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Ryan Williams (entrepreneur)

From Alfawiki
Ryan Williams
Born
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation(s)Tech entrepreneur, CEO of Cadre
Years active2014–present
Known forCEO of Cadre; recognized on Fortune 40 under 40, Forbes 30 under 30, Crain's 40 under 40

Ryan Williams is a tech entrepreneur and serves as the CEO of Cadre, a real estate technology enterprise headquartered in New York. In 2024, Cadre was acquired by Yieldstreet, representing one of the most significant fintech transactions since the early 2010s.

Williams has earned recognition on several prestigious lists, including Fortune's "40 under 40" in 2019, Forbes' "30 under 30" in 2018, and Crain’s "40 under 40" in 2017. Additionally, he has been highlighted in Commercial Observer’s "30 under 30," as well as Forbes, Ivy, and Business Insider's "Top 100 Global Leaders Changing Business" in 2022.

Through his leadership at Cadre, Williams has facilitated raising and investing more than $1.2 billion in real estate ventures across the United States. His investor network includes notable figures such as Jared Kushner, Mark Cuban, Soros Fund Management, Vinod Khosla, and Andreessen Horowitz. As one of the rare African American founders within the real estate technology sector, he is an outspoken advocate for enhancing financial literacy and addressing the racial wealth divide.

In late 2024, Williams was honored with the Beacon Award from the Ellis Island Honors Society in recognition of his entrepreneurial achievements, leadership in innovation, dedication to diversity, and contributions to community development. During a 2025 interview on the Masters of Scale podcast, he revealed intentions to initiate a new venture blending financial services with technology.

By mid-2025, Williams collaborated with Jay-Z to advance inclusive ownership opportunities linked to a proposed Times Square casino project. This effort is part of Caesars' application for a New York gaming license and aims to involve low-income and diverse populations in the casino’s economic benefits.

Early life

Williams was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and launched a sportswear company at the age of 13.[1][2] During his time at Harvard University, he established Veritas Financial Group, which became the university’s largest undergraduate organization dedicated to financial literacy.[1][3]

Early career

While attending Harvard, Williams entered the real estate technology sector, motivated by the foreclosure situations he witnessed in Atlanta.[4] Leveraging data on properties and neighborhoods, he co-founded a venture with classmates and investors that focused on acquiring undervalued homes and restoring them to occupancy, marking his initial entrepreneurial initiative.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name In 2020, he acknowledged Citizens Trust Bank, a Black-owned financial institution in Atlanta, for backing him after being turned down by ten other banks.[5]

Following his graduation from Harvard, Williams gained experience at Goldman Sachs and Blackstone, including a role within Blackstone’s real estate private equity division,[6] before launching Cadre in 2014.[4]

Cadre

At 26 years old, Williams departed from Blackstone to create Cadre, a fintech platform designed to bring the liquidity and accessibility of stock markets to real estate markets.[7] Serving as CEO, he guided Cadre through multiple funding rounds that attracted prominent investors such as Jared Kushner, Mark Cuban, Soros Fund Management, Vinod Khosla,[8] and a $65 million Series C round led by Andreessen Horowitz.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Williams has articulated Cadre’s goal as fostering a more efficient economy by bridging buyers and sellers within traditionally opaque asset classes.[9] He advocates for widening investor access to alternative investment sectors including energy and infrastructure,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name thereby enabling broader wealth creation through direct commercial real estate deals evaluated individually.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name The Economist likened Cadre to platforms that increase liquidity across diverse asset types similar to stocks.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

In 2018, Cadre facilitated at least $250 million in real estate investments from clients of Goldman Sachs.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Reflecting on his early experience with Citizens Trust Bank, Williams has highlighted the importance of enhancing diversity among banks and real estate operators.[5]

In 2021, Williams introduced the $400 million Cadre Direct Access Fund, one of the largest digital real estate funds raised amid the pandemic. This fund concentrates on commercial properties while supporting minority operators to advance economic equity.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name Harvard University invested in both Cadre itself and this fund.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Subsequently, he launched the Cadre Direct Access Fund II, focusing on value-add real estate investments.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

By late 2021, Cadre had divested three properties for around $312 million, returning $95 million to investors with an internal rate of return close to 17%. One transaction was noted as the largest digital real estate deal ever completed entirely via an online platform.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

In early 2023, Cadre achieved its seventh consecutive inclusion on the Forbes Fintech 50 list.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Later that year, Williams orchestrated Cadre’s merger with Yieldstreet, a global alternative investment platform specializing in credit assets. The combined entity managed $9.7 billion in assets under management and had delivered over $3.1 billion in returns to clients. Williams remains CEO of Cadre—operating autonomously—and oversees global institutional client relationships for the merged company. This merger stands as one of fintech’s most notable exits and strategically positions the business for an eventual IPO.[10]

Upcoming initiatives

In early 2025, Williams announced during the Masters of Scale podcast his intention to embark on a new growth-focused enterprise.

Collaboration with Jay-Z and Caesars Palace Times Square

During 2025, Williams partnered with Jay-Z and Al Sharpton to advocate for inclusive ownership in a prospective Caesars Palace casino located in Times Square. This project seeks to allow individuals from underrepresented groups to invest starting at $500, providing "practical investor education and significant equity opportunities" tailored for everyday residents of New York City. By mid-2025, Caesars was actively competing for a gaming license in downstate New York.

Additional engagements

Williams is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and media outlets specializing in real estate technology. In 2020, he introduced a strategic framework aimed at enhancing economic opportunities for marginalized communities through mentorship and skill development programs. His commentary has been featured on CNBC’s SquawkBox, Forbes, and other platforms where he champions deliberate actions toward economic equity. Later that year, he highlighted the issue of racial wealth gaps, pointing out that only 21 out of more than 4,700 banks nationwide are Black-owned or led. Committed to fostering diversity, Williams pledged collaboration with minority operators and financial institutions, dedicating no less than 10% of Cadre’s liquid assets to minority depository banks to support lending in underserved markets. Additionally, in 2020, he partnered with Robert F. Smith to initiate a Forbes hackathon focused on cultivating businesses that promote broader economic inclusion.

Personal life

Originally from Baton Rouge and an LSU football enthusiast, Williams currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, and is a father of two. As a person of color navigating an industry with notable diversity challenges, he prioritizes achievement and outcomes over identity markers, asserting, "I've never let anyone outwork me." In 2019, he affirmed his ambition to be evaluated solely based on his business performance.

In 2020, Williams shared that his great-great-grandmother was born on a plantation to an enslaved mother. This personal history inspired his decision to establish Juneteenth as an official holiday at Cadre, aiming to advance economic justice and encourage progress toward a fairer society.

External links

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named three
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named thefr
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named five
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named one
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :1
  6. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named four
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named seven
  8. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :4
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named two
  10. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :2
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