The Principal

Brian Potratz & Black Seven Capital

34+ Properties◆Absolute Triple NNN◆Sale Leasebacks◆Multi-State Portfolio◆Value-Add Acquisitions◆In-House Leasing◆34+ Properties◆Absolute Triple NNN◆Sale Leasebacks◆Multi-State Portfolio◆Value-Add Acquisitions◆In-House Leasing◆
Brian Potratz
Brian Potratz
Founder & Principal

Operator. Investor. Optimizer.

Founder & Principal · Black Seven Capital

Brian Potratz is the founder and sole principal of Black Seven Capital, a privately held commercial real estate investment firm based in Minnesota.

Brian spent the first chapter of his career in mortgage banking — building a deep understanding of how capital flows, how deals are structured, and how real money is made and lost in real estate finance. That foundation proved invaluable.

While still in banking, he began investing in real estate on the side — quietly building a personal portfolio and sharpening his instincts for what makes a property worth owning. By 2018, the side hustle had outgrown everything else.

He made the full transition into commercial real estate in 2018 and has not looked back. Today, Black Seven Capital owns and operates a growing portfolio of 34+ commercial assets across multiple markets — all but one self-managed — acquired, operated, and leased directly.

"We don't buy square footage. We buy potential — and then we do the work to realize it."

— Brian Potratz, Black Seven Capital
Career Timeline

The Journey

Early Career
Mortgage Banking
Built deep expertise in real estate finance, deal structuring, and capital markets from the lending side of the table.
Side Hustle
First Real Estate Investments
Began acquiring real estate on the side while still in banking — testing instincts and quietly building a personal portfolio.
2018
Full Transition to Commercial RE
Left mortgage banking to pursue commercial real estate full time. Founded Black Seven Capital as the vehicle for all acquisitions and operations.
2022
Co-Founded CEG Management
Partnered with Jeff Salzbrun to launch CEG Management — expanding the platform for acquiring, operating, and leasing commercial properties across the Midwest.
Today
34+ Properties & Scaling
A diversified multi-state portfolio spanning NNN retail, industrial, medical office, and historic office — actively acquiring across 6 states.
34+
Properties & Growing
Majority
Self-Managed Portfolio
6 States
MN · WI · MO · OH · AZ · AZ & More
The Name

Why Black Seven.

Black is not a color of darkness here — it's the color of a balance sheet operating in the positive. In the red means losses. In the black means you're winning. That's the only place Black Seven Capital intends to operate.

Seven has always been considered the luckiest number across cultures, religions, and traditions — seven days in a week, seven wonders of the world. Seven is the number people instinctively choose. There's something universally resonant about it, and something personally meaningful too.

Together, the name stands for exactly what this firm is: disciplined financial performance, and the belief that when you do the work, luck tends to follow.

■

Black — Always in the Positive

Profitable operations, responsible capital, no losses tolerated.

7

Seven — Fortune Favors the Prepared

Universally lucky, personally meaningful — conviction creates opportunity.

◆

Capital — Skin in the Game

Brian invests alongside the majority of every deal. This is not a fund. This is personal.

The Family

The people behind the work.

K
Kelly Potratz
Wife & Entrepreneur

Kelly is the founder and owner of Edgewater Title Group, bringing the same entrepreneurial drive to the title and closing world that Brian brings to commercial real estate.

J
Jack Potratz
Operations · CEG

Jack works alongside Brian at CEG, gaining hands-on experience in commercial real estate operations and investment. The next generation is already in the game.

M
Max Potratz
Student · Univ. of Tennessee

Max is studying at the University of Tennessee — Go Vols. A future professional carving his own path.

E
Everly Potratz
Student · St. Hubert's

Everly is a student at St. Hubert's — the youngest Potratz and already showing the same character and drive that defines the whole family.

How We Operate

The Black Seven Approach.

01

Acquire Off-Market

Most of our best deals were never listed. We source through direct owner relationships, attorney networks, and brokers we've built trust with over years. Speed and certainty of close are our edge.

02

Operate Directly

No third-party management. No layers. Brian and the team handle leasing, tenant relationships, maintenance, and capital planning personally. When you own it, you manage it.

03

Create Value, Then Hold

We buy with a clear thesis — a lease-up play, a repositioning, a capital improvement — execute it, stabilize, and hold. We are long-term owners, not traders.

In-House Leasing & Brokerage

Commercial Equities Group

Black Seven Capital conducts all leasing and brokerage activity through Commercial Equities Group, where our license is also held. This in-house capability means faster deal execution, deeper market intelligence, and aligned interests across every transaction — no middlemen, no divided loyalties. Visit us at cegspaces.com.