Whitney N. Blanco, Ph.D., M.Phil, MPH, launched Acreage with a mission to transform city and architectural analytics through a lens of social responsibility and innovation. Rooted in her academic journey and research on real estate development in marginalized communities like Atlanta's Peoplestown, Whitney's vision for Acreage marries civil engineering, public health, and public policy. This multidisciplinary foundation empowers Acreage to leverage machine learning, artificial intelligence, and GIS data, improving land use and architectural design with a focus on historically Black neighborhoods and fostering sustainable, community-centric urban growth.

Joining Whitney in this ambitious venture are Ralph Raymond, Mark Whylie, Andre Grant-Acquah and Mahir Pathak, each a standout in their respective fields, together enriching Acreage's mission with their expertise.

Ralph Raymond, AIA, NOMA, NCARB (Co-Founder and Architecture Lead), brings over a decade of architectural experience from the expansive metro-Atlanta landscape. Educated at The Georgia Institute of Technology, Ralph's portfolio spans significant sectors including aviation and transportation, showcasing his commitment to community empowerment and minority representation. His leadership and design philosophy ensure that Acreage's architectural solutions are both aesthetically pleasing and pragmatically sound, aligning with clients' visions.

Mark Whylie (Co-Founder and CTO) stands at the forefront of software engineering, where his dedication to robust, scalable software architectures supports Acreage's advanced analytical frameworks. Mark's innovative approach to technology ensures that Acreage's infrastructure is not only cutting-edge but poised for future growth and challenges, marking him as a pivotal figure in the realm of software development.

Andre Grant-Acquah (Advisor & Broker) is the Founder and Managing Broker of Black Opal Realty. Prior to Black Opal Realty, Mr. Grant-Acquah served as Sales Manager at an investment real estate brokerage firm that specialized in the acquisition and disposition of investment real estate in the Atlanta Metro area. As Sales Manager, he led a team that completed up to 100 residential transactions a month. During his last 4 years of tenure, Mr. Grant-Acquah led teams and personally completed more than $350 million combined acquisitions and dispositions real estate transactions.

Before Mr. Grant-Acquah’s start in real estate, he spent five years in business development and consulting roles working with startup and information technology companies.

Mr. Grant-Acquah graduated with Honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and received a Cooperative Education Certificate. He attended Worcester College in Oxford, England as part of the Georgia Tech Oxford Study Abroad Program.

Mahir Pathak, Ph.D. (Advisor), with a background that spans NASA, the White House, and significant roles in McKinsey, Stack Overflow, and Glitch, brings a wealth of experience in innovation and entrepreneurship. His involvement in angel investing and advisory roles, coupled with his recognition by the Forbes Business Council and his induction into the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Council of Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni, underscores his invaluable guidance and vision for Acreage's strategic direction.