Joel Hornstein

Founder / Chief Executive Officer

2005 - Current

Structural specializes in the management and administration of certain vehicles with unusual objectives or constraints. These include charitable remainder trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, and private placement life insurance. Separately, I provide holistic financial advice to a small number of clients, focusing primarily on risk management, evaluation of alternative investment opportunities, and tax planning. Structural's predecessor entities include i) a full-service wealth management firm, whose proprietary technology platform constructed passively managed separate accounts tailored to clients’ tax posture, external holdings, and preferences, and ii) a platform for systematic capture of inefficiencies in small lot fixed income, which served corporate, endowment, and family office clients. Structural grew assets under management to $1.5 billion before exiting direct client service and moving to a SaaS model serving investment managers.

Director / Interim Executive / Advisor / Seed Investor

2005

Financial Services and Technology: Ardeo Education Solutions (student loan insurance), AutoFi (auto finance automation and marketplace), Axial (SME capital market, sold to Kuzari Group), EarnUp (debt management/payments), Eave (mortgage process automation, sold to HomeLight), Ethos Lending (mortgage process automation, sold to One American Mortgage), On Deck Capital (small business lending, ONDK until sale to Enova), Smartleaf (automated separate account management), The Beans (personal finance app). Business Services: Dewey (data platform), GLG (expert network), Julius (influencer marketing, sold to Triller), Haven (logistics, sold to FourKites), Monaeo (tax compliance software, sold to Topia), OvationCXM (remote and on-site IT support), Plink (value-added transaction processing), SafeGraph (POI and movement data), Stellar (private aviation marketplace), Thuzio (events, sold to Triller), TitleDock (contact management), TravelJoy (travel agency workflow automation), Vaultive (cloud encryption, sold to CyberArk). Other: Ionetix (on-site isotope production), LabPixies (app developer, sold to Google), Reveal Technology (drone imagery mapping), SAM Labs (STEM education), Sprout Foods (organic baby food, sold to Neptune Wellness Solutions), World Wide Packets (carrier ethernet, sold to Ciena).

Founding Member & Investment Committee Member

2021

Director

2019

Founder / Managing Director

2012 - 2020

Created first-of-its-kind platform for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to utilize advanced credit technologies for small business lending in low and moderate income communities. Provided participant institutions the ability to fund resultant loans either from their own balance sheets or via referral to DreamFund on a non-recourse basis. Architected structure that enabled DreamFund to raise capital from leading banks and nonprofits, each specifying parameters that determine which loans their capital funds. To date, all capital providers have achieved returns equal to or greater the return initially targeted. Partnered with the Association for Enterprise Opportunity to enroll leading CDFIs nationwide.

Co-Founder

2013 - 2018

First full-time employee of franchisee funding platform. Worked with brand partners to develop initial product offer, evaluated alternative legal/regulatory structures, and developed site collateral. Raised angel and seed capital. Transitioned to advisor when $3.7mm seed raise enabled my co-founders to join full time.

Managing Director, Capital Allocation / Director, Strategy & Business Development

2002 - 2005

Led redesign of capital allocation and return assessment across businesses and geographies. Coordinated with Reporting, Financial Control, Planning & Analysis, Treasury and Investor Relations on internal and external rollout of new metrics and associated income restatement. Previously, led reviews on topics including business unit strategy, acquisitions, corporate organization, and currency hedging; reported findings to Citigroup’s president, chief financial officer, and business heads.

Private Equity Associate

2000 - 2002

Sourced investment opportunities, led all aspects of business due diligence, and negotiated terms of transactions ranging from early stage venture capital to private equity. Worked closely with four portfolio companies; primary board representative for one.

Associate, Financial Institutions Practice

1998 - 1999

Led client and McKinsey teams within first year; rated ready for promotion after first project. Later rejoined mentor at Citigroup.

Captain

1991 - 1999

Rated 1 (highest rating) in all categories of evaluation on every annual officer evaluation report. First in class in academics and physical fitness, named to Commandant’s List, and awarded three Letters of Commendation at Armor Officer Basic Course. Completed Airborne School (paratrooper training).