


PROJECTS WORTH FUNDING
9:30 am - 11:00 am
The Deal Tank is a live project showcase featuring three vetted developments presented to a panel of experienced investors and lenders. Developers and contractors will present real opportunities, respond to questions, and explore funding options, including equity partnerships and structured debt.
Deal Tank is designed to accelerate opportunity. Selected presenters will have the rare chance to showcase their project directly to four leading capital investors and lenders at once. Beyond the exposure, participants may be invited to move forward into due diligence discussions with one of the judges, opening the door to real partnerships and financing opportunities. The showcase eliminates the need for countless individual outreach meetings by placing your project in front of key decision-makers—while also giving you visibility among potential partners, lenders, and contractors who can help move your project forward.
How To Submit Your Project
Ready to put your deal in front of the people who can help bring it to life? Submit your project details HERE to be considered for the Deal Tank Showcase. This is your opportunity to spotlight your vision and connect with the industry leaders who are actively looking for impactful projects to support.
Review Process
Once submitted, your proposal will be carefully reviewed by members of the NYREC Board. Selected projects will be invited to present live on the Deal Tank stage. If chosen, the Board will provide guidance on the additional materials needed and a clear presentation framework to help you refine your message, structure your talking points, and deliver a compelling pitch with confidence.

Deal Tank Judges
Moderated By:

President, Greater Harlem Real Estate Board; Co-Founder, ESRA Realty
Maurice Russell Grey is a 4th generation real estate broker, who has worked in his family business for the last 23 years. The parent company, Edwards Sisters Realty, was founded in 1925, by his grandmother and two of her sisters who emigrated from Guyana, West Indies, and is currently the oldest black owned real estate firm in NY state. For almost 100 years, Edwards Sisters Realty has provided affordable housing to the Harlem community. Maurice, also known to his friends and family as Russell, was born and raised in Harlem NY. After graduating from Rutgers University in 1996, he began working for the family firm. He started at the firm working with his father, Maurice Edward Grey, as a bookkeeper and office assistant. He soon passed the state licensing exam and became a licensed real estate sale’s person. Russell always possessed an interest in property ownership, and upon completing his first sale, took the money form the sale and purchased his first investment property. After gut renovating the apartment, he sold it for a significant profit, and went on to purchase several more properties, and rehab them. After a few years as a sale agent, Russell achieved his brokers license, and along with his cousin Aden Seraile, went on to found ESRA Realty, a Harlem brokerage company. ESRA Realty has helped facilitate over $40 million in property sales over the last 14 years. Russell’s heart has always been dedicated to real estate investment, and over the years he has acquired a large portfolio of properties that spans 7 different states, and includes asset classes from single family, to apartment buildings, to commercial restaurant properties. For the past 12 years, Russell has served as president of the Greater Harlem Real Estate Board. He also is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, the largest national minority real estate trade association, and a board member of the Harlem Business Alliance. As a Harlem native, giving back to the Harlem community has always been at the core of his family’s beliefs, and he lives by the credo, “to whom much has been given, much is expected”. Russell has spent a few years coaching in Harlem Little league, and today is an annual sponsor of a team in the organization. Russell has a belief that financial education at a young age is a key to closing the racial wealth gap, and has gone around the city speaking at schools, as well as hosting events for teens on the value of financial education and building careers in real estate. He’s also hosted several holiday events which involved donating toys to needy children, as well as partnering with Sylvias and Iris House to Feed Harlem for the Holidays. He was awarded the 2020 Living The Dream Award by the Harlem Alphas, The Hon. Leon Bogues Award by Assembly Woman Inez Dickens at the NYS Black and Latino Caucus, and was inducted into the Rutgers African-American Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2021. He also sponsors a scholarship for Caribbean American students at Rutgers university. Russell continues to live in, work with, and serve the Harlem community.

Hudson Square Properties: Procurement and Sustainability Philosophy
Join us at Deal Tank, an exciting opportunity for ELM attendees to showcase their projects to a panel of NYREC-associated investors. This is your chance to gain invaluable insights and potentially secure funding. Don't miss out on the opportunity to elevate your project to the next level! Sign up today and take the first step toward making your vision a reality.














