via consortium members, and ancillary leasing such as the planned CoPlace Commissary kitchen. Distribution operates through physical community spaces as showrooms, consortium member referral networks (notably EO Global with 13,000+ business owners), direct pre-leasing via interest lists, and direct phone/email contact.

CoPlace differentiates itself through a community-first approach combined with proprietary modular infrastructure. The consortium combines expertise in real estate, finance, analytics, architecture (RAD LAB), and creative industries (artist RISK/Kelly Graval). Measurable outcomes include the Rainbow Building doubling in real estate value in under three years, 10,000+ weekly visitors to Barrio Logan, and 13 of 22 units pre-leased at CoPlace Hub before launch. The company has received the 2019 World Architecture & Design Awards (Pop-Ups Temporary), academic recognition via Springer publication, and proclamations from the Mayor of San Diego.

Name

CoPlace

Legal name

Coplace

Website

https://coplace.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CoPlace is a San Diego-based consortium that develops modular community spaces in Opportunity Zones, serving local entrepreneurs with affordable retail and coworking leasing while offering Opportunity Zone Fund management to tax-advantaged impact investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Real Estate Development

NAICS

Facilities Support Services (561210), Business Service Centers (56143)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

Keywords

• Community activation
• Modular infrastructure
• Opportunity zone fund
• Adaptive reuse
• Community real estate

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Opportunity Zone Fund Management: CoPlace operates an Opportunity Zone Fund that enables investors to deploy capital gains into designated Opportunity Zones, generating returns through community real estate development while providing tax benefits to investors (deferral, basis step-up, and permanent exclusion on capital gains).
2. Real Estate Development and Leasing: CoPlace acquires, develops, and leases modular and mixed-use community spaces. Revenue is generated from tenant leases (e.g., CoPlace Hub offering retail storefronts and coworking offices; 1835 Studios offering creative studios, galleries, and retail units).
3. Community Activation Consulting: CoPlace provides technical assistance to local leaders and communities as part of its community activation model. Consortium members provide strategy, planning, management, architecture, design, and business sourcing services.
4. Shared Kitchen / CoPlace Commissary: CoPlace Logan will include a shared kitchen ('CoPlace Commissary') exposing area residents to food concepts while giving local food entrepreneurs a rental opportunity, generating revenue from commissary leases.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CoPlace is a community activation consortium that develops modular, distributed infrastructure for neighborhood-scale community spaces. It activates communities by converting underutilized parcels into physical hubs, deploying a proprietary relocatable modular infrastructure with embedded IoT controls, and operating an Opportunity Zone Fund to finance these community-serving projects. Its portfolio spans active spaces (Quartyard, Barrio Logan, the Rainbow Building, 1835 Studios) and forthcoming hubs (CoPlace Hub, CoPlace Logan).

Product overview

CoPlace is a community activation consortium offering a portfolio of modular, distributed infrastructure-based community spaces. The core offering consists of activated locations (Quartyard, Barrio Logan, Rainbow Building, 1835 Studios) that serve as community hubs combining retail, art, food, and event spaces. Upcoming projects include CoPlace Hub (coworking/retail in Chula Vista) and CoPlace Logan (full-scale IoT-enabled community infrastructure). All CoPlaces use configurable building-block modules that adapt to local community needs and can be deployed in days rather than years. The company also offers an Opportunity Zone Fund for investment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Quartyard: Community activation space featuring dog park, beer garden, event space, and food hall in downtown San Diego
• PorVida
• Rainbow Building
• 1835 Studios

Products and services

• Quartyard
• Barrio Logan
• Rainbow Building
• 1835 Studios
• CoPlace Hub
• CoPlace Logan
• Opportunity Zone Fund
• CoPlace Modular Infrastructure

Quantifiable outcome

• Rainbow Building doubled its real estate value in less than three years in a slow market
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vanguard CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2023CoPlace partners with Vanguard Culture, a cultural organization, to co-present ENVZN23 — an arts festival in Logan Heights. This partnership brought together two communities through a multi-day cultural event, with CoPlace providing community activation expertise and Vanguard Culture contributing cultural programming and curation.
• City of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2023CoPlace works closely with the City of San Diego on community development projects. CoPlace hosted the City of San Diego's Creative City initiative kickoff meeting at The Soap Factory in Logan Heights, demonstrating a collaborative civic partnership. The city also credited CoPlace's Quartyard for cleaning up a blighted block that led to a major development.
• RAD LABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRAD LAB collaborated with CoPlace and the City of San Diego on the Quartyard project. RAD LAB is an architecture/design partner that contributed to the development of the modular community activation space. The original Quartyard was a collaborative project between RAD LAB and the City of San Diego located on city-owned land.
• Artist Risk Rock (Kelly Graval)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoPlace collaborated with renowned graffiti and abstract artist Risk (Kelly Graval) to design the unique rainbow-colored exterior of the Rainbow Building in North Park, San Diego. This creative collaboration transformed the property from a blighted adult bookstore into a landmark and top Instagram 'selfie' location.
• PorVida Café / Milo LorenzanacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoPlace partners with PorVida Café and its co-owner Milo Lorenzana, a local leader in Barrio Logan. PorVida was the first building in Barrio Logan to offer a mixed-use space for budding entrepreneurs. Milo Lorenzana serves as a community leader and co-owner, helping identify local businesses in alignment with the CoPlace ethos.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused coworking and community spaces operating in over 100 cities. Directly comparable to CoPlace's coworking/retail community hub model (CoPlace Hub, 1835 Studios) with shared focus on mission-driven entrepreneurship and community activation.
• BRIDGE Housing: Non-profit developer of affordable and workforce housing across California, Oregon, and Washington. Directly comparable mission of building community-oriented real estate in underserved urban neighborhoods with similar focus on preventing displacement.
• SG Blocks: Modular construction company using shipping container-based and steel-frame structures for commercial, residential, and community buildings. Comparable technology architecture to CoPlace's modular infrastructure and similar focus on speed-to-deployment versus conventional construction.
• Blokable: Modular construction technology company producing configurable building blocks for housing and community spaces. Directly comparable to CoPlace's modular, distributed infrastructure approach with similar value proposition of rapid, configurable deployment.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Housing: National nonprofit affordable housing developer operating in 41 states with similar focus on underserved urban communities. Comparable community development and real estate development model, though at much larger institutional scale.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Major national community development financial institution (CDFI) financing affordable housing and community development projects across the US. Comparable mission and access to Opportunity Zone-aligned capital, though operates as a much larger established nonprofit funder.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit operating across affordable housing, community development, and impact investing with significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach. Comparable mission of community revitalization in underserved areas, though operating at much greater scale than CoPlace.

Emerging players

• RAD LAB: San Diego-based architecture and urban design firm that co-developed Quartyard with CoPlace and the City of San Diego. Closely comparable in modular pop-up architecture and community activation methodology, functioning as both a partner and adjacent service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coplace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 CoPlace