Coastal Investment Company Named No. 1 Fastest-Growing Knight-Led Business in UCF Alumni’s Inaugural Ever Upward Awards
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UCF Alumni recognizes Coastal Investment Company as the top-ranked company among its inaugural Ever Upward Top 25, celebrating the fastest-growing Knight-owned and Knight-led businesses worldwide.
ORLANDO, Fla. — August XX, 2026 — Coastal Investment Company has been named the No. 1 company in UCF Alumni’s inaugural Ever Upward: Fastest-Growing Knight Businesses, earning the top position among 25 UCF alumni-owned or -led companies recognized for exceptional growth, innovation and leadership.
The inaugural Ever Upward program recognizes businesses demonstrating significant revenue growth over a three-year period. Unlike awards determined through nominations or subjective judging, the Ever Upward rankings are based on verified financial performance and independently tabulated, making Coastal’s No. 1 ranking a direct reflection of the company’s growth and momentum.
Founded by Greg Meerbaum, Tyler Bloechinger ’09 and Keith Ahrens ’08, Coastal Investment Company has grown into a private investment firm providing accredited investors access to institutional-quality private-market opportunities. Today, Coastal is led by a broader partner group that also includes UCF alumni Travis Barr ’09 and Carey Sobel ’09.
Coastal’s mission is to provide investors access to and advice about institutional-quality real estate, venture capital and other private-market investment opportunities. The firm’s investment platform is complemented by tax consulting and M&A advisory capabilities designed to help business owners and investors build, transition and preserve wealth.
“Being recognized as the inaugural No. 1 Ever Upward company is incredibly meaningful to all of us,” said Keith Ahrens ’08, co-founder and partner of Coastal Investment Company. “UCF has played an important role in our professional lives and in so many of the relationships that have helped shape Coastal. To have the company’s growth recognized by our university, which means so much to our team, makes this honor particularly special.”
Carey Sobel ’09, partner and Chief Acquisition Officer at Coastal, added: “For many of us, UCF was where our entrepreneurial journeys began. We built businesses, developed relationships and learned to take risks while we were still students. To now be part of a company recognized as the inaugural No. 1 Ever Upward business feels like a full-circle moment. More importantly, it gives us another opportunity to stay engaged, mentor students and young alumni, and hopefully show the next generation of Knights what’s possible.”
UCF’s influence extends throughout Coastal, reaching across the firm’s leadership, team and professional network. That connection also includes Richard Hayes ’88, a member of Coastal’s Advisory Board and an important contributor to the firm’s tax strategy and advisory capabilities.
Coastal’s UCF alumni remain actively engaged with the university through alumni leadership, mentorship, guest lectures, philanthropy and other initiatives. They also regularly hire and mentor fellow Knights, creating opportunities for UCF students and graduates to gain experience and build their careers.
For Greg Meerbaum, CEO and co-founder of Coastal Investment Company, the recognition is especially meaningful because of the role UCF and its alumni have played in the firm’s growth.
“UCF has had an undeniable impact on Coastal,” said Meerbaum. “Some of my closest partners are Knights, many of the relationships that have helped shape this organization trace back to UCF, and that entrepreneurial spirit is deeply embedded in our culture. I’m incredibly proud of Keith, Tyler, Travis, Carey, Richard and our entire team for earning the No. 1 position in the inaugural Ever Upward class.”
The recognition comes during a period of continued growth for Coastal as the firm expands its private-market investment platform, develops new strategic partnerships and creates additional opportunities for its growing investor network.
For Coastal, the Ever Upward recognition represents more than the firm’s financial growth. It is also an opportunity to strengthen the connection between Coastal and the next generation of UCF entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Coastal Investment Company was recognized alongside 24 other Knight-owned or -led businesses in the inaugural Ever Upward Class of 2026.
Want to learn more about Coastal’s story, our connection to UCF and what this recognition means to our team? Click the button below to watch Coastal Investment Company’s video submission for the 2026 Ever Upward Awards.
About Coastal Investment Company
Coastal Investment Company is a private investment firm providing accredited investors access to institutional-quality private-market investment opportunities, with a focus on real estate and venture capital. Coastal partners with experienced sponsors and operators to identify differentiated investment opportunities while providing investors with individualized guidance throughout the investment lifecycle.
Beyond its investment platform, Coastal offers complementary tax consulting and M&A advisory services designed to help business owners and investors strategically build, transition and preserve wealth.
Headquartered in Winter Park, Coastal is built around a relationship-driven approach summarized by its philosophy: Institutional Access. Individual Attention.
About UCF Ever Upward
Ever Upward: Fastest-Growing Knight Businesses is an annual UCF Alumni awards program recognizing successful Knight-owned or -led companies demonstrating exceptional growth and innovation. Companies are ranked according to cumulative percentage revenue growth over a three-year reporting period, with financial information independently tabulated to ensure confidentiality and integrity.
The 2026 class represents the inaugural Ever Upward Top 25.
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