Beni Gradwohl

Beni Gradwohl is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cognovi Labs. Beni is a senior finance executive, institutional investor and fintech innovator. By combining an analytical discipline with keen business acumen, he has successfully transformed or created new businesses that spanned the consumer finance, institutional securities and investment management disciplines. Before pivoting into business innovation and fintech, Beni was an EVP at Citi, where he helped stabilize the firm’s residential mortgage business during the financial crisis. Among various responsibilities, he oversaw the company’s $280B mortgage portfolio, the organization’s analytics functions and the development of a new digital acquisition channel. Prior to Citi, Beni was a Managing Director, Institutional Securities at Morgan Stanley and an award-winning Portfolio Manager at investment management firms. Beni currently serves as an advisor to start-ups and has been invited to several Boards of Directors. In addition to his corporate career, Beni previously held research and teaching assignments at multiple leading academic institutions. Beni received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Physics, and B.S. in Mathematics and Physics from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

Education

• Ph.D. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• M.S. with distinction The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• B.S. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Companies

• Co-Founder and CEO Cognovi Labs, Inc. (2016)
• Founder Finlytix, Inc. (2016)
• Board Member, NY Advisory Council IVN (2016 — 2018)
• Advisor ApplySmart (2016 — 2016)
• Founder & EVP of BIGfreedom/ Business Innovation Group Freedom Mortgage (2014 — 2016)
• Founder HomeSimple LLC (2013 — 2014)
• Managing Director & EVP, Consumer Bank Citi (2008 — 2013)
• Adjunct Professor Columbia Business School (2008 — 2008)
• Managing Director, Institutional Securities Morgan Stanley (2005 — 2008)

Skills

• Fixed Income
• Private Equity
• Digital Strategy