Key Takeaways
- • University of Chicago's Real Estate Investment Group launched a student-managed investment fund capitalized with a $100,000 donation from two founding members, Paul Stacek (A.B. '23) and Alessandro Rubini (A.B. '21), positioning RIG as one of the largest undergraduate-run investment funds at the institution.
- • The fund, which began trading in fall 2025, invests in publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and real estate-related equities, with a portion of annual returns allocated to the Odyssey Scholarship Program for low-income and first-generation students.
- • RIG established itself as UChicago's only registered student organization dedicated to real estate sector pre-professional development, having educated over 250 students through site visits, curriculum programming, and a cross-school case competition since inception.
- • The organization launched The Landmark Series, a student-organized speaker program featuring real estate industry professionals in hospitality, urban development, and investment roles, designed to increase accessibility to sector expertise across the entire campus community.
- • The fund operates under the leadership of seven undergraduates supported by an advisory board of industry professionals, establishing a rare model of active student capital management within the university environment.
Summary
The University of Chicago Real Estate Investment Group has expanded its institutional presence through a newly established student-managed investment fund supported by a $100,000 capital commitment from two alumni founders. Paul Stacek (A.B. '23) and Alessandro Rubini (A.B. '21) provided the endowment that enabled RIG to begin active portfolio management in the fall of 2025, making it one of the largest undergraduate-run investment funds at UChicago and one of the few student organizations at the institution with direct capital deployment authority.
The fund's investment mandate focuses on publicly traded real estate investment trusts, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and publicly traded real estate-related equities—a disciplined approach suitable for student-managed operations with defined risk parameters. Notably, the fund incorporates a philanthropic component, with a portion of annual returns directed to the Odyssey Scholarship Program, which funds loan-free education for low-income and first-generation students. This structure aligns portfolio performance with the institution's broader access and diversity mission.
RIG has positioned itself as the sole student organization on campus dedicated to real estate sector pre-professional development. Since its inception, the group has reached over 250 students through an integrated programming model that includes on-site property visits, structured educational curriculum, and a cross-school investment case competition. This educational reach reflects the organization's effort to democratize access to real estate industry knowledge across the university community.
The organization complemented its fund launch with The Landmark Series, a student-led speaker program introduced in spring 2025 that brings practicing real estate professionals to campus to discuss hospitality development, urban planning, and investment strategies. The series is designed to make industry networking and professional insight accessible beyond traditional placement channels, with student moderators and organizers directing the content and format.
Operationally, the fund is managed by a seven-member student leadership team supported by an advisory board composed of external real estate professionals. This hybrid governance structure balances student autonomy and learning objectives with practical guidance from experienced practitioners, establishing a model that other institutions have begun to replicate in alternative asset classes.
The fund's investment mandate focuses on publicly traded real estate investment trusts, commercial mortgage-backed securities, and publicly traded real estate-related equities—a disciplined approach suitable for student-managed operations with defined risk parameters. Notably, the fund incorporates a philanthropic component, with a portion of annual returns directed to the Odyssey Scholarship Program, which funds loan-free education for low-income and first-generation students. This structure aligns portfolio performance with the institution's broader access and diversity mission.
RIG has positioned itself as the sole student organization on campus dedicated to real estate sector pre-professional development. Since its inception, the group has reached over 250 students through an integrated programming model that includes on-site property visits, structured educational curriculum, and a cross-school investment case competition. This educational reach reflects the organization's effort to democratize access to real estate industry knowledge across the university community.
The organization complemented its fund launch with The Landmark Series, a student-led speaker program introduced in spring 2025 that brings practicing real estate professionals to campus to discuss hospitality development, urban planning, and investment strategies. The series is designed to make industry networking and professional insight accessible beyond traditional placement channels, with student moderators and organizers directing the content and format.
Operationally, the fund is managed by a seven-member student leadership team supported by an advisory board composed of external real estate professionals. This hybrid governance structure balances student autonomy and learning objectives with practical guidance from experienced practitioners, establishing a model that other institutions have begun to replicate in alternative asset classes.
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