Aaron Block is an early stage investor with a passion for building high growth real estate and technology businesses.

Aaron is Co-Founder and MD of MetaProp NYC (metaprop.org), the world’s premier real estate technology (“RETech” or “PropTech”) nexus. The MetaProp Accelerator at Columbia University is the leading growth program for early stage PropTech companies, based in the heart of Silicon Alley. MetaProp NYC’s team and strategic seed stage funds have invested in 60+ technology companies across the full real estate value chain that have raised more than $2 billion and employ over 1,500 people globally. MetaProp Advisors provides strategic advice, growth consulting, event management and market research for real estate companies that are serious about innovation.

Previously, Aaron served as CEO of Chicago-based BayRu, LLC, a US-Russia ecommerce shopping and shipping specialist and eBay.com’s exclusive drop shipping partner for Russia/CIS consumers. By 2013, BayRu grew to become the 8th largest international online retailer in Russia, was #11 on the Inc5000 “Top 100 Retail Companies” list, and was named “Exporter of the Year” by the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Prior to BayRu, Aaron was an executive with commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield and oversaw more than 270 professionals as leader of the Chicago region. Aaron received numerous honors and awards during his real estate career including Top Producer, Most Creative Deal, Agency of the Year and Most Promising Brokerage Professional. Notably, Aaron completed the largest leasing deal in Russian history and the largest leasing deal of the year in Ukraine (2007).

Outside of work, Aaron has served as a board member of numerous organizations including Young Presidents Organization (“YPO”), the Tech:NYC Leadership Council, New York City Community Board Five, and Friends of the Chicago River. Aaron speaks English, Spanish and Russian.