Betting on Yourself: Benji Miller’s Journey from Institutional Real Estate to Entrepreneurship

On this episode of The Kirsh Connection, I sit down with Benji Miller, Founder of Negresco Property Group, to discuss the realities of making that leap while still in your 30s. Benji shares the lessons he learned transitioning from the institutional real estate world at Hackman Capital to entrepreneurship—what gave him the confidence to take the risk, the challenges of building a company from the ground up, and the advice he would give to others considering the same path.

We also dive into the industrial outdoor storage (IOS) sector, why Negresco has focused exclusively on IOS opportunities throughout Southern California, and how the market has evolved since the frenzied investment environment of 2021–2023. Benji explains why transaction activity has slowed, where he sees opportunities today, and what investors should be watching as the market continues to mature.

Finally, Benji shares an incredible personal story about how he played a role in helping launch the college coaching career of Dan Hurley, who would go on to become a two-time NCAA Men’s Basketball National Champion at University of Connecticut.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, an institutional real estate professional contemplating your next move, or simply interested in the evolution of today’s commercial real estate market, this episode offers practical insights from someone who recently made the leap—and hasn’t looked back.