Past Winners, Future Leaders: Where Are They Now

Past Winners, Future Leaders: Where Are They Now

EEPA winners often step into the spotlight just before their real story begins. What happens after the trophy is handed over usually says more than the win itself. Some go silent. Others move quietly. But a few use that moment as a springboard and don’t look back. We looked into a group of 2024 winners who didn’t just meet expectations, they passed them. Their success wasn’t about luck. It was about what they did with the opportunity. This is not a celebration piece. It’s an update. An audit of growth. A glance at what can follow recognition if the groundwork is solid.

Winning is not a guarantee of future success. It never was. But when you already have traction and ambition, being recognised publicly creates friction. The good kind. People notice. Talent joins. Partners approach. Sometimes investors come forward. The Eastern Eye Property Awards didn’t create these companies or individuals, but in more than one case, it sharpened the curve of growth.

We saw this play out across tech, finance, development, and design. Not every win led to a boom. But the ones that did have something in common. We’ll get to that.

Post-Award Developments

Akhil Mair

At the time of receiving the EEPA, Our Mortgage Broker Ltd had already established a reputation for personalised, transparent mortgage advice. Following the award, the firm marked its seventh year by embarking on a strategic recruitment initiative aimed at increasing its adviser team to 25.

This growth was not incidental. The recognition helped reinforce the firm’s standing in a saturated market, supporting its efforts to attract qualified professionals and expand its client base. Brand development became a parallel priority, with a renewed emphasis on digital platforms, especially LinkedIn, where the firm’s credibility and public presence significantly improved.

The win was effectively integrated into the firm’s communication strategy, allowing it to differentiate itself as a specialist provider for first-time buyers and remortgaging clients during a period of market volatility.

Chintan Soni

Ecolibrium’s SmartSense AI platform was already gaining traction in the energy analytics and building management sectors. However, post-award developments point to an acceleration in both funding and market adoption.

In March 2025, Ecolibrium closed an $8.95 million Series A round. The company expanded to 54 employees and entered strategic partnerships with Nxtra Data and Sterling & Wilson—both high-profile players in infrastructure and energy management. The platform, now live at over 500 sites globally, benefits from increased visibility and trust among enterprise clients.

The EEPA provided timely sectoral validation, supporting investor confidence and partner engagement during a critical scaling phase. While the growth trajectory was established prior to the award, the added credibility from industry recognition enabled faster decision cycles across stakeholder groups.

Shiraz Jiwa

The Valesco Group’s recognition for its €460 million acquisition of Sequana Tower in Paris was rooted in deal execution, cross-border structuring, and asset repositioning. In the months that followed, the group executed a €600 million refinancing of the Brussels Finance Tower, reinforcing its position as a serious institutional-grade operator in European commercial real estate.

Furthermore, the group was nominated for the 2024 GRI Institutional Investor Award. Another indicator of its growing influence within capital markets. The EEPA served to highlight the firm’s strategic discipline and capability in managing complex, large-scale transactions.

Jiwa’s post-award momentum reflects a methodical approach to institutional investment in real estate. The group continues to expand its footprint in continental Europe while maintaining a disciplined financial model built around long-term yield strategies and risk-controlled exposure.

Rina Patel

Vastu Interiors had been operating for over two decades in the residential design space. After the EEPA award, the company appeared in a series of industry features. These included profiles in both trade and consumer design publications. The business also saw inclusion in PR directories that serve media professionals seeking subject matter contacts within interior design.

In the months following the award, Vastu Interiors was added to several national PR rosters and saw a measurable increase in client interest and design enquiries. While the core offering remains unchanged, the shift in perception has contributed to higher-profile commissions and stronger positioning in a competitive luxury segment.

Observations and Sectoral Insights

The award period reviewed includes examples from different parts of the property sector. Each of the profiled recipients continued operations after the award. Their next steps were visible. Actions took place across hiring, funding, approvals, delivery, or media engagement. There were no instances of inactivity.

In one case, a mortgage brokerage expanded adviser capacity. In another, a proptech firm secured investment and confirmed new implementations. A hospitality developer moved forward with planning milestones. A real estate investment group conducted a refinancing transaction. An interior designer gained exposure across press outlets and industry platforms. The award was visible in communications but not presented as a cause.

In these cases, technical execution continued. Visibility in professional or external settings also occurred. The projects and actions were consistent with previously known capabilities. Public position and operational continuity both appeared in available data. The award did not shift direction. It was present during progression already underway.

Final Note

The awards acknowledged activity that had already reached a threshold. In each example, the recipients continued operations after the event. The recognition coincided with ongoing business. It was not an intervention. Movement already existed. The distinction aligned with it.

In the time that followed, the organisations referenced acted inside their existing capacity. They delivered, refined, or amplified prior efforts. Public acknowledgement did not initiate their performance. It marked it.

Nominees are advised to focus on how operations are positioned before the award is given. Results must be clear before recognition. The period after the award is the period when the work is seen. That is where value may be drawn.

For more information or to submit a nomination, visit: https://www.propertyawards.biz/