Dominique Rémy Honored in 40 Under 40 for 1DROP Initiative
We are proud to announce that Dominique Rémy, Co-Founder of 1DROP, has been named to Puget Sound Business Journal’s prestigious 40 Under 40 list, recognizing the most influential leaders shaping our region. This honor not only celebrates Dominique's personal achievements but validates the innovative approach 1DROP is taking to address housing inequities and create pathways to generational wealth for underrepresented communities.
Development with Purpose: The 1DROP Vision
"What has been so impactful about receiving this nomination and this award from the Puget Sound Business Journal is the fact that others are seeing the potential of our vision" Dominique reflects. "This validates our strategy and our thinking as well as our early execution to make this issue a larger priority for our community, and to start pulling people together around a potential opportunity."
Dominique at the Puget Sound Business Journal office for his 40 Under 40 profile photoshoot.
At the core of 1DROP's mission is an innovative approach to real estate development—one that intentionally leverages development to accelerate wealth-building not just for developers, but for everyone involved in the property ecosystem, from landlords and first-time homebuyers to subcontractors and architects.
A Leadership Journey of Collective Empowerment
Leadership at 1DROP challenges traditional competitive models by prioritizing collective progress over individual gain. In an environment that typically rewards self-interest, this approach requires a deep commitment to trust, collaboration, and community-driven solutions. By recognizing the historical barriers that have denied resources to underrepresented communities, the work focuses on creating meaningful pathways for sustainable development.
1DROP work highlights the importance of expanding financial mechanisms, such as developing low-interest, no-payment loan options that help developers of color overcome systemic funding challenges. This strategy goes beyond individual success, aiming to create opportunities that allow developers to build wealth and generate housing solutions that directly benefit their communities.
Collective Power: Not Stars, But Constellations
One of the core principles that guides 1DROP's work comes from a saying shared by Marty Kooistra from the BHI: "Not stars, but constellations." This perspective emphasizes that success isn't about individual achievement but about collaborative impact.
“1DROP is not about Dom. It's not about Claude. It's not about Reggie. It's about showing up and deciding that we want to help each other, that we want to leverage group economics to get there. And so although I'm incredibly excited to receive this award, it actually does not matter to me personally. It's about us growing opportunities for developers of color and growing the pie for everyone.”
- Dominique Rémy
Building a Legacy of True Representation
Looking toward the future, Dominique envisions a housing ecosystem where representation matches population demographics. "If there's a legacy, I want to see actual true representation—8% of all real estate development happening by Black developers within our community, 13% of all development happening by Hispanic developers within our community."
If this was true nationally, we’d see:
23,000 new black developers; 31,000 hispanic developers
$106B in new revenue annually
1.7M new jobs created
The ultimate goal extends beyond Seattle, with Dominique hoping to see the 1DROP model replicated in other communities across the country, addressing similar inequities. "When we only fund a very small percentage of the community to actually build things, then we only really get products that are meant for a very small percentage of that community," he notes. "I'm really excited for the innovation that we have not seen yet that's going to come out of having more people play a role."
Dominique and the 1DROP team's innovative approach have earned recognition as part of the 2025 40 Under 40 honorees. This nomination celebrates the broader impact of our work in creating more equitable, inclusive pathways for developers of color and transforming community infrastructure.
About 1DROP
1DROP is a collective of underrepresented real estate developers addressing the Puget Sound housing crisis. We are committed to empowering underrepresented developers to build housing for all wages, all stages, and all ages while growing access to generational wealth.
1DROP achieves its mission by, externally:
Advocating for funding for underrepresented developers and their projects.
Advocating for policy solutions that enable more housing.
And internally by providing:
Apprenticeships for aspiring underrepresented developers.
Co-development for emerging underrepresented developers.
Mentorship, networking, resources and support services for all underrepresented developers.
For those inspired to learn more or get involved in supporting equitable housing, visit 1DROP's website to explore our initiatives and join us in making an impact.
Have questions or suggestions for this post?
We’re here to engage! For edits, feedback, or inquiries about this blog post, please reach out to press@1drop.co.