Biography

A serial entrepreneur and visionary real estate developer, Matthew Blesso combines financial discipline with bold innovation to create transformational residential, commercial, and hospitality projects across New York, Panama, and Costa Rica. Since founding Blesso Properties in 1998, Matthew has proven that generating strong financial returns and making a positive social impact are not only compatible—they're mutually reinforcing.

Notable ventures include the award-winning Tantalo Hotel in Panama City, the country’s first boutique hotel to merge sustainability, local art, and culture within a historic district, and the early-stage growth of Brooklyn’s 3rd Ward, a landmark creative hub for artists and entrepreneurs. His real estate developments have consistently broken new ground in design and purpose, earning global media attention and numerous accolades.

In recent years, Matthew founded Shift Esperanza, a groundbreaking regenerative living community in Nosara, Costa Rica. Shift is pioneering a new model of development—one that restores the health of its residents, the surrounding environment, and the local community. Under Matthew’s leadership, Shift is becoming an international case study for how development can enhance rather than extract, offering a blueprint for conscious living that integrates wellness, sustainability, and deep community connection.

Widely regarded as an expert in community building, Matthew’s work consistently challenges conventional norms by placing human connection and ecological harmony at the center of real estate development by addressing the health impacts of social isolation and climate change through intentionally designed environments that foster belonging and resilience.

Matthew has shared his insights as a speaker on leadership, social entrepreneurship, and housing policy, and was honored with NYU’s Bart Lawson Award for Humanitarianism while serving as an adjunct professor. A dedicated philanthropist and volunteer, he has raised or donated over $300,000 to charitable causes and has served on multiple nonprofit and cultural boards.

Matthew’s work represents a powerful convergence of business, art, and social purpose—building spaces that don’t just house people, but help them thrive.