Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Coleman.
Hi Matthew, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My Story – Matthew B. Coleman
I’ve always been a builder—of businesses, relationships, and community. My entrepreneurial journey started long before I knew what the word even meant. Growing up in Toledo, Ohio, I discovered early that I had a deep passion for people and a love for real estate. I bought my first commercial building and personal home at just 24 years old, and by 28, I had acquired multiple units. But even before those deals, I was volunteering with local development organizations, helping provide housing for families in need. That stuck with me.
I earned my bachelor’s degree in Communication with a minor in Marketing from the University of Toledo. My first professional job was at BFI Waste Systems, where I started as a support rep and quickly worked my way up to major account executive. That experience taught me structure, systems, and client management—skills that continue to serve me today. But real estate kept calling me, and I knew it was my lane.
What followed was a career that’s been anything but ordinary. I founded RC Auto Sales, which grew to include a car dealership, rental company, detail shop, and an ASE-certified auto repair center. That business has been thriving for over 26 years in a building I still own. I’ve always believed in building things that last—whether it’s a business, a home, or a legacy.
Over the past three decades, I’ve expanded into every angle of real estate—residential, commercial, and financial. My company, Vision Group R.E. Development, has led the construction of four multi-million-dollar luxury modern homes, with another six-home development underway. I’ve also moved into the commercial space, with completed projects like a Molly Maid build-out and my current focus on multiple Hammer & Nails Men’s Grooming Lounges across metro Atlanta. These high-end tenant build-outs represent the intersection of branding, detail, and design excellence.
But real estate doesn’t move without financing. That’s why I launched Vi Capital Lending Group, my private lending firm that helps investors across the country “Vision it”—our motto and mission. Vi Capital provides flexible, creative funding for fix-and-flips, new builds, rental portfolios, and more. I’ve built relationships with over 75 lenders, including 21 direct connections, allowing us to tailor deals that traditional banks can’t touch. Lending is more than numbers—it’s about service, trust, and seeing the vision before it’s finished.
This journey hasn’t always been easy. I’ve experienced deep personal loss, including the passing of my father, grandmother, grandfather, and close friends who meant the world to me. I’ve had people take from me—financially and emotionally—in ways that forced me to learn how to guard my heart and energy. But even through the pain, I remain determined to love, to build authentic relationships, and to let God shine in me and through me. Those trials made me stronger, wiser, and even more grateful—for time, for people, and for the chance to leave something meaningful behind.
I’m now a proud father to Charlie Emma Coleman, named after my grandmother Charlie Mary and my fiancée’s grandmother Emeteria. Becoming a father has brought everything into sharper focus. I want to build more than just companies—I want to build a legacy my daughter can be proud of, grounded in honor, excellence, and faith.
This year, I launched the Think Real Estate Podcast with my co-host, actor and real estate investor Malik Yoba. You might know him from New York Undercover, Empire, or Cool Runnings, but Malik is also a passionate builder of communities. Together, we’re creating a platform where real people share real experiences in real estate—the wins, the struggles, the comebacks, and the lessons that don’t always make the headlines.
Through it all, I’ve held onto my core values: faith, discipline, consistency, and community. I believe that when you lead with love and integrity, even through hardship, God makes a way. Whether I’m developing land, funding a flip, building a barbershop, or hosting a podcast—I’m doing it with vision and purpose.
My story is still being written, but the mission stays the same: build with integrity, lead with vision, and leave a legacy that lasts.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This journey hasn’t come without its struggles—and honestly, many of them were self-induced. That’s something I’ve come to own with time and maturity. The truth is, you don’t know what you don’t know, and early on, I made decisions from a place of trust, drive, and heart—not always strategy.
One of my greatest strengths—my desire to help people—has also been one of my biggest weaknesses. I’m someone who genuinely loves to give, but I’ve learned the hard way that givers often attract takers. And if you’re not careful, you’ll spend more time managing someone else’s crisis than building your own vision. I’ve found myself in too many situations where I was owed—financially and emotionally. Looking back, I had to ask myself: Was I helping out of purpose… or because I needed to be needed?
That realization taught me a lot. It cost me—working capital, peace of mind, and most of all, time. Time I could’ve spent having productive conversations, pursuing strategic relationships, and building with people aligned with the mission. Financial losses can always be rebuilt, but lost time and misplaced energy are lessons you carry longer.
The loss of my father, grandmother, grandfather, and close friends was tough—but those are a part of life. What it really did was re-center me. It reminded me to never take family or moments for granted, and to lead with presence and intention in both my personal and professional life.
The setbacks taught me how to filter people’s intentions, how to move with discernment, and how to protect my capacity. I don’t regret being someone who gives—I just know now that discernment is love with boundaries. And that mindset has freed me to focus on what truly matters: building something lasting, loving my people deeply, and letting God shine through all of it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Vi Capital Lending Group & Vision Group R.E. Development?
About My Businesses – Vi Capital Lending Group & Vision Group R.E. Development
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: you can’t build strong communities without vision, financing, and follow-through. That’s why I founded two complementary companies—Vi Capital Lending Group and Vision Group R.E. Development—to serve real estate investors, developers, and business owners at every step of the journey.
Vi Capital Lending Group is the core of my entrepreneurial mission—and the space I love most. We are a private money lending firm built for speed, flexibility, and performance. We provide financing for fix-and-flips, ground-up construction, rental portfolios (1–4 units and 5+), multifamily (including value-add), commercial build-outs, retail properties, restaurants, daycares, self-storage facilities, and specialized asset classes like cold storage and data centers.
We lend nationwide, partnering with investors, developers, and operators across the U.S. through our trusted network of over 100 private and direct lenders. While we have national reach, we’re preparing to take it even further. In 2026, we plan to expand our boots-on-the-ground presence into five additional markets, building local relationships and increasing our responsiveness to market-specific opportunities.
We also maintain our own table fund and are launching our first warehouse line, giving us enhanced control, faster approvals, and more liquidity. With these tools in place, there’s no limit to the size or scope of what we can fund—from $150K to $50M+.
“Vi” stands for Vision It—because we help our clients imagine what’s possible, structure what’s needed, and execute with clarity and confidence.
As we grow, we’re actively seeking qualified lending executives who align with our values and are ready to lead expansion efforts in new markets. We’re not just scaling—we’re building a legacy of excellence, service, and impact in private lending.
On the development side, Vision Group R.E. Development focuses on design-forward residential and selective commercial projects. We’ve completed four luxury modern homes, along with high-end franchise build-outs like Molly Maid and Hammer & Nails Men’s Grooming Lounges. Our focus is quality, brand alignment, and client satisfaction.
What sets us apart is our 360-degree model—we finance, we consult, and we develop real relationships. Most lenders don’t build. Most builders don’t lend. We do both—giving us a unique perspective on managing risk, navigating timelines, and delivering successful outcomes.
Above all, both of our companies are grounded in faith, consistency, and excellence. We don’t chase shortcuts. We don’t overpromise. We show up with integrity, deliver what we say we will, and walk beside our clients every step of the way.
Whether you’re a real estate investor, a business owner planning your next move, or a professional looking to grow with a high-integrity lending firm—we’re here to help you fund it, build it, and finish strong.
Learn more at:
🔗 www.vicapitallending.com
🔗 www.visiongroupre.com
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Without a doubt—vision grounded in faith. I’ve always had a forward-thinking mindset, even when I didn’t have all the answers. What’s helped me succeed is my ability to see what’s possible, not just for myself, but for others—and to move on that vision with intention, integrity, and service.
But vision alone isn’t enough. What’s carried me through the losses, the setbacks, and the growing pains is my faith—faith in God, faith in timing, and faith in the fact that purpose always shows up if you keep showing up. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve trusted the wrong people, and I’ve learned some hard lessons. But even in those moments, I never lost sight of what I was building or why.
I believe real success is about building something that lasts—in business, in family, and in character. And to do that, you need the ability to see the long game, stay grounded, and stay true—even when it’s hard.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vicapitallending.com
- Instagram: mblakecoleman
- Facebook: Vicaptiallending
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewcoleamn/
