founded with a fearless and forward-thinking spirit, we build community through inspiring and empowering entrepreneurs.
Diego Torres-Palma founded the private real estate and investment firm Ventana Ventures in 2018. Ventana Ventures focuses on innovation through collaboration to identify opportunities for the company and other entrepreneurs. The result is that they build community through their investments and real estate ventures.
Upon relocating to Los Angeles, Torres-Palma noticed lease signs in commercial real estate buildings. It occurred to him that this was backward thinking, and there was an opportunity to innovate real estate development. Why buy a building and hope for a tenant? Instead, it makes more sense to find the tenant, invest, build out the space in a way that works and create a sustainable tenant. This process ensures that an asset will not sit on the market, offers collaboration, and ultimately elevates the building experience to create exactly what the tenant needs. Another important aspect is that it can give an opportunity to business owners that may otherwise have not been able to get their business off the ground – which is a commitment that is core to the mission of Ventana Ventures.
This distinctive approach unites the experience and expertise that Torres-Palma built Ventana Ventures upon as both an angel investor and a real estate developer.
Diego is also dedicated to job creation in the community through his projects. He is committed to working to help end the cycle of family poverty and homelessness as a board member of Imagine LA.
Our approach
Ventana Ventures gives clients the benefit of experience building their own projects. Having someone on your team who fully understands the importance of working closely with the selected design team to ensure the design documents and refinements still maintain the budget and schedule of the owner is invaluable.
Ventana Ventures participates in the refinement of the project design at the design development level, involvement with the preparation and coordination of the construction documents, including but not limited to mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire sprinklers, fire alarm, fire sprinkler, security electronics; limited CCTV, telephone/data infrastructure and other existing systems within the project scope.
Key Elements
During the design assist process our General Contractor will focus on the following:
• Construct-ability
• Cost Estimating – Fixed vs. Continuous
• Value Analysis vs. Value Engineering
• Schedule and Manpower Analysis
• Involving/Hiring Subcontractors early
• Removing Long Lead items
• Identifying preferred suppliers
• Working with the utility companies (Gas, Electric, Water) in the event any new lines are required in an effort to minimize schedule impacts.
About Diego Torres-Palma
Diego Torres-Palma - Managing Partner
Diego leads his companies with a forward-thinking, no-fear mentality, creating markets through proactive innovations. Diego’s layered expertise includes both a civil engineering degree and an MBA. Diego brings real-world business experience as the host of Startup To Storefront. Some of his most significant projects were as an angel investor and founder of a fashion/tech company, a data analytics company, and currently a real estate development company.
Growing up Peruvian, there was a lack of successful role models and mentors from Peru. That motivated Diego to be a mentor, not only for the younger Peruvian generation but for all those with an entrepreneurial spirit. With a personal mission to create more jobs by supporting entrepreneurs, Diego is an advisor, mentor, and investor to many startup founders who come on Startup To Storefront.
Since moving his base to Los Angeles, Diego has launched Ventana Ventures, a real estate company that lives and breathes the Startup To Storefront mentality. Investing in companies, purchasing the location, and overseeing the build-out is a model that sets Ventana Ventures apart and is a literal example of Startup To Storefront. Diego has quickly become known as a developer who creates a sense of community through his projects. His most recent development Benny Boy Brewing in Los Angeles showcases Ventana Ventures’ mission -- Founded with a fearless and forward-thinking spirit, we build community through inspiring and empowering entrepreneurs.
Diego is also dedicated to job creation in the community through his projects. He is committed to working to help end the cycle of family poverty and homelessness as a board member of Imagine LA.