Benson Capital Partners Announces Initial Closing of New Real Estate Fund

NEW ORLEANS — On Jan. 19, Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson’s Benson Capital Partners announced the initial closing of a new real estate fund with more than $50 million in commitments from 10 different investors.

The initial closing of the new fund comes a little over two years after the debut of BCP’s first investment vehicle, a $56 million venture capital fund aimed at business formation, workforce expansion and wealth creation in the Gulf South. The first fund’s portfolio includes early-stage companies focused on robotics, consumer apps, biotech, industrial tech and other high-growth areas. Notable investment recipients include Hampr, a Lafayette startup that’s essentially an Uber for laundry; and AxoSim, a New Orleans-based biotech company advancing pharmaceutical testing on synthetics rather than animals.

Investors in the first fund include Entergy, Raising Cane’s and BankPlus.

- Sponsors -
Benson Gayle
Gayle Benson

“The idea when we started Benson Capital Partners was to build on the value of stimulating our local economy and proving to the rest of the nation that New Orleans and the surrounding area are ripe for opportunity,” said Benson. “The initial closing of our first real estate fund exemplifies the progress we are making in our effort to fill the gap of limited investment capital in our region. It is vitally important that we continue to be a catalyst promoting economic development. This is just another step, another fund, another opportunity to build our economy, add new capital and create new jobs while generating returns for our investors.”

The real estate fund, which focuses on the same geographic footprint as BCP’s venture capital fund, has already invested $16 million in regional projects with a “healthy pipeline” currently in due diligence, according to a Benson spokesperson. Ochsner Health is one of the fund’s anchor investors.

“Mrs. Benson and the organizations she leads are a critical component of our region’s economic and cultural health,” said Ochsner CEO Pete November. “We’ve seen how much our communities benefit when we invest in them and focus on the future. Ochsner is pleased to join forces with Benson Capital Partners to help to revitalize the communities we serve.”

- Partner Content -

Louisiana Plans to Spend $600M in Federal Money for Storm Recovery

BATON ROUGE – From the Center Square: The Louisiana Office of Community Development will hold a series of public hearings in the coming weeks to...

Like the venture capital fund, the new real estate fund is aimed at middle-market projects that are too big for smaller local investors and not big enough to attract interest from big national ones. Real estate projects with a total price tag of anywhere between $5 million and $25 million fall into that category. One recipient of funds is a pair of office buildings, soon to be renamed Riverside Park, at Power Boulevard and I-10 in Metairie. It seems possible that the fund might also invest in the late Chris Owens’ former Bourbon Street nightclub, which Benson purchased in 2022.

“The real estate fund will not only invest in New Orleans but around the entire region,” said Greg Bensel, BCP senior vice president of communications. “We will look to invest dollars around the state of Louisiana and are currently working with people around the state to identify opportunities. Markets like Birmingham, Jackson, Huntsville and Mobile are also very viable in our plan. This is a full regional investment and commitment.” 

Jones Walker provided all of the legal preparation and documentation for Benson Capital Real Estate I LP and Benson Capital Fund I LP.

- Sponsors -

BCP hired Keith Schneider, who most recently worked at TriGate Capital in Dallas, to help run day-to-day operations of this second fund. He joins Mike Katz and Caroline Crumley, who have been on the team since the debut of BCP’s first fund.

Digital Sponsors / Become a Sponsor

Follow the issues, companies and people that matter most to business in New Orleans.

Email Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter