As Founder & CEO of North Bridge, Laura Rapaport is helping reshape the future of real estate finance—one capital stack at a time. At a moment when traditional financing often falls short of modern development needs, Laura and her team have positioned C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) but as a mainstream capital markets solution. 

“I see my role as helping to modernize and expand the real estate capital stack,” she explains. “At North Bridge, we’re focused on unlocking flexible, scalable capital through C-PACE—so that developers and owners can move projects forward, even in a tight credit environment.” 

Laura’s journey to leadership spans global investment banks, marquee development platforms, and institutional joint ventures. Before founding North Bridge, she served as Managing Director at L&L Holding Company, where she led capital raising and oversaw the development of the iconic 425 Park Avenue. Prior to that, she worked with Tishman Speyer and began her career in the Global Real Estate Group at Lehman Brothers in London. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Wharton and was named a Crain’s New York “40 Under 40” honoree.

But beyond her resume, Laura’s impact is defined by transformation—of markets, perceptions, and people. “One of the things I’m most proud of,” she says, “is helping to change the industry’s perception of C-PACE from a small-scale green energy product to a mainstream financing solution for institutional real estate.” The Carlyle Group committed $1B to the origination of C-PACE with North Bridge, which marked an inflection point: “It validated the thesis I’ve believed in since founding North Bridge—that C-PACE can be an institutional capital markets solution.”

Laura is equally passionate about creating room at the table for others. A longtime member and former board member of WX New York Women Executives in Real Estate, she’s mentored women across every stage of their careers. “Whether giving someone an introduction to a job, a deal, or just sage advice,” she reflects, “the biggest compliment I’ve received is that I made a difference for them.”  

Laura attributes her clarity of purpose to early advice from her mother: “Find something you’re passionate about and be the best at it.” And to her younger self, she’d offer this: “It’s okay to be wrong and to ask questions. You’re not expected to have all the answers—but how you show up, your integrity, how you treat people—that defines your path forward.”  

Today, Laura Rapaport continues to redefine what’s possible in real estate finance—by leading with vision, building with values, and making capital smarter, greener, and more inclusive.