I'm Eli Nichtberger, a real estate operator and entrepreneur. I've spent my career working across brokerage, construction, consulting and investment. Today, I'm building Blockstone — a group of businesses spanning multi-family real estate, Bitcoin investments and real estate / crypto consulting.
The short version
I studied real estate investment at Baruch College with a minor in entrepreneurship. I started my career at CBRE as a brokerage intern, moved into commercial real estate at Bloom Real Estate Group, and in 2014 founded ELIeN Group LLC to work with owners, developers and contractors on real estate projects in New York and Florida.
I then spent eight years leading business development at JLM Decorating, helping grow the company to more than 140 people and $15 million+ in annual revenue. Along the way, I learned the construction side of the business — how buildings get built, where projects go wrong and what it takes to get them across the finish line.
In 2023, I went full-time with Blockstone. I started acquiring multi-family investment properties in Atlantic City, NJ and built the business around a simple idea: stay close to the assets, operate them ourselves and create value after closing.
Today, Blockstone is growing across three areas: multifamily real estate through Blockstone Holdings, Bitcoin and investments through Blockstone Capital, and real estate / crypto consulting through Blockstone Group.
Real estate and construction projects sourced since 2014
Multifamily properties acquired in 22 months in Atlantic City
People at JLM Decorating, which grew to $15M+ in annual revenue
Acquisition, renovation and management under one roof
The path
Brokerage taught me how deals get done. Construction taught me how buildings get built. Consulting taught me how to bring the two together. Blockstone is where it all comes together.
Brokerage services intern in Midtown Manhattan.
Junior analyst at a boutique New York investment fund, researching securities and options strategies.
Licensed associate focused on Manhattan commercial real estate, including office leasing and investment property sales.
Founded a real estate consultancy working with owners, developers and contractors across New York and Florida. Today, the business operates as Blockstone Group. blockstone.group
Led business development for a tri-state and Florida painting and decorative contractor, helping grow the company to more than 140 people and $15M+ in annual revenue. jlmdec.com
VP of business development for an HVAC contractor serving data centers and commercial buildings.
Launched Blockstone Capital as the group's Bitcoin and alternative investment arm. blockstonecap.com
Went full-time as principal managing partner, building and operating a growing multifamily portfolio in Atlantic City. blockstone.group/holdings
What I'm building
Blockstone brings together the different sides of my career — real estate, investment and consulting. Each business has a different focus, but they share the same approach: build carefully, operate well and create lasting value.
A privately owned, vertically integrated multifamily investment and management company focused on value-add and affordable housing. We acquire, renovate and operate our properties, with a focus on Atlantic City and select expansion markets.
blockstone.group →An investment platform focused primarily on Bitcoin and digital assets, with a long-term approach to building and preserving capital.
blockstonecap.com →Originally founded as ELIeN Group in 2014, Blockstone Group is the consulting arm of the business, working with owners, developers and contractors on real estate, construction and project execution.
blockstone.group →A different kind of asset
Real estate builds wealth in the physical world. Bitcoin preserves it in the digital one.
How I operate
I believe the best real estate operators stay close to the asset. We underwrite carefully, understand the physical building, move quickly after closing and keep as much of the work in-house as we can.
Good value-add starts before closing. Understand the building, the market and what can realistically be improved.
Ownership and operations should be aligned. Staying close to the work gives us more control over the outcome.
Closing is the beginning, not the finish line. The real work happens through renovations, operations, leasing and disciplined execution.
Build durable assets, durable cash flow and a business that can compound over time.
Speaking & giving back
I speak about real estate, Bitcoin and entrepreneurship, with a particular interest in where the physical and digital economies intersect. I've spoken at events including a fireside chat hosted by BFG Business Group at Sumitomo Corporation of Americas and an SJREIA panel on leveraging crypto for real estate.
Since 2022, I've served on the New York real estate chapter committee of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, helping support Gold Star families and the families of fallen first responders through the annual NYC Contractors Cocktail Event.
Previously, I spent five years on the committee at the NephCure Kidney International Foundation.
Contact
New York
254 West 51st Street, 16F
New York, NY 10019
New Jersey
95 Main Avenue, Suite 271
Clifton, NJ 07014
Telephone