Building Billion-Dollar Real Estate Deals With Scott McKibben of Matterhorn Venture Partners

Scott McKibben is the CEO and Co-founder of Matterhorn Venture Partners, a Chicago-based firm that specializes in acquiring, developing, and managing value-added industrial real estate across the US. With a career spanning over 30 years, Scott has overseen more than $10.6 billion in transactions and has developed and acquired more than 80 million square feet of industrial and office properties — making a significant impact on the commercial real estate industry. A former NCAA Division I tennis player at DePaul University and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Scott brings a competitive and disciplined approach to deal-making and team building.

Many real estate professionals face the challenge of scaling profitably while adapting to unpredictable market cycles. With rising interest rates, fierce competition, and shifting project economics, building a resilient investment firm requires more than capital — it demands vision, adaptability, and the ability to attract top-tier talent. How can today's dealmakers structure firms that weather downturns and still deliver strong returns?

Scott McKibben, a seasoned commercial real estate executive, shares how he launched his firm with a lean, MVP-style approach — assembling a team of trusted colleagues and offering shared ownership to create true alignment. With over $10 billion in transactions and 80 million square feet of industrial and office projects under his belt, Scott reflects on lessons from both legacy deals and new ventures. He explains why backing local partners as 50-50 co-owners leads to entrepreneurial agility, how persistence and adaptability helped him navigate projects like the Citadel Center pivot, and why securing equity before chasing deals is a discipline he swears by.

In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz interviews Scott McKibben, Co-founder and CEO of Matterhorn Venture Partners, about building high-impact real estate ventures. Scott shares his journey from leadership at Brennan Investment Group to launching MVP, strategies for recruiting top talent, and the importance of transparency and trust with investors. He also dives into the mindset that fuels long-term success, the role of relationships in sourcing deals, and how sports taught him the grit and discipline needed to thrive in real estate.