by Edwian Stokes
June 6, 2026
A number of sports stars are forgoing traditional private equity to democratize urban real estate ownership
A series of sports stars are forgoing traditional private equity to democratize urban real estate, targeting 25,000 homes in overlooked communities nationwide. In doing so, she presents a scalable plan for creating wealth for Black people.
NFL quarterback Jameis Winston and Adrian Muhammad, chairman of Kinexx Modular Construction, are leading this initiative. At the 1 Percent Conference in Chicago, Winston unveiled a real estate strategy backed by more than 20 professional athlete investors, including Jaylon Johnson, Edwin Jackson, Mark Ingram and Cam Jordan. They are developing a scalable, factory-built modular housing system to increase homeownership on narrow, underused urban lots.
The extent of inequality
This investment consortium targets key challenges in the U.S. housing market: a national housing shortage estimated at 3.8 million by Goldman Sachs and 5 million by Zillow, and a significant wealth gap. The Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances shows that the average homeowner’s net worth is more than 40 times the net worth of renters. The aim of the syndicate is to address these problems by redeveloping urban infill areas in former industrial centers.
Decades of redlining and urban neglect have left nearly 250,000 vacant lots in post-industrial cities like Baltimore, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Columbus, St. Louis and Nashville. Traditional developers often overlook these properties due to permitting issues and limited economic incentives. The group plans to revitalize these areas in historically black neighborhoods like Chicago’s Bronzeville, where unused properties represent $100 million in untapped annual development value.
As Kinexx Chairman Muhammad states, “Our communities are in need, but they are valuable, rich in people, rich in history and rich in land.” According to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, this project allows eligible companies like Kinexx to raise funds through regulated crowdfunding, removing the hurdle for accredited investors and allowing retail investors to participate with investments starting at $500.
Kinexx plans to build 25,000 homes in major U.S. cities over five years and address housing shortages for 10,000 workers in Barbados through international expansion.
A modular home installation of Kinexx in action
The business case: size vs. risk
Kinexx’s strategy is based on a proprietary, factory-built modular construction process. Proprietary production facilities and a patented threading system for custom layouts provide significant operational profits. Off-site assembly speeds up home completion by 30 to 50% compared to standard methods. According to Kinexx, this approach shortens construction times, reduces weather and logistical delays, and helps protect financial margins.
Market validation and risks
Kinexx has delivered over 100 homes in Chicago and demonstrated rapid assembly in pilot projects in Detroit, reducing completion times by 35%. However, national expansion brings new challenges. Kinexx works with developers, municipalities and community land trusts to provide housing in high-demand areas. The company is expanding its network of regional manufacturing facilities to support external module construction closer to target markets, enabling faster delivery and lower logistics costs.
Strategic partnerships with financial institutions and community organizations aim to accelerate the project pipeline, build community trust and support sustainable growth as the business model expands nationwide. To address risks such as regulatory challenges, fluctuating construction costs, and local land use regulations, Kinexx is establishing a specialized compliance team, expanding its supplier base, and collaborating with local governments and workforce training programs.
Ultimately, this endeavor is a high-risk test of whether collective athlete capital combined with innovative manufacturing and community partnerships can transform systemic urban deficits into a scalable, repeatable business model.
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