Yoba Development

What Yoba Development does

Yoba Development is a privately held, New York-based diversified portfolio company founded in 2017 by actor/filmmaker Dr. Malik Yoba. It operates at the intersection of real estate development, education, and media, delivering ground-up mixed-use real estate projects, joint venture partnerships, and consultancy services alongside the I Build NY (IBNY) real estate education platform and an 8-part documentary series, 'The Real Estate Mix Tape.' Its core products are Ground Up Developments, JV Partnerships, Consultancy, Educational Programs, and Community Partnerships, with sub-brands I Build NY (IBNY), The Real Estate Mix Tape, and 'Flipping the Hood.' Business-model mechanics span project-based development fees and equity participation (anchored by its minority role in the $800M Center/West Baltimore build-out), professional services for educational program delivery (IBNY pilot in NYC DOE high schools via the Brooklyn STEAM Center and a Pratt Institute fellowship), ticketed community event revenue (the Flipping the Hood activation at $75 one-day / $150 two-day), licensing-style distribution of its documentary content, and a 501(c)(3) foundation arm (Yoba Development Foundation, established November 2022) that supports community and scholarship programs including a free Android tablet initiative with Moolah Wireless.

The company is exceptionally small (9 employees) and bootstrapped — no venture or growth-equity rounds are disclosed — relying on the founder's celebrity-driven brand, a curated coalition of educational, civic (NYC DOE, NYCHA, Pratt), and corporate partners (Hines, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, Monadnock Development, NHP Foundation, Moody Nolan, RXR), and a mission of expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion in commercial real estate. Geographic footprint spans New York, Maryland, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Revenue is not disclosed. With project-based development economics, modest ticket/event revenue, and largely pro-bono educational and community programming, cash revenue most plausibly sits in the low single-digit millions or below; the IBNY curriculum and Foundation programs are primarily reach-building assets rather than standalone revenue lines today.

Name

Yoba Development

Legal name

Yoba Development LLC

Website

https://yobadevelopment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yoba Development is a privately held, New York-based diversified firm founded in 2017 by Dr. Malik Yoba that combines ground-up real estate development with the I Build NY education platform and the Real Estate Mix Tape documentary series to expand diversity in commercial real estate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Development

NAICS

Land Subdivision (23721)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Land Development & Subdivision Homebuilding (Build-to-Sell Communities) (IMAFABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Learning & Training Content Development (EDAGAKAC)

Keywords

• Real estate development
• Mixed-use development
• Real estate education
• Commercial real estate
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

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

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Development: Ground-up development projects and JV partnerships focusing on mixed-use development in transitioning neighborhoods. Revenue generated through development fees, equity participation, and property appreciation in projects like the $800 million Center/West Baltimore development.
2. Educational Programs: High school, college and community-based education initiatives creating a pipeline for the next generation of real estate professionals. Programs delivered through partnerships with educational institutions and the Brooklyn STEAM Center.
3. Media and Content: Documentary production and media content including 'The Real Estate Mix Tape' series used for educational purposes and community engagement.
4. Event Activations: Revenue from 'From the Ground Up: Flipping the Hood' event tickets and sponsorship partnerships. Ticket pricing at $75 for 1-day and $150 for 2-day attendance.
5. Community Programs: Yoba Development Foundation (501c3) supports community and school-based educational initiatives, funded through partnerships and community engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Yoba Development is a diversified real estate, education, and media company that develops mixed-use properties in transitioning neighborhoods and structures joint-venture and consultancy engagements around them. The firm delivers the I Build NY (IBNY) real estate development curriculum to high school and college students, produces The Real Estate Mix Tape docu-series, and runs the Flipping the Hood community wealth-building activation. Revenue is generated via development/equity participation, JV deals, real estate consulting, educational programming, ticket and merchandise sales, and sponsorships, supplemented by a 501(c)(3) foundation.

Product overview

Yoba Development is a diversified portfolio company specializing in real estate development, education, and media. The company operates at the intersection of visual storytelling, entrepreneurship, education, activism, and cooperative economics. Its core offerings include Ground Up Developments (new asset development from idea to inception), JV Partnerships (creative joint venture structuring), Consultancy services, Educational Programs (for high school, college, and community audiences), and Community Partnerships. Key products include I Build New York (IBNY), an education platform for financial literacy and diversity in CRE; The Real Estate Mix Tape, an 8-part documentary series; and Flipping the Hood, a two-day immersive wealth-building event. The company's non-profit arm, Yoba Development Foundation, supports these educational initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• I Build NY (IBNY): Education platform promoting financial literacy, diversity, equity and inclusion in commercial real estate through content, curriculum, community engagement and equity crowdfunding
• The Real Estate Mix Tape
• Flipping the Hood

Products and services

• Ground Up Developments Real estate development service that takes new assets from idea to inception, identifying each community's unique needs and delivering mixed-use real estate and infrastructure projects. Includes ground-up mixed-use development projects and JV partnerships in neighborhoods such as the Bronx, West Baltimore, Nashville, and Georgia.
• JV Partnerships Joint venture partnership service that structures creative co-development deals and equity participation arrangements for real estate projects. Deployed on projects including the $800M Center/West Baltimore development with La Cité Development and The Pillars initiative with the NHP Foundation in Nashville.
• Consultancy Real estate consulting service grounded in capability, creativity, compassionate capitalism, and partnerships, delivered with minimal bureaucracy and low overhead to developers, public agencies, and community organizations.
• Educational Programs High school, college, and community-based education initiatives that create a pipeline for the next generation of real estate professionals, delivered through partnerships with schools, universities, and community organizations (including NYC DOE, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn STEAM Center).
• Community Partnerships Collaborative relationship service for local organizations including libraries, health centers, schools, school districts, workforce agencies, higher education institutions, human services agencies, and businesses, supporting community engagement, redevelopment, and educational initiatives.
• I Build NY (IBNY) Education platform and curriculum that uses creativity and unique partnerships to promote financial literacy, diversity, equity and inclusion in the commercial real estate industry through content, curriculum, community engagement, and equity crowdfunding. Targeted at high school and college students.
• The Real Estate Mix Tape 8-part docu-series following founder Malik Yoba as he pursues his first commercial real estate deal in New York, providing awareness, access, and advocacy for aspiring professionals interested in the CRE industry. Designed for use in high schools, colleges, and community-based organizations.
• Flipping the Hood (From the Ground Up) Two-day immersive generational wealth-building activation designed to inform, inspire, and empower communities of color to take action, work together, share information and opportunities, and create equity, access, investment, and ownership in commercial and residential real estate developments. Ticketed at $75 for 1-day and $150 for 2-day attendance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400 jobs created through the Center/West Baltimore development
• +3 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

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Brooklyn Navy Yard Development CorporationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2023Venue partner for the inaugural From the Ground Up: Flipping the Hood activation in May 2023 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
• Hines DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Two I Build NY pilot program students from Brooklyn STEAM Center received paid summer internships with Hines Development as an outcome of the Flipping the Hood activation.
• LaunchTechminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Federal cybersecurity contracting company that provided two scholarships for teenage girls to attend cyber camp as an outcome of the Flipping the Hood activation.
• La Cité DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnered as investor in the $800 million Center/West Baltimore development project led by Dan Bythewood and Ian Arias. Yoba Development joined this existing project as minority partner.
• Pratt Institute School of ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYoba Development Fellowship partnership with Pratt Undergraduate School of Architecture offering undergraduate students hands-on experience in real estate development projects, education and community outreach initiatives, and instruction in the I Build NY proprietary curriculum.
• NYC Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to introduce the first real estate development education platform and curriculum to NYC DOE public high school students through the I Build NY pilot program.
• Brooklyn STEAM CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation hub partner for the I Build NY program serving 11th and 12th grade students from eight Brooklyn high schools in computer science, technology, media, culinary, construction, manufacturing and real estate development industries.
• Monadnock DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in redevelopment of South Bronx public school project and brand new sports and wellness center initiative.
• Sherman Pierre ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural partner in the community-led initiative to redevelop a public middle school in the South Bronx.
• NYCHA Resident Management Company at Fredrick Douglass HousesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as partner to execute tenant association involvement with NYC Public Housing Preservation Trust for repair and rehabilitation of 3,000+ apartments under NYCHA.
• Moolah WirelessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology partner powering the Yoba Development Free Android Tablet Program for underprivileged students.
• RXR RealtyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEO Scott Rechler supported Yoba Development's diversity initiatives and introduced educational programming opportunities.
• The Urban Assembly Bronx Academy of LettersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner school for documentary screenings and redevelopment advocacy initiative. Principal Amy Schless and dean David Garcia Rosen lead school community involvement.
• Moody NolanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm partnership in development projects including The Pillars initiative in Nashville.
• The NHP FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in The Pillars initiative to redevelop 2,100 units of low-income housing in Nashville.
• Don PeeblesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment team partnership in various projects with inclusive community development focus.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit training underserved young adults for corporate careers; comparable as a pipeline-to-opportunity organization targeting similar communities, with overlap on the education-to-career mission Yoba is building through I Build NY.
• NPower: Nonprofit providing tech training and career pathways for underserved adults and veterans; comparable as an emerging player in the education-to-career-for-underrepresented-communities space adjacent to IBNY's mission.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit leader in affordable housing finance and development; broader incumbent in the same community-development space with deeper capital access.
• Jonathan Rose Companies: Mission-driven real estate acquisition and development firm focused on affordable and green urban housing; broader incumbent with a comparable values-driven approach.

Direct peers

• The NHP Foundation: Nonprofit affordable housing developer partnered with Yoba on The Pillars initiative in Nashville (2,100 low-income units); closely aligned mission and direct JV partner.
• L+M Development Partners: Major NYC affordable and mixed-income housing developer; comparable on ground-up mixed-use development pipeline and community-anchored delivery model.
• BRP Companies: NYC-based affordable and mixed-income housing developer; directly comparable on ground-up residential development in transitioning neighborhoods with a similar community-oriented mission.
• The Peebles Corporation: Black-owned real estate development firm led by Don Peebles (a Yoba partner); comparable as a minority-led CRE developer with a focus on high-profile urban projects and community impact.
• Monadnock Development: NYC affordable housing developer partnered with Yoba on the South Bronx public school and sports/wellness center initiative; comparable on community-led mixed-use development in transitioning neighborhoods.
• La Cité Development: Real estate development firm led by Dan Bythewood focused on underserved urban communities; direct partner with Yoba on the $800M Center/West Baltimore project, operating in the same mission-driven development niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ibuild_ny
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yobadevelopment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Yoba Development