About the Fund
Est. 2018
The Villanova School of Business and the Daniel M. DiLella Center for Real Estate launched the Daniel M. DiLella and Thomas M. Mulroy Real Estate Student Managed Fund to promote a hands-on learning experience for Villanova real estate students by having them research, evaluate and underwrite potential investment opportunities introduced by various Villanova alumni and connected real estate firms.
Student leadership works cohesively with a Business Fellow who assists and advises students with their investment strategies. Once the final pitch is complete, students present their findings on a potential deal to a group of experienced real estate professionals known as the Investment Committee (IC). Members of the IC vote either for or against the investment, teaching students about what makes a good or bad investment, along the way.
Investment Strategy
The Fund is organized to co-invest with sponsors and operators on projects in the United States. Co-investments with the Fund will create a mutually beneficial partnership that will provide student members real-world experience in the industry and give firms the opportunity to have Villanova University as an investment partner. To date, the DiLella Mulroy Fund has invested in various real estate property types.
DiLella Mulroy Fund Advisor
Phil Guida
Co-Founder & Principal
Arileus Capital
Phil is the co-founder and principal of Arileus Capital and is responsible for the day-to-day operations and successful execution of the firm’s investment strategies. His duties include oversight of all asset and property management functions, development, construction supervision and other real estate tasks. Arileus Capital is entering its third year of operations and currently has 7 shopping centers in its portfolio. Prior to founding Arileus, Phil managed a full spectrum of transactions related to the acquisition, disposition, and refinancing of real estate investments totaling over $100 million in total capitalization for JS Western Retail Investments. The majority of the 13 shopping centers acquired at JS Western over a four-year period are still held in a separate partnership and are being sold opportunistically as they stabilize.
Phil also previously worked as a Development Associate at Federal Realty Investment Trust, a $10 billion publicly-traded REIT specializing in retail and mixed-use development. While at Federal Realty, Phil held a wide array of roles relating to asset management, development and financial analysis. Most notably, Phil underwrote the 2nd Phase of Assembly Row, a $2 billion, 64-acre mixed used development which, upon completion, will be comprised of over 500k sf of retail, 2M sf of office, 1,000 residential units, 150 condos and a hotel. Prior to Federal Realty, Phil worked at Cohen & Steers, an asset management firm with over $50 billion under management, raising capital for the firm’s publicly-traded real estate funds.
Previous experience also includes several years in the financial services industry with Lord Abbett & Co. and UBS. Phil earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Villanova University and is an active member of the school’s Nova Next Council, ICSC and NAIOP. Phil has lived in New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia and enjoys hiking, surfing, traveling and spending time with his family outside of work.