What Kaiker Development + Construction does

Kaiker Development + Construction is a private, founder-owned development and construction management firm founded in 2015 by Kai Lewars and headquartered at 2145 Central Parkway in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company delivers a full spectrum of services spanning development, co-development, construction management, owner's representation, and general contracting for urban redevelopment projects, with particular focus on commercial, mixed-use, office, high-volume residential, and multi-family construction. Its client base spans government and quasi-government agencies (The Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority, Cincinnati Metro/SORTA), community development corporations and nonprofits (3CDC, Camp Washington Urban Revitalization Corporation, Valley Interfaith, Corryville CDC, Building Value), and commercial enterprises (Paycor, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Belcan, Allez Bakery). The firm also operates two affiliated entities — Kaiker Communities (property management) and the Kaiker Kidz Foundation (youth/community nonprofit).

The company's core technical capability is project execution rather than proprietary technology. It does not operate a software platform, public API, SDK, or AI-driven system; its differentiation rests on leadership experience, deep involvement from preliminary assessment through project closeout, and a cohesive team approach that integrates developers, construction managers, and contractors under one roof. Kaiker holds multiple certifications relevant to public-sector and diversity contracting, including Ohio MBE, Ohio DBE, City of Cincinnati SBE+MBE, NMSDC, EDGE, and EPA Lead-Safe, and holds memberships in ULI Cincinnati, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Allied Construction Industries, NAHB, OHBA, and HBA.

Kaiker's revenue model is professional-services-based with three streams: fee-based development services billed as a percentage of project value or fixed fees; construction management and owner's representative services billed as a fee or percentage of construction cost; and general contracting on a project cost basis. Pricing is custom-quoted per engagement with no published rate cards. Go-to-market is relationship-driven and principal-led, leveraging Kai Lewars' personal reputation and community ties, recurring co-engagement with architects (GBBN, Envisage Architecture, Elevar Design Group), and direct partnerships with larger general contractors (Turner Construction, Hunt Builders) on marquee Cincinnati projects. Operating geographies span the Cincinnati region, Northern Kentucky, and Dayton, Ohio.

Name

Kaiker Development + Construction

Legal name

Kaiker Development + Construction

Website

https://kaikerdevelopment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kaiker Development + Construction is a Cincinnati-based, MBE-certified firm founded in 2015 that delivers development, construction management, owner's representation, and general contracting services for urban redevelopment, serving government agencies, community development corporations, and commercial clients across the Cincinnati region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction and Development Services

NAICS

Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Construction (23)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Operative Builders (1531)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Management (Agency/Owner’s Rep) (IMAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Design-Build / EPC General Contracting (IMAFAAAD), Commercial General Contracting (New Build) (IMAFAAAA)

Keywords

• Construction management services
• General contracting services
• Urban redevelopment
• Development services
• Owner's representative

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Development Services: Fee-based development and co-development work including project assessment, strategic planning, scheduling, securing statutory approvals, team establishment, and project closeout. Revenue earned as a percentage of project value or fixed fee per engagement.
2. Construction Management: Construction management and owner's representative services billed as a fee or percentage of construction cost. Includes pre-construction services, risk management, compliance monitoring, and construction administration.
3. General Contracting: General contracting services for urban redevelopment projects including commercial, mixed-use, office, high-volume residential, and multi-family construction. Billed on a project cost basis.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kaiker Development + Construction provides a full range of development services (co-development, fee development, project assessment, strategic planning, scheduling, project staging), construction management and owner's representative services (preconstruction, compliance, risk management, design documentation, closeouts), and general contracting services for urban redevelopment of commercial, mixed-use, office, high-volume residential, and multi-family projects. Revenue is earned through fees (percentage of project value or fixed fee) for development and construction management, and on a project-cost basis for general contracting.

Product overview

Kaiker Development + Construction is a unified service-based company offering a full spectrum of development and construction management services for urban redevelopment projects. The core offerings include Development Services (co-development, fee development, strategic planning), Construction Management Services (owner's representative, compliance management, risk assessment), and General Contracting Services. The company specializes in four main project types: Single Family, Multi-Family, Mixed-Use, and Commercial developments. Additionally, the company operates a Property Management Division under the Kaiker Communities brand. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kaiker Communities: Rental property management division operating as a separate website (kaikercommunities.com).
• Kaiker Kidz Foundation

Products and services

• Development Services Full range of development services including co-development, fee development, preliminary project assessment, strategic planning, scheduling, and project staging. Services cover statutory planning approvals, cost control, procurement structures, and contractual framework establishment for urban redevelopment projects. Billed as a fee or percentage of project value.
• Construction Management Services Construction management and owner's representative services including pre-construction services, project and contract compliance management, changes, claims, progress payments, risk assessment and management (including OSHA-related issues), design documentation, and project closeouts. Billed as a fee or percentage of construction cost.
• General Contracting Services General contracting services for urban redevelopment of commercial, mixed-use, office, high-volume residential, and multi-family development and construction projects. Billed on a project cost basis.
• Property Management Division (Kaiker Communities) Property management services for residential and commercial properties under the Kaiker Communities brand, managing rental properties developed by Kaiker (e.g., State Ave Lofts).

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivers projects on time and on budget consistently
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ACI (African Construction Institute)minorOthersACI membership listed in the Certifications/Memberships section of the website, indicating industry association membership and professional network participation.
• Cincinnati USA Regional ChambercoreOthersActive membership and participation. Founder Kai Lewars serves as a board member. Company participates in Leadership Cincinnati and State of the Region events. Multiple speaking and panel engagement opportunities.
• OHBA (Ohio Housing Builders Association)minorOthersMembership listed. Industry association for housing builders in Ohio.
• NAHB (National Association of Home Builders)minorOthersMembership listed. National industry trade association.
• EDGE (Equality, Diversity, and Growth for Equity)minorOthersEDGE certified firm (certification visible in memberships section). Supports diversity and equity in contracting.
• MBE (Minority Business Enterprise)minorOthersMBE certified. Firm holds Ohio MBE and City of Cincinnati MBE + SBE certifications.
• NMSDC (National Minority Supplier Development Council)minorOthersNMSDC certified member, listed with 2024 certification badge.
• EPA Lead-Safe Certified FirmminorOthersEPA Lead-Safe certification, required for renovation and painting work involving lead-based paint hazards.
• HBA (Home Builders Association)minorOthersHBA member listed. Industry trade association for home builders.
• Ohio DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise)minorOthersOhio DBE certified, enabling participation in publicly funded transportation and transit projects.
• Allied Construction IndustriesminorOthersActive membership and participant in Allied Construction Industries annual golf outing and networking events.
• ULI Cincinnati & Queen City DeveloperscoreOthersFounder Kai Lewars is a member of ULI and volunteer mentor for the ULI REAL Program. Company participates in ULI programs including 'Coffee & Career' Spotlight series.
• Turner Construction CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurner Construction is the primary general contractor partner on the Saks Building Renovation project (Paycor Headquarters, 86,304 SF). Manasseh Robinson serves as CM on Turner's PE team for this project. Collaboration also on 3CDC Ziegler Park Tiki Bar.
• Envisage ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership on multiple projects including CMHA City West Redevelopment (62 units), SORTA METRO A+E Door Capital Upgrades Project, and various residential developments.
• Urban Land Institute (ULI)coreOthersCompany and founder are ULI members. Founder serves as volunteer mentor in ULI REAL Program for 3+ years. Active participant in ULI Cincinnati programming.
• Hunt Builders CorpcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKey partner on The Port's new headquarters at Atrium II (14,500 SF Class A office renovation). Hunt Builders served as the primary builder/general contractor with Kaiker providing construction management services.
• GBBN ArchitectscoreTechnology or IntegrationArchitecture partner on multiple projects including The Port's Atrium II headquarters, Saks Building/Paycor HQ, and State Ave Lofts. Integral design collaborator.
• Cushman & WakefieldminorOthersReal estate services partner listed for The Port's Atrium II headquarters project.
• LOTH, IncminorOthersProject partner listed for The Port's Atrium II headquarters project.
• 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor development partner on multiple projects including Saks Building Renovation (Paycor HQ), Tiki Bar at Ziegler Park, Meyer’s Lofts Condos, and various commercial projects in the downtown/OTR corridor.
• Building ValuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Value led deconstruction and salvage operations at historic Mecklenburg Gardens, with Kaiker as lead contractor. Partnership focused on workforce development and environmental sustainability through historic preservation.
• Hamilton County LandbankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaged entity of The Port. Acquires blighted properties for restoration. Kaiker has completed multiple projects through landbank partnerships including State Ave Lofts and historic Colerain Avenue homes.
• Elevar Design GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationArchitectural partner on Cincinnati Metro Queensgate Facility improvement project, where Kaiker is leading construction management.
• Kaiker Kidz FoundationminorOthersAffiliate organization founded by Kai Lewars. Kai serves as Board Chair. Company supports youth development and community uplift through this foundation.
• Kaiker CommunitiesminorOthersAffiliate property management/rental company of Kaiker Development + Construction. Manages rental properties developed by the company (e.g., State Ave Lofts).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Walsh Group: Large national general contractor with strong Midwest presence in healthcare, education, and civic construction — overlapping institutional client base and CM/GC service lines.
• Pepper Construction: Regional construction manager and general contractor serving Ohio and the Midwest across commercial, healthcare, and education markets — overlapping client base and delivery model.
• Hunt Construction Group: National general contractor and CM firm that partnered with Kaiker on The Port's Atrium II headquarters; competes for the same large commercial and civic buildouts in Greater Cincinnati.
• Turner Construction: Largest national general contractor; recurring co-development partner on Kaiker's flagship Saks/Paycor HQ project and active in the same Cincinnati urban redevelopment pipeline.
• Messer Construction: Large Midwest general contractor and construction manager with deep Cincinnati presence and a project portfolio overlapping Kaiker's on civic, healthcare, and commercial builds.

Direct peers

• Skender Construction: Mid-size design-build general contractor with integrated construction management and development services for commercial and multifamily clients — closely comparable service stack.
• Model Group: Cincinnati-based real estate development and construction firm with a multi-service platform spanning development, construction management, and design-build — directly comparable in scope to Kaiker and operating in the same regional market.
• ARCO Design/Build: National design-build construction firm offering integrated development, design, and construction services for commercial, multifamily, and mixed-use projects — a comparable single-source delivery model.
• Hill & Wilkinson General Contractors: Mid-size regional general contractor with integrated construction management and design-build services for commercial, multifamily, and civic projects — comparable scale and service stack.
• Terrex Development & Construction: Cincinnati urban redevelopment and construction firm where founder Kai Lewars previously worked; comparable mission-driven focus on neighborhood revitalization and mixed-use development in the same metro.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/kaikerdev
• Facebookfacebook.com/kaikerdevelopment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kaiker-development
• Instagraminstagram.com/kaikerdevelopment

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Kaiker Development + Construction