Minh Le is a self-described technologist, a former managing director with Accenture who has branched out into predictive data analytics, big data management and software development through a variety of acquired companies. Next stop, real estate.
Le and his company, 22 Capital Partners, are proposing to build Gramercy District, a 2.5 million-square-foot, $500 million development on 16 acres fronting the north side of the Dulles Greenway, adjacent to the planned Ashburn Metro station on the Silver Line. Le has landed a Fortune 50 partner in Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) as a co-investor that will bring its expertise, its people and its capital to bear.
“What we’re looking to do is build the next great tech real estate company,” Le said during a meeting in his Reston office. “We believe that technology is going to be a major force and driver in the way people live, the way people learn, the way people socialize.”
“It’s not just our site,” he continued. “What we’re building is portable.”
Microsoft will help build the blueprint for an “intelligent living platform,” Le said. It will be aligned with, if not directly a part of, Microsoft’s CityNext program and its focus on neighborhood management, smart buildings, operations management and sustainabile land use. While details of its role are scarce, John Hardigree, Microsoft’s strategic partner and channels lead, confirmed the company’s role. Its scope and investment will be disclosed later, he said.