Black Founder Makes History After Raising $2.7M to Rewrite the Rules of Real Estate

In an industry historically closed off to everyday investors, Davonne Reaves, a former hotel front desk agent who became one of the youngest Black women in the United States to co-own a major hotel franchise, is making real estate ownership—especially hotel ownership—more accessible than ever. Her journey—from front desk to fintech founder—has become a blueprint for breaking barriers in commercial real estate ownership.

Her platform, Vesterr, the first Black-owned and woman-owned regulated crowdfunding portal dedicated to commercial real estate and hotels, has surpassed $2.7 million raised since its 2022 launch. Those funds have contributed to two hotel acquisitions, a hotel development in Puerto Rico, a hotel fund, and a car wash development, demonstrating the transformative power of democratized capital.

“Real estate ownership was never designed with people like me in mind,” says Reaves. “Vesterr exists because access shouldn’t be reserved for the wealthy, the well-connected, or the insiders. We’re building a platform that allows everyday people to invest in commercial real estate, build wealth, and create generational impact.”

VesterrCon: The First “Shark Tank” for Real Estate Crowdfunding

Vesterr’s momentum accelerated with VesterrCon, its inaugural in-person investor event held at Howard University and sponsored by the Marriott Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership and B Hospitality.

VesterrCon introduced a new concept to the market: a live, in-person pitch arena where investors could fund deals on the Vesterr regulated portal in real time—similar to Shark Tank, but for real estate.

The result:
• Over six figures raised during the event, including a fully funded hotel development
• Dozens of investors making commitments on the spot
• Founders gaining direct access to capital that typically requires insider networks

VesterrCon is emerging as a new model for democratized commercial real estate investing—bridging founders, investors, and institutional partners under one roof.

A Movement Changing Ownership in Hospitality & Commercial Real Estate

Only 1% of U.S. hotels are Black-owned. Vesterr aims to rewrite that narrative.

By operating as a regulated crowdfunding portal, Vesterr provides SEC-compliant investment opportunities for both accredited and non-accredited investors—opening a historically exclusive market to the masses. Categories include:
• Hotel acquisitions
• Ground-up hotel development
• Multifamily projects
• Mixed-use assets
• Niche commercial assets (car washes, storage, etc.)

“Crowdfunding is supposed to open doors,” Reaves adds. “But until now, there were no Black-owned regulated portals leading the charge. Vesterr is changing who gets to raise capital, who gets to invest, and ultimately, who gets to own.”

About Vesterr
Vesterr is the first Black-owned and woman-owned SEC-regulated crowdfunding portal dedicated to commercial real estate and hospitality investments. Founded by Davonne Reaves in 2022, the platform enables both accredited and non-accredited investors to participate in institutional-quality real estate deals with accessible minimums. Vesterr focuses on hotels, multifamily, mixed-use developments, and niche commercial assets while prioritizing transparency, compliance, and inclusive wealth building. Learn more at Vesterr.com

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