Colin Yeap: From W2 to Laundromat Empire with Private Lending & Connecting

In this episode of the Dream Start Own podcast, Edgar “The Connector” Salgado sits down with capital raiser and entrepreneur Colin Yeap to break down how he went from a pharmaceutical W2 to owning laundromats, running a landscaping company, and building a thriving capital-raising/connecting business—all by walking into the rooms everyone else avoided. Colin explains how he started as a private lender through Gator, ran out of his own money, and then built a connector business that now structures deals, underwrites projects, and helps investors safely lend on fix and flips, buy-and-holds, EMD, and double closes across multiple markets. He also shares how he partnered with Subto and Owners Club members to buy and renovate laundromats in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and raise funds for new acquisitions. You’ll learn:The difference between a simple “referral” and a true capital-raising connectorColin’s lending checklist: title, insurance, LLC status, background checks, multiple exit strategies, and JV agreementsHow he protects lenders with notes, deeds of trust/mortgages, lender’s title policies, PGs, and ongoing communicationHow he uses a CRM and daily networking to talk to 3–5 new people a day and build a 400+ person lender/buyer listHow he got into laundromats with partner Benjamin Huang and is now renovating, expanding, and adding commercial accountsWays new lenders can deploy cash, 401k, or self-directed retirement funds into real estate-backed dealsMindset lessons from losing money on a deal, learning from mistakes, and refusing to quit on entrepreneurship Colin also talks about balancing his W2 as a pharmaceutical quality director with being COO of multiple businesses, why communication is everything when things go wrong, and how getting into the right rooms (Subto, Gator, Owners Club, local meetups) can completely change your financial future. Connect with Colin:Instagram: @colinyeapFacebook: Colin YeapFollow Dream Start Own, rate this episode, and share it with someone who wants to become a connector, lend safely, or buy boring cash-flow businesses like laundromats to build real wealth beyond a W2.✨ Every click helps us grow this community.💤Sleep better, dream bigger! 👉 Eight Sleep https://refer.eight.sl/edgardsalgado ✨🔌 PLUG IN & SUBSCRIBE 🔌📸 Instagram: / @edgartheconnector🎵 TikTok: / @edgarsrei► Join The Subto Community for Life & Learn Creative Finance from @PaceMorby👉 https://join.nre.ai/mQ9T9vZ► Learn How to Make Money on Other People’s Deals with the Gator Method👉 https://join.nre.ai/mQBDJK5► Get the tools I use for productivity👉 https://linktr.ee/EdgartheConnector🚧🚧🚧 DISCLAIMER 🚧🚧🚧 We are not a CPA, attorney, insurance, contractor, lender, or financial advisor. The content in these videos shall not be construed as tax, legal, insurance, construction, engineering, health & safety, electrical, financial advice, or other and may be outdated or inaccurate; it is your responsibility to verify all information yourself. This is a YouTube video for entertainment purposes ONLY.