Investment Matters: Inside Mapletree’s Growth Spurt

January 6, 2026

Mapletree Investments' Rich Prokup talks with CPE's Paul Rosta about how the firm has quickly become a leading industrial investor and developer.

Over the past five years, it’s been a rocket ship ride for Mapletree Investments here in the U.S. That’s the apt description of Rich Prokup, the Singapore-based investor’s CEO in the U.S. and the guest on this episode.

Under Prokup’s leadership, Mapletree has become one of the industrial sector’s fastest-growing, most prolific investors and developers. In just a few short years, the company has created a U.S. footprint that now encompasses five offices, a team of 150 and half a billion dollars of product in development across the country.

In this conversation, Prokup tells why the company is focusing on development, and what will be driving leasing demand. He outlines the biggest challenges that owners and their clients will face. And he’s got sound practical advice for young people who are considering a career in commercial real estate.

If you’ve got a lot of long-distance business travel ahead of you this year, you’ll appreciate his tips for keeping jet lag at bay. Prokup would know—he makes regular trips from his office in Chicago to corporate headquarters in Singapore. Take a listen.

On a personal note, Prokup is also an accomplished musician, and as he says during our conversation, “Real estate is a very creative business. You’re not spending time focusing on how to save a half a penny on 10 million widgets.” Take a listen.

Episode highlights:

(1:46) Career origins: Tuned in to CRE’s creativity
(4:18) How to beat jet lag
(6:51) Mapletree’s rocket ship ride
(9:11) What’s ahead for development demand
(11:50) Where to find industrial opportunity
(14:33) Top challenges for logistics
(17:31) Today’s most encouraging trend
(20:24) Potential headwinds
(22:34) Inside Mapletree’s five-year strategy
(24:12) Mentorship tips, professional milestones
(26:54) Advice to aspiring professionals
(28:57) Off the clock: new destinations, classic tunes (p. 11)

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Investment Matters theme: Motivational Day by AudioCoffee via Pixabay