Launching a powered-land platform from zero
An infrastructure fund created a new land business and needed its founding team.
- 5
- founding hires
- 90
- days to full team
- 2 GW+
- pipeline sourced in year one
The challenge
The client was launching a dedicated platform to originate and entitle powered sites for data center developers. It had capital and a mandate, but no team.
The fund was competing with established developers for the same small pool of origination talent, and many top candidates were reluctant to leave stable roles for a brand-new platform.
Speed mattered: the fund's investment committee expected sites in diligence within the first six months.
Our approach
We recruited the platform head first, then built the team around that leader: origination, utility strategy, entitlements and development.
We prioritized people who combined real estate instincts with utility relationships — a rare mix.
We helped the client shape an equity and incentive package that made the move worthwhile for experienced originators.
We ran the five searches in parallel once the platform head was hired, so the full team could start within weeks of one another.
The outcome
The founding team of five was in place within 90 days.
The platform sourced more than 2 GW of potential sites in its first year.
Three of the five hires came from established data center developers, giving the platform immediate credibility with utilities and landowners.
The fund has since expanded the platform's mandate to include generation-adjacent sites.
Lessons for your search
Start early. The strongest powered land candidates were not looking and needed time to consider a move.
Be specific about the mandate. Candidates responded to clear decision rights, executive access and real projects — not just compensation.
Move fast once finalists appear. Every hire in this search had other conversations underway.