SMARTCAP at the 506 Investor Group Conference

SMARTCAP CEO Tim Shoultz presents SMARTCAP Acuity to the 506 Investor Group. Image by: Katie Cannon

CEO Tim Shoultz and Director of Development Brittney Brandt represented SMARTCAP at the 506 Investor Group conference in Phoenix on Sept.19–20, 2025, where SMARTCAP also served as an event sponsor. 

Founded in 2015, the 506 Investor Group is a member-driven community of more than 3,500 accredited investors focused on private-market opportunities—spanning real estate, private equity, venture capital, and more—emphasizing shared diligence, negotiated terms, and independent decision-making.

Tim presented SMARTCAP Acuity, our new AI-driven acquisitions technology that focuses on the efficiency of the underwriting process. Interest was strong enough to spark an at-capacity meet-up the next morning, underscoring investor enthusiasm for data-powered sourcing and underwriting.

SMARTCAP also introduced its upcoming rail-focused platform, SMARTCAP Rail, outlining our strategy to serve small and mid-sized rail users with tailored, rail-served industrial developments in target markets across the West Coast, Mountain West, Southwest, and Texas, in partnership with major carriers and short-line operators. Look for investment opportunities in the coming months.

In addition, the team shared information on its active deal and latest OZ venture, SMARTCAP's Opportunity Zone 4,”: Arlington Air North Building 3—a planned 203,922 SF light-industrial facility in Arlington, Wash. The project sits on a long-term (75-year) ground lease with construction targeted to begin in spring 2026 and delivery in Q1 2027.

Throughout the conference, SMARTCAP met with investors in one-on-ones and informal sessions and hosted dinners, building deeper relationships and fielding thoughtful questions about our pipeline and technology.

Want to learn more about SMARTCAP Acuity, OZ4, SMARTCAP Rail or connect with the team? Reach out to investors@thesmartcapgroup.com, and we will follow up.

Introducing SMARTCAP Rail

Image by: fancycrave1 via Pexels

SMARTCAP Rail is our focused platform to serve small and mid-sized rail users—a segment often overlooked by large developers. Our aim is to become the leading provider of rail-served industrial real estate for these customers through tailored design and execution.

Where we play & why it matters

We target opportunistic acquisitions and new developments across the West Coast, Mountain West, and Texas, markets benefiting from e-commerce growth, shifting global trade patterns, and cross-border nearshoring tailwinds. U.S. rail freight is valued at $71.8B in 2025, with projections to $84.8B by 2030, underscoring durable demand for rail-linked logistics. 

How we deliver

Our approach combines data-driven site selection, strategic partnerships (Class I carriers, short-line operators, and economic development groups), and two execution pillars: value-add acquisitions of existing rail-served assets and ground-up development (spec, build-to-suit, and fee development). We prioritize transload solutions—from containers/trailers tied to e-commerce imports to dimensional freight like lumber and steel—while generally avoiding hazardous liquids (with selective exceptions).

Market focus

Current focus areas include the Pacific Northwest (Seattle/Tacoma and Portland), inland hubs such as Salt Lake City and Phoenix, and the Laredo → San Antonio corridor that links U.S.–Mexico trade flows—each offering compelling rail connectivity and user demand.

Want updates? Join the Interested List on the SMARTCAP Rail page.

Boeing’s New Orders Point to a Manufacturing Upswing in Snohomish County—And a Tailwind for Industrial Real Estate

Image by: Jetstar Airways via Creative Commons

Recent widebody and single-aisle commitments are set to channel more work to Boeing’s Everett campus—boosting local manufacturing activity and, in turn, demand for well-located industrial space in and around Snohomish County.

Widebody momentum (777X)

China Airlines ordered 14 777 jets (10 777-9 and four 777-8F), and Cathay Pacific followed with 14 additional 777-9s, bringing its total to 35. Qatar Airways also announced a landmark widebody deal in May that includes additional 777-9s. Together, these programs anchor long-run production in Everett.

Narrowbody scale (737 MAX 10)

WestJet placed 60 firm orders for the 737-10 with 25 options, while Turkish Airlines committed to up to 150 737 MAX jets as part of a 225-aircraft plan. Boeing has indicated MAX 10 production will start in Everett after expected FAA certification in 2026, positioning Snohomish County for a new narrowbody final-assembly flow.

Active lines in Everett

Boeing began manufacturing the first 777-8 Freighter in Everett in July (marked by the first hole drilled in a wing spar). And starting Sept. 29, 2025, the FAA restored limited authority to Boeing to issue airworthiness certificates for some 737 MAX and 787 jets—expected to smooth deliveries even as broader production caps remain.

What this means for industrial real estate

Snohomish County’s industrial vacancy is higher than the regional average—~12.7% in Q2—leaving room for absorption as aerospace suppliers ramp up. Expect heightened requirements for manufacturing bays, supply-chain warehousing, transload/rail-served sites, and 30k–150k-SF blocks close to Everett and corridor logistics. Regionally, Puget Sound vacancy sits in the ~9–10% range, but aerospace-linked demand should concentrate in north-end submarkets as production milestones stack up through 2026–27, which is positive news for SMARTCAP's Opportunity Zone 4. Join the interested list here.