What are you looking forward to about this year’s Shark Tank event? 

Jimmy Gastner (JG): I am looking forward to seeing how emerging practitioners are thinking creatively about complex development challenges in Philadelphia. I am excited to see the next generation of developers and entrepreneurs – my peers – who are committed to building stronger and more inclusive neighborhoods. 

I am especially eager to see how emerging leaders approach development in ways that respect each community and reflect the lived experiences of residents. In my opinion, the most inspiring projects are those that add to neighborhoods rather than extract from them. They strengthen the fabric of a place rather than imposing something that feels disconnected. I am excited for ideas that show how thoughtful design, community partnership, and creative financing can help move the city forward through the built environment. 

Evan Reinhardt (ER): I’m excited to hear the pitches.

Lauren Smith (LS): I’m looking forward to hearing ideas from young professionals and the creativity that comes from an event like this! I’m biased but, sometimes I think it takes a fresh perspective to reveal something that might otherwise go unnoticed. 

Is there a particular project in Philadelphia right now you’re uniquely excited about? 

JG: I do not have one specific project in mind, but the overall atmosphere in Philadelphia right now is inspiring. There is a growing recognition that the built environment can and should address the needs of low- and moderate-income residents. Policies and practices across the city are beginning to focus more directly on the systemic issues that shape access to housing, opportunity, and neighborhood stability. This shift creates the conditions for individual projects to contribute to the long-term betterment of the city. It is encouraging to see developers, policymakers, and community partners working toward models that strengthen neighborhoods and support the people who call them home. 

ER: Lots! Village of Industry and Art has been a fun one to track, Also excited to see what happens at the Forman Arts Initiative over the coming year.

LS: I’m very excited about the plans for the Wanamaker Building. It will be interesting to see how adding more residents along Market Street shapes the corridor, especially through one of the more challenging office-to-residential conversions in the city. With thousands of square feet of retail space, there’s a unique opportunity to break it into a variety of uses. I also appreciate the commitment to honoring the building’s history, especially the organ, and activating the space throughout the transformation. 

What type of real estate projects do you think Philadelphia could benefit from having more of? 

JG: Philadelphia needs housing, housing, and more housing. The need goes far beyond creating new units. The city also needs meaningful preservation of existing homes to ensure they remain affordable, safe, and maintain and improve the health of residents. I am eager to see how developers participating in this year’s Shark Tank highlight strategies for preserving units in ways that support stability for residents. 

I am also interested in how people are adapting existing structures and reimagining the built environment for new uses that meet community needs, with housing at the center. Projects that strengthen what is already in place and expand access to stable, high quality homes will have the greatest impact across Philadelphia. 

ER: More intentional design, more community oriented & community enabling development, and more affordable home-ownership projects. 

LS: Mixed-use development is essential for creating long-term stability in dense places. Thoughtfully curated ground-floor retail can a big role in that. Personally, I’d love to see more coffee shops that stay open past 4 p.m. which can create evening vibrancy that isn’t specific to nightlife. 

From your perspective, what are the main considerations when evaluating a project or investment? 

JG: I look closely at three things: community impact, financial strength, and long-term stewardship. A promising project addresses a real need in the neighborhood, is structured with a sound capital stack and a realistic operating plan, and has a team committed to managing the asset for years to come. Projects that align vision, financial discipline, and community partnerships are the ones that truly succeed. 

ER: Every site and building has a specific context and presents different opportunities. Every project affects multiple communities (each with their own set of needs). Finding the ways these intersect should start at DD phase and continue through the life of the project. Once that initial vision is set, financial, construction, design and all the other pieces need to be addressed!

One of the great parts of Shark Tank is the opportunity for mentorship. How has mentorship helped shape the work that you do today?

Ramune Bartuskaite (RB): Mentorship has shaped every part of the work I do today. I’ve had the privilege of learning from leaders across real estate, building management, architecture, and development, people who have generously shared their insights, mistakes, and lessons learned. Their guidance gave me a stronger foundation than I could have built alone and allowed me to pursue my passions with clarity and confidence. 

As I grow in my own career, I feel a responsibility to pay that forward. The support I received has been transformative, and I hope to create the same sense of grounding, possibility, and momentum for the next generation coming up behind me. 

JG: Mentorship has been everything for my career. I have benefited from people who offered thoughtful advice, from others who sponsored and championed my growth, and from formal programs that shaped my development. I have also had mentors I met along the way whose support was informal but incredibly impactful. These relationships have been essential to my trajectory. 

Mentorship is also not limited to senior leaders guiding junior staff. Some of my most meaningful mentors have been peers or people earlier in their careers who helped me see issues from new angles. Mentorship is crucial to everything I have been able to achieve, and it works best when it flows in multiple directions. 

Through Shark Tank, I hope we can provide guidance that helps move these projects and these developers forward, and I am equally excited to learn from them. Mentorship does not need to be rigid. It can be a fluid exchange of ideas that strengthens everyone involved. 

ER: I try to learn something from every person I work with. Get more from   some than others, and have gotten a lot from a few. 

LS: Mentorship has helped me see gaps or blind spots I may not have recognized on my own, both in my work and in my career path. It’s pushed me to clarify what truly matters to me and the impact I’d like to make, while also encouraging me to advocate for myself and think bigger than what I may be used to. 

What about real estate, land use, or development led you to pursue or make a career in the industry? 

JG: Housing creates the conditions for people to succeed across every aspect of life. Housing influences health, educational outcomes, economic mobility, and overall well-being. Nearly every major life outcome is shaped by where a person lives and the opportunities that flow from that environment. That understanding is what drew me toward focusing my career on the built environment. 

I came to this work through a deep focus on affordable housing policy and programs because I saw how powerful housing can be as a foundation for broader opportunity. Over time, that commitment led me to focus on activating capital in ways that support the development and preservation of affordable homes. When you expand access to safe, stable housing, you are not only addressing a single need. You are addressing the root causes of many upstream challenges that families face. Investing in housing is a way to influence multiple policy domains at once, from health and education to economic stability and neighborhood vitality. That belief continues to motivate my work and shapes how I think about the role of real estate and land use in creating a stronger and more equitable city. 

ER: I love buildings and the stories they tell. More importantly, buildings exist to support people. It is really cool to put my daily effort into something concrete that will help people to live, work, and make meaning. If I can do that, support myself financially, and also insert a bit of beauty or wonder into the world, I’m checking all the boxes. 

LS: Everyone interacts with the built environment, whether they realize it or not, and it has the power to shape experiences in both positive and negative ways. Living in cities, I have seen firsthand how strategic investment can influence communities. This has grown my passion in wanting to be part of shaping development in a way that’s more equitable. 

As both a shark and a young leader, what trend or issue do you see most affecting the future of real estate and land use? 

RB: As both a Shark and a young leader, I see the rising demand for healthier, more sustainable buildings as one of the most transformative forces shaping the future of real estate and land use. Younger generations are far more educated on sustainability, and far less willing to accept the status quo. They understand the connection between materials, health, equity, and climate impact, and they expect the spaces they live, learn, and work in to reflect those values. 

What gives me the most hope is that as this generation grows into decision-making roles, their expectations will become the baseline. They will push our industry toward transparency, smarter material choices, and development models that prioritize well-being and long-term resilience. I have deep confidence that their leadership will accelerate the shift toward a healthier, more just built environment. 

JG: The biggest factors shaping the future of the built environment are climate change and income inequality. Climate change will shape not only where we can build but also how we build. It will introduce new cost pressures that may make some projects financially infeasible under traditional development models. These challenges threaten the creation of new units and place even more pressure on affordability. 

Income inequality is also widening, and that trend is likely to accelerate as government support pulls back. As the gap grows, more residents will struggle to access safe and stable housing, and the built environment will feel those pressures directly. Climate risks and economic disparities reinforce each other, creating conditions that demand new development approaches. To meet the moment, we will need new models for building and preserving housing and new ways to finance real estate, especially affordable housing. The future will depend on developers that can think creatively and responsibly about how to build resilient, equitable communities despite these challenges. 

ER: Probably overstated at this point, but AI will drastically change the way people are working over the 5-10 year timeline, which will impact the built environment. Also need solutions for: homeownership/affordability across the board; healthier (bio-based) building materials and more sustainable methodologies; and community supportive developments. 

LS: I think a lot about the loneliness epidemic and how it influences how we engage with community, technology, and the spaces around us. Creating or enhancing physical environments that intentionally bring people together will be essential for our future in an increasingly digital world. 

Ever think you would be a shark? 

JG: I never thought I would be participating in this event as a shark, and I am truly honored to be considered in this way. This event has featured sharks who are leaders in their fields, people I have looked to as mentors, and individuals who have shaped the direction of this city. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as a shark and to try to live up to the reputation set by those who came before me. It is an honor to be part of this tradition. 

ER: To be honest I still feel like a fish many days – but I can make sense of it in the “under 35” context – maybe “shark-lite” or “shark-in training” is more appropriate?