founded with a fearless and forward-thinking spirit, Ventana Ventures builds community by inspiring and empowering entrepreneurs.

Diego Torres-Palma founded Ventana Ventures in 2018 as a private real estate and investment firm built around a simple but differentiated thesis: great real estate starts with great operators.

After relocating to Los Angeles, Diego saw vacant commercial buildings sitting behind “For Lease” signs and recognized an opportunity to rethink the traditional development model. Rather than buy a building and hope the right tenant appears, Ventana identifies promising entrepreneurs and operating businesses first, then invests in the company, acquires or develops the real estate, and helps build out the space around the tenant’s actual needs.

This model creates stronger alignment between landlord, operator, investor, and community. It helps reduce vacancy risk, supports sustainable tenants, and gives talented business owners a path to open concepts that may not have otherwise gotten off the ground.

Ventana’s approach brings together Diego’s experience as both an angel investor and a real estate developer, creating a platform focused on adaptive reuse, entrepreneur-backed development, and community-driven real estate. That thesis can be seen across projects like Benny Boy Brewing and Pawn Shop LA, where real estate, hospitality, entrepreneurship, and neighborhood identity come together.

Diego is also dedicated to job creation and long-term community impact through his projects. He is committed to helping end the cycle of family poverty and homelessness through his work as a board member of Imagine LA.

about Diego Torres-Palma - Managing Partner

Diego Torres-Palma is a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur, real estate developer, investor, podcast host, and hospitality founder building culture-driven projects at the intersection of real estate, food, sports, media, and community.

As the founder of Ventana Ventures, Diego has built a real estate platform rooted in the Startup To Storefront mentality: invest in the company, acquire or develop the real estate, and help bring the concept to life. His work focuses on adaptive reuse, community-driven development, and backing entrepreneurs who create jobs, culture, and long-term neighborhood value.

Diego is also the founder of Pawn Shop LA, a sports bar, restaurant, cocktail bar, private suite experience, and events venue on Melrose Avenue. Built inside a restored former pawn shop, Pawn Shop LA represents his broader vision for the future of sports hospitality — a place where food, cocktails, live games, media, private events, and LA culture come together under one roof.

Through Ventana Ventures, Pawn Shop LA, Startup To Storefront, and his work as an advisor, mentor, investor, and board member of Imagine LA, Diego is focused on building businesses and places that create opportunity, strengthen communities, and turn entrepreneurial energy into lasting impact.