298: How To Raise More Capital and Do More Deals with Marcin Drozdz

On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with capital-raising expert and Managing Director of M1 Real Capital Marcin Drozdz. With a track record of raising nine figures across multiple funds and mentoring over a thousand operators through his M1 Inner Circle, Marcin brings a clear, principled perspective to building long-term investor relationships, structuring funds, and understanding how capital really moves in today's marketplace. His journey from an immigrant childhood in communist Poland to raising hundreds of millions in U.S. real estate adds valuable context to how he approaches trust, process, and scale. Throughout the conversation, Jonathan and Marcin break down the realities of capital raising across economic cycles, the importance of people-first frameworks, and how new investors should think about syndications versus funds. Marcin shares his 3P method—people, process, portfolio—and explains why most syndicators get this backwards. He also dives into how credibility is built over years, not online clips, and why understanding investor pain points is critical to positioning the right opportunities for the right individuals. Listeners will gain insight into how large fund managers think, how to evaluate deals through the lens of return of capital before return on capital, and how authentic relationship-building still drives success—even in a social media–driven world. Whether you're raising capital, investing passively, or trying to understand the current commercial cycle, this episode offers a grounded, experienced perspective. In this episode, you will hear: Marcin's 3P capital-raising framework and why people—not deals—must come first. The value of mentorship and apprenticing before raising capital on your own. How funds differ from single-asset syndications and when each structure makes sense. The importance of protecting downside risk and prioritizing return of capital. Why authentic long-term content—not hype—drives investor trust. How today's debt wall may create a unique acquisition window in multifamily. Follow and Review If you enjoy the show, please follow Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing on Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. It helps other listeners discover these conversations and supports the show's growth. Supporting Resources Connect with Marcin Website: https://www.marcindrozdz.com/  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealmarcindrozdz  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmarcindrozdz  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmarcindrozdz/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcindrozdz/  Special Link: https://www.marcindrozdz.ca/optin-podcastm1?utm_source=zenandtheartofrei  Connect with Jonathan: Website - www.streamlined.properties  YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos  Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene  Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties    Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/streamlinen​j Bigger Pockets -  www.biggerpockets.com/users/jonathangreene Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties  Email - info@streamlined.properties   This episode was produced by Outlier Audio.