What does it really take to thrive as an entrepreneur in today’s challenging real estate market? In this episode, we sit down with Lilian Chen, founder of Proptimal, the 10X real estate analyst platform for lean teams.

Lilian’s experience spans multifamily, commercial, and hospitality deals, having advised on over $2B in transactions, including $100M+ acquisitions and major projects like the Iovance Biotherapeutics HQ in Philadelphia. She’s worked with 200+ real estate firms, teaches 300+ high-net-worth investors how to underwrite and structure deals, and has guest lectured at Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

We trace her journey from corporate financial analyst to digital nomad entrepreneur, building her business while traveling to 40+ countries. Lilian shares why entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, the courage it takes to be disliked, and how persistence (“If you don’t quit, you can’t fail”) fuels success.

We also dive into the evolution of her business, from offering financial analysis services to building software that democratizes sophisticated underwriting tools, giving everyday developers and investors access to resources usually reserved for large institutional teams.

Whether you’re a seasoned real estate pro or just beginning to explore entrepreneurship, this episode delivers both inspiration and actionable insights on building confidence, prioritizing what truly matters, and scaling without burning out.

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