Andrew Reichert is the CEO and founder of Birgo Capital, a Pittsburgh-based private equity real estate firm with $330M+ in assets under management and 3,600+ multifamily units. Having raised over $125M from investors, he oversees a team of 100+, is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and podcast host. Andrew embodies the first-generation entrepreneur scaling from small “no money down” deals to leading nine-figure institutional real estate investments.

On this episode we talk about:

Andrew’s beginnings: working restaurant jobs in high school, reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, and buying his first duplex straight out of college—with literally no money, no experience, and no credit

Creative real estate deals before the Great Financial Crisis: stacking first and second mortgages for $20K in cash at closing, and holding through 2008 due to conservative numbers

Growing from “house hacking” to 20 units while working at PNC Bank—then going all in on real estate entrepreneurship

The start of Birgo Capital: launching the first $10M fund (ultimately oversubscribed at $17M) by innovating deal structure and aligning incentives with investors

How he raised capital early: putting his own money in every deal, personally guaranteeing debt, and refusing management fees so all profit came from performance and carried interest

Evolving capital structures as the company grew, with bigger investors seeking more traditional private equity fee models

The “alignment of incentives” philosophy: why reputation, stewardship, and risk-sharing drive trust and investor confidence

Mindset: expecting big outcomes, focusing on stewardship, and building toward $1B in assets under management

Advice for new investors—how the right deal structure, total transparency, and performance alignment become powerful capital-raising tools

Top 3 Takeaways

Alignment of Incentives Raises Capital: Early success in raising millions comes from putting your own money on the line, personally guaranteeing loans, and only getting paid after your investors get paid—a structure that’s impossible to say no to.

From Small Deals to Big Funds: Anyone can start with “no money down”—but scaling to “big money raised” requires obsession with stewardship, track record, and structuring win-win deals for both small and large investors.

Growth Is a Mindset: Expecting and planning for outsize results is key—set big goals, focus on serving your people and your capital, and build with humility and discipline.

Notable Quotes

“Our first deal? No money, no experience, no credit—but I walked away from closing with a $20,000 check.”

“We wouldn’t make a dime unless the investment performed. Investors got paid first, then we participated in the upside. It made the decision a no-brainer for backers.”

“Larger investors want the fees and structure they’re used to. But trust still comes down to alignment and stewardship.”

“I always expected this to get big—our goal is $1B by 2030. For me, it’s about serving more investors and stewarding more assets.”

Connect with Andrew Reichert:

Company: Birgo Capital (birgo.com)

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