We build real estate businesses

Our Projects
We identify, structure and execute real estate opportunities from the ground up, operating at the intersection of investment strategy and real estate development.
€
315.6

construction contracts managed

+
285.200

construction delivered

+
674.100

designed

+
186

due diligences, single assets and portfolios

Built on three fundamentals

Technical Expertise

Experience across development, licensing and construction.

Investment Mindset

Alignment with investors, including capital participation.

Full-cycle capability

From opportunity identification to delivery and exit.

What we do

RELAB structures and delivers real estate investments through an integrated approach combining strategy, capital and execution.

Structuring and managing real estate investments from initial analysis to capital deployment.

We work alongside investors to define strategy, structure capital and ensure long-term performance.

End-to-end management of real estate development projects, from licensing and design to construction and delivery.

Ensuring alignment between execution, timing and financial outcomes.

Definition of project strategy, positioning and development concept.

From best use analysis to business plan creation, we structure opportunities to maximize value.

Strategic management of assets post-development, including leasing, positioning and value optimization.

Focused on long-term performance and exit strategy.

Selective support to investors in evaluating opportunities and structuring real estate investments.

Always within the context of direct project involvement.

Sustainability is defined from the start

Sustainability is not an afterthought — it is embedded in each project from the earliest strategic decisions. From land use and design to construction and operation, we integrate environmental and long-term value criteria at every stage of the investment cycle.

Our Projects

From strategy to value

Our Projects

Opportunity
We identify opportunities: land, assets or repositioning potential.

Strategy
We define the best use, structure the investment and build the business case.

Investment
We structure the capital, align investors and deploy the investment.

Development
We execute the full development process, from licensing and construction to leasing or sale.

Built by Experience

RELAB is led by a team with extensive experience across real estate development, investment and execution. This combination allows the platform to operate with both technical depth and investment discipline.

Mafalda Baião

Mafalda Baião

Finance Director

Mafalda is the Finance Director at RELAB. She was previously an Assurance Manager at EY, where she spent three years leading complex audit and financial risk management engagements across diverse industries. Before that, Mafalda held Senior Auditor and Auditor roles at EY, building deep expertise in regulatory compliance and financial statement audits. She began her career as a Front Office Agent at Vila Galé Hotéis. Mafalda received a Master's degree in Management from ISCTE Business School and an Undergraduate degree in Hospitality Administration and Management from Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies (ESHTE).

Francisco Ribeiro

Francisco Ribeiro

Managing Partner

Francisco is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of RELAB. A civil engineer with over 20 years of experience, he previously led Atenor's development portfolio in Portugal and spent 14 years at Rockbuilding as Technical Director, delivering major office, residential, hospitality and logistics projects totalling more than 670,000 sqm. He holds a Master in Civil Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico and an MBA from Católica.

João Catalão

João Catalão

Development Director

João is the Development Director at RELAB. A civil engineer with over 20 years of experience, he was previously a Senior Project Director at Rockbuilding, managing complex real estate developments in Portugal. Before Rockbuilding, João spent 12 years as a project coordinator, leading the development of multidisciplinary engineering projects in the national and international markets across the residential, office, healthcare and public works sectors, having started his career as a structural designer. João received a degree in Civil Engineering (Structures) from Instituto Superior Técnico and a Master's in Rehabilitation of Built Heritage from FEUP, and completed a Management Program at Porto Business School.

David Arié

David Arié

Partner

David is a Partner and Co-Founder of RELAB. He is an Executive Board Member of Arié Investimentos SGPS. David has been involved in real estate transactions and developments including the acquisition of Lx Factory and the build-up of a logistics portfolio in Portugal in partnership with Europi Property Group, as well as the ALLO office development in Alcântara. David holds management roles at Power Dot, Perfumes & Companhia and the José Avillez Group. David received a Master in Management from ISEG and completed the Intensive Management Program at Nova School of Business and Economics.

Jonathan Willén

Jonathan Willén

Partner

Jonathan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Europi. He was previously a Principal in Blackstone’s European real estate private equity group since 2015. Before Blackstone, Jonathan was a Senior Associate at Goldman Sachs and an Analyst at Morgan Stanley, focusing on derivatives structuring. Jonathan received a BSc in Economics with First Class Honours from the London School of Economics & Political Science, and a Master (MDesS) in Real Estate & the Built Environment from Harvard University GSD. He is an active Member of the Harvard Alumni Real Estate Board and is also a Board Member of Capital Park S.A. in Poland.