Coastal Investment tops UCF Alumni’s inaugural Fastest-Growing Knight Businesses list

Coastal Investment Company was named No. 1 in UCF Alumni’s inaugural Ever Upward: Fastest-Growing Knight Businesses program on Sept. 15, 2026, ranking first among 25 UCF alumni-owned and alumni-led companies recognized for growth. The Winter Park firm’s top finish highlights both its multi-year expansion and its ties to the University of Central Florida alumni network.

Why it matters: - Coastal Investment Company’s No. 1 ranking puts a Winter Park-based investment firm at the top of UCF Alumni’s first-ever growth list. - The recognition spotlights the business growth and economic impact of companies tied to University of Central Florida alumni. - The ranking also underscores the strength of UCF’s alumni business network.

What happened: - UCF Alumni named Coastal Investment Company the top company in its inaugural Ever Upward: Fastest-Growing Knight Businesses program. - The award reception included the announcement of final rankings for 25 UCF alumni-owned and alumni-led companies. - Coastal was first named a finalist in the Top 25 before being revealed as the fastest-growing company among the honorees. - The program’s inaugural class was recognized on Sept. 15, 2026.

The details: - Coastal Investment Company is headquartered in Winter Park, Florida. - The firm operates across real estate, venture capital and other private-market investments. - Coastal also provides tax consulting and M&A advisory services. - The company was founded by Greg Meerbaum, Tyler Bloechinger ’09 and Keith Ahrens ’08. - Coastal’s leadership team includes UCF alumni Travis Barr ’09 and Carey Sobel ’09. - Ahrens has said the recognition is especially meaningful because of UCF’s role in the professional relationships and development of Coastal’s leadership team. - Sobel has said the honor marks a significant milestone for Coastal’s UCF alumni and the relationships that began through the university community. - Coastal team members stay involved with UCF through alumni engagement, mentorship, guest lectures, philanthropy and other university-related initiatives. - Coastal was recognized alongside 24 other Knight-owned and Knight-led companies in the inaugural Ever Upward class. - More information is available on Coastal Investment Company’s website. - Coastal also maintains a LinkedIn presence at its company page.

Between the lines: - The award gives UCF Alumni a new way to showcase alumni entrepreneurship and business scale. - Coastal’s placement suggests the company has translated alumni relationships into measurable growth over a multi-year period. - The emphasis on alumni-led firms points to a broader effort to connect university identity with regional economic development.

What's next: - Coastal will likely use the recognition to reinforce its profile within the UCF community and among potential business partners. - UCF Alumni is expected to continue the Ever Upward program as a platform for future classes of high-growth Knight businesses. - Coastal’s ongoing alumni involvement suggests the firm will remain active in university-related mentorship and engagement efforts.