Alexander Shing Named one of LA’s 500 Most Influential People

LA500 2025: Alexander Shing

Founder, Chief Executive Cottonwood Group

Shing founded Cottonwood, a private equity real estate investing firm in downtown, in 2012. The firm emphasizes risk-adjusted absolute returns, irrespective of market conditions. Over the years, Cottonwood has transacted or advised on over $6.7 billion in gross assets including debt, equity, development, EB-5 and advisory investments. Locally, Cottonwood provided $62 million in financing for a West Hollywood redevelopment and also led the $310million financing for the Greenland Metropolis THEA residential development. Shing is a visiting committee member of his alma mater, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he provides guidance on the economics department’s curriculum and research.

YEARS ON LA500: 1

ABOUT COTTONWOOD GROUP: Headquartered in Los Angeles, Cottonwood is a private equity real estate investment firm focused on equity and debt opportunities across all property sectors and geographies. The firm’s ability to act as a lender, investor, operator and sponsor of real estate investments of all sizes and complexities is fundamental to delivering a risk-adjusted absolute return for investors. Investing out of its discretionary funds and separate institutional accounts, Cottonwood targets U.S. real estate opportunities with a capitalization of up to $1 billion.