In 2006, DLP Capital’s story began when Don Wenner, a young entrepreneur, started his real estate career with a simple but bold aspiration: to transform lives through housing. Nearly twenty years later, DLP Capital has grown into a nationally recognized, vertically-integrated private real estate investment firm, with sister companies in banking, multifamily and outdoor hospitality property management, construction, and more. Although its scale has grown dramatically, DLP’s foundation remains rooted in the same core principles: a clear vision for the future, disciplined execution, unshakeable grit, and a steadfast commitment to making a meaningful impact.
This commitment has earned DLP Capital a spot on Inc. Magazine’s prestigious list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies for the 13th consecutive year—a milestone reached by only seven other companies in 2024 and just four in 2025. This rare achievement underscores DLP’s exceptional consistency and relentless pursuit of both success and significance within the real estate industry. It’s a milestone built not just on figures, but on nearly two decades of bold vision and purposeful execution.
Here’s a look at the journey that made it all possible.
DLP’s path from ideation to industry influence has been anything but conventional. After earning his real estate license in 2006, Don wasted no time making his mark. Within his first two years in the industry, amid the turmoil of the 2008 housing crisis, he and his small but mighty team of ten were buying and flipping homes in and around Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. By 2009, they began experimenting with new and innovative approaches, introducing a “68-Day Home Sale Guarantee,” which set them apart from other local brokerages.
Fueled by his growing vision for the future of DLP, Don expanded the organization in 2011 by officially launching the Dream Live Prosper family of companies, including a property management division. By 2012, DLP had amassed an impressive single-family and multifamily portfolio and was supported by an 80-person team dedicated to furthering DLP’s mission. In leading this team, Don began planting the seeds for what would eventually become the Elite Execution System (EES), a powerful tool still used today by organizations around the world to promote individual growth, encourage team synergy, and align on clear, achievable goals.
In 2013, DLP officially launched its first investment fund, DLP Equity Fund I, giving investors the potential to earn passive income while directly supporting the firm’s burgeoning portfolio of real estate projects, all with the same goal in mind: making an impact on American families. By 2014, DLP had begun providing capital to mission-aligned real estate operators and developers across the United States, broadening its ability to make an impact through housing.
In 2016, DLP relocated its corporate headquarters to St. Augustine, Florida. While it may have been a surprising decision to some, every decision DLP makes is driven by a larger purpose. In this case, it was to bring the operation closer to an area where Don believed DLP could make a significant impact: Jacksonville, FL.
That same year The DLP Lending Fund, which was launched in 2014, was approved for more than 90% of major custodial platforms. By 2017, DLP had grown to $375 million in assets under management (AUM) and completed its first build-to-rent community, further solidifying its position as a financier, builder, and developer of Thriving Communities.
In 2021, Don published his first book, Building an Elite Organization, a blueprint for scaling businesses with purpose and discipline that outlined the elements of the Elite Execution System (EES), which DLP follows to this day. Don followed up this book with a second best-seller, Building an Elite Career, in 2023. Both books are testaments to not only Don’s leadership but his guiding principle: to whom much is given, much is required, as he shares the insights he has learned throughout his successful entrepreneurial journey to help other business leaders take control of their success story.
Today, the influence of the Dream Live Prosper family of companies extends beyond real estate with DLP Bank, a full-service community bank acquired and rebranded in 2022 that has also earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list in both 2024 and 2025, highlighting the brand’s ability to scale and diversify while remaining true to its mission. DLP as a whole now supports more than 500 professionals and numerous field operations throughout the country, each aligned around a shared purpose: to transform lives through the building of Thriving Communities.
As DLP Capital continues to shape the future of attainable housing, the firm’s commitment to impact and excellence has earned widespread recognition. DLP Capital has been honored with a variety of accolades throughout 2025, including being named a Leading U.S. Private Real Estate Investment Firm by Acquisition International and as one of Real Leaders’ 2026 Top Impact Companies. Don Wenner himself was honored among Ernst & Young’s 2025 Florida Entrepreneurs of the Year, underscoring the leadership behind this firm’s extraordinary journey.
From a handful of local home sales to billions in managed assets across the nation, DLP Capital’s story is still one of clear vision, disciplined execution, and lasting impact. Despite its monumental growth and recognition over the past two decades, DLP’s mission has remained the same: to build communities where residents can thrive, and to continue proving that business growth, the pursuit of a financial legacy, and meaningful change can—and should—go hand in hand.