Industry: Self storage
Self storage investors
Storage sponsors raise LP equity and loans to buy, build or convert facilities. Investors now test rents, nearby supply and debt on every deal, and we help you answer them.
- Rent, occupancy and supply data for US storage markets
- Decks and models built on lease-up, street rents and debt
- Waveup prepares investor materials for self storage sponsors, operators, developers and funds: $3B+ raised for 600+ startups since 2014
In short
Who are self storage investors?
Self storage investors are the people and firms that fund storage facilities. Accredited individuals and family offices back sponsors' syndications and funds. Listed REITs, private equity firms and banks buy, co-invest and lend. Demand has grown: 12.6% of US households rented a unit in 2024, the Self Storage Association found.
- Who it's for
- Self storage sponsors, operators, developers and funds raising equity or loans
- What we build
- Investor deck, financial model, valuation, investor list, data room
- Prices
- Deck from $6,000, model from $3,000. Flat fees
- Track record
- $3B+ raised for 600+ startups since 2014
Market data checked on 8 November 2026. Sources are under each section.
Are investors still backing self storage in 2026?
Yes, but they check each deal harder now that rents have cooled. The big REITs keep buying, lending and forming ventures with institutions.
The opportunity
A record share of US households rented storage in 2024, and fewer new facilities are going up.
- REITs buy portfolios and newly built stores
- REITs and credit funds lend to private owners
- Owners can hire a REIT to run their facility
The problem
Advertised storage rents fell 1.8% in the year to September 2026, Yardi Matrix found. Plans that lean on quick rent rises now get cut first.
Market size
How big is US self storage, and what is changing?
US storage operators earned $19.6 billion in 2022, the latest year in the Census Bureau's series. Four changes shape what investors will fund in 2026:
- Consolidation: after buying National Storage Affiliates in July 2026, Public Storage had over 4,500 locations
- New supply: projects under construction equalled 2.1% of existing storage space in August 2026
- Outside managers: Extra Space ran 1,963 stores for other owners at the end of September 2026
- Street rates: the average advertised rate for 10x10 units was $16.39 per square foot in August 2026
Capital
Is money still flowing into self storage?
Storage prices peaked in 2023 and have slipped since, so investors now underwrite slower rent growth. Meanwhile the listed REITs lend to private owners and form ventures with big institutions.
of bridge loans Extra Space had outstanding to storage owners at the end of September 2026
venture CBRE Investment Management formed with CubeSmart in February 2026 to buy storage
initial target of SmartStop's credit venture with AXCS Capital for bridge loans and preferred equity
Who invests in self storage deals?
LP equity often comes from accredited individuals and family offices. The firms below supply much of the rest: REITs that buy, lend and co-invest, a private storage buyer and a bank.
Investor database
Proptech investors in our database
The funds with the most proptech investments. Pick a stage, or open a fund for its cheque sizes.
Top 5 by proptech investments
Investments by industry
- Real Estate & Proptech35%
- Software & Apps27%
- Fintech & Financial services8%
- Rounds
- Pre-seedSeedSeries A
- Average cheque
- Not listed
- Based in
- Miami, United States
- Invests in
- USA
28 investments in total, 17 tagged Real Estate & Proptech.Open the full fund profile
Investments by industry
- Real Estate & Proptech26%
- Social media18%
- Transportation & Mobility18%
- Rounds
- SeedSeries ASeries BSeries C+
- Average cheque
- Not listed
- Based in
- Chicago, United States
- Invests in
- USA
168 investments in total, 17 tagged Real Estate & Proptech.Open the full fund profile
Investments by industry
- Real Estate & Proptech28%
- Software & Apps25%
- Fintech & Financial services11%
- Rounds
- Pre-seedSeedSeries ASeries B
- Average cheque
- Not listed
- Based in
- Belgium
- Invests in
- Europe
14 investments in total, 16 tagged Real Estate & Proptech.Open the full fund profile
Investments by industry
- Real Estate & Proptech40%
- Software & Apps20%
- Fintech & Financial services14%
- Rounds
- SeedSeries A
- Average cheque
- Not listed
- Based in
- São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
18 investments in total, 14 tagged Real Estate & Proptech.Open the full fund profile
Investments by industry
- Software & Apps19%
- Real Estate & Proptech17%
- Energy & Utilities16%
- Rounds
- Pre-seedSeedSeries ASeries B
- Average cheque
- $500K–$1M$1M–$3M$3M–$10M
- Based in
- Denmark
- Invests in
- Israel, Europe, USA
27 investments in total, 13 tagged Real Estate & Proptech.Open the full fund profile
From our investor database.
What makes investors turn down a self storage deal?
Our Fundraising 2025 study asked 56 VCs why they say no. Revenue growth, unit economics, burn and missed milestones came first, then defensibility and crowded categories. Storage LPs and lenders ask the property version of those questions.
Street rents still slipping
In August 2026, advertised rents for non-climate units rose year on year in just four of the top 30 US metros. Plans that need fast rent growth look weak.
What investors ask
- What happens to your returns if street rates stay flat for two years?
What your deck shows
- Your rent plan next to street rates within a few miles
- What current tenants pay against what new tenants pay
New facilities nearby
Yardi Matrix counted 594 storage projects under construction across the US in August 2026. Phoenix, Orlando, the New York suburbs and Austin had the most building against their stock.
What investors ask
- Which new facilities will open within three miles of yours?
What your deck shows
- Every planned or active project in your trade area
- Storage space per person, before and after they open
Dearer debt for private owners
Public Storage's bridge loans to other owners averaged 7.7% in Q3 2026. Its own new senior notes cost 4.85% after hedging.
What investors ask
- Can the facility cover its loan payments if rates stay this high?
What your deck shows
- Debt service cover at today's rates, year by year
- Each loan's maturity and the plan to refinance it
A few big buyers at exit
Public Storage alone bought or agreed to buy 65 facilities in 2026, besides its two takeovers. LPs want to know who would pay your exit price.
What investors ask
- Who buys this facility when you sell, and at what price?
What your deck shows
- Recent storage sales nearby, with buyers and prices
- Why a REIT or fund would want this facility
How we help you raise
Flat fees agreed before we start. No success fee on advisory work.
The facility, its trade area and your record, in one clear story.
Lease-up, street and in-place rents, debt and LP returns, month by month.
A value for the facility or portfolio, backed by nearby sales.
Family offices, storage investors and lenders that match your deal size.
Unit mix, rent roll, trailing-12 figures and permits, ready for review.
For selling a facility or a portfolio to a REIT or fund.
Our nearest real estate raises: a fund raised from LPs, a $149M development and an office bought out of foreclosure.
Who we are
Waveup is a London-based fundraising and growth advisory, working in 60+ countries and 90+ industries. Since 2014 we have built the decks, models, CIMs and valuations behind $3B+ raised for 600+ startups. 30% of our clients are funds; fund raises from $10M to $300M+.
About usSelf storage investors FAQ
Who are the biggest self storage investors?
How does a self storage syndication work?
How do you finance a self storage facility?
What is a self storage feasibility study?
Should a storage sponsor raise a fund or syndicate one deal at a time?
How much does help with a self storage raise cost?
Raising for a self storage deal or fund?
Tell us about the facility, its market and the capital you need. We'll show you what LPs and lenders will check first.
