From Technology to Brick & Mortar: Why I’m Expanding My Portfolio into Real Estate
Diana Parr • February 21, 2026
If you’ve been following Cyber Instincts Investments, you know that my professional DNA is woven from the high-stakes, fast-paced world of cybersecurity and technology. For years, my primary investment focus has been Angel Investing—finding brilliant, disruptive founders who are building great companies that fill a business void, solve real-world problems, and have excellent growth potential.
But lately, I’ve found a new passion that’s taking up just as much space on my radar: Real Estate Investing. I don’t chase trends—I look for affordable properties in strong suburban areas with excellent growth potential. I do not shy away from fixer uppers, as long as they have good bones, can be ready to rent in a few months, and have strong curb appeal.
The Thrill of the "Day Zero" Vision
My love for angel investing comes from watching the passion and drive of an entrepreneur. There is nothing quite like sitting across from a founder and seeing the raw data backed by pure conviction. It’s about:
- Innovation: Betting on ideas that change how we live and work.
- Mentorship: Using my Instincts to find a great company led by a strong team.
- Asymmetric Returns: The moonshot potential that only early-stage startups can offer.
Why Real Estate? The Power of Tangibility
While tech is about the future, real estate is about the foundation. My move into property investing wasn't a pivot away from tech, but a strategic evolution. Here’s what hooked me:
- The Literal Foundation: In real estate, you can touch the asset, while visualizing its potential. There is a unique satisfaction in improving a physical space that provides a roof over someone's head. And not just improving it, but making it modern and beautiful, and most importantly, livable.
- Strategic Diversification: Real estate offers a hedge against the volatility of the venture world. While a startup might pivot or fail, the intrinsic value of land and housing remains. There will always be ups and downs in the economy, but real estate has tangible value that will never disappear.
- The Discovery Game: Just like finding vulnerabilities in software code, I’ve found a passion for discovering properties—finding undervalued deals and applying a tech-forward mindset to bring modern features while creating a comfortable space.
I’m excited to bring you all along on this dual journey. Cybersecurity will always be my passion, but real estate is… well… real.
I am leading a roundtable on Growing and Educating the Future Cyber Workforce. As an educator at the University of South Carolina as well as a cyber leader in government and private industry, I am uniquely qualified to discuss the best way to educate our desperately needed talent base of cyber knowledgeable workers. Read more about the Security Leadership Exchange here: https://www.itsecurityexchange.com/
As a teenager, I learned to waterski and have a few trophies from local tournaments. More recently, I started enjoying kayaking and SUPing (aka stand-up paddleboarding) and have even dabbled with windsurfing. In 2021, my fiancé and I moved to South Carolina where we built a home on a beautiful lake and got married on a sun-drenched spring afternoon. Since moving, we have fully embraced our new community and the state of South Carolina as we explore the midlands, the mountains to the north, and the beautiful coastal communities of the low country. As part of that exploration, I realized that I wanted to invest in the local economy, particularly in the start-up community. I have therefore joined a Carolina angel investment group called Venture South and am participating in their 2023 Fellowship Program. This group has been incredibly warm and welcoming. I am building a new network of investors and entrepreneurs who are focused on doing good things for the region, having fun, and making money so that we can continue to invest. I cannot wait to find more companies to help grow into the next big success story. Read more about the fellowship here: https://www.venturecarolina.org/palmetto-venture-fellowship-class-of-2023
The USA Summit, held in person in Washington, DC, as well as virtually, from June 26-29, 2022 seeks to promote the United States as the world’s premier investment destination and connects qualified foreign firms with U.S. economic development organizations (EDOs) to facilitate business investment and job creation. I will be one of the judges for the Cybersecurity Startup Pitch Sessions for early-stage and startup tech companies. The panel of 4-6 judges, including venture capitalists, corporate investors, representatives from startup ecosystems, and industry experts will be listening to pitches on Tuesday, June 28th, at 3:00 pm EDT. Here is the link to the Summit: https://www.selectusasummit.us/Home Here is the link to use for the Startup Pitch Sessions: https://www.selectusasummit.us/Programming/Startup-Pitching-Sessions
Golden Seeds, one of the nation’s largest and most active investment groups, focuses squarely on this high-potential segment and I am proud to be joining their team of Angel Investors.