How This 25-Year-Old Built 500 Doors, Launched a Tech Startup & Retired Early | EP 49

In this episode of the Agent to Investor Podcast, we sit down with Donato Callahan, the 25-year-old founder of BrightInvestor and owner of over 500 rental units. Donato walks us through his whirlwind journey from a Department of Defense analyst to a full-time entrepreneur and real estate investor in just two years.

He shares:
✅ How a stock market loss pushed him into real estate
✅ His path from house hacking to commercial deals
✅ The origin story of BrightInvestor—and how it replaces 30+ research tools
✅ How he built a 500-unit portfolio by focusing on speed, data, and gut instinct
✅ A brutal wake-up call from a 17-year DOD veteran that fueled his drive

If you’re looking for inspiration, strategy, and an edge in your investing journey, don’t miss this one.

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Donato's Real Estate Journey

02:09 Educational Background and Keynote Speaking

05:19 Balancing Day Job and Real Estate

08:34 Leaving the Government Job

13:47 The 'Why Not?' Mindset

15:33 Building Bright Investor

18:31 Solving Real Estate Problems with Technology

19:54 Data Sources for Bright Investor

20:54 Beyond Public Data: Licensing Agreements

22:08 Innovative Features and Integrations

23:31 Expanding Bright Investor's Reach

25:36 Advice for New Real Estate Investors

27:33 Coaching and Personal Involvement

31:09 Future Plans for Bright Investor

37:57 Personal Interests and Lifestyle