We’re excited to connect!
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We’re excited to connect!
How can we help?
Roy Mill, CEO, and Shimi Bornstein, CTO, started Joshu with a vision to revolutionize the way in which insurance products are made, distributed, and sold by creating an experience that is easy to use, completely self-serviced, and meets the expectations of today’s modern insurers.
What was your journey before you started Joshu?
I remember tinkering with my cousin’s Commodore 64 in the late 80s and being mind blown with the possibility of creating something new with that toy. In the IDF I was a “script kiddie,” an instructor, and a program manager. After that I tried to get away from software development and went to study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in the Hebrew University. Five years later I moved from Israel to California in 2008 to earn my Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University.
I left Academia to become a Product Manager and later Director of Product at Ancestry. In 2017 At-Bay recruited me as their VP of Product Management. That’s where I learned about commercial insurance and where I met Shimi. Together with our teams of extraordinary Product Managers, Designers, and Developers we built At-Bay’s technology stack: a broker portal, a homegrown Policy Admin System, and all the infrastructure that powers them, including the scan and reports.
What makes Joshu special to you?
I’m most excited about the rare team that we were lucky to gather with us. This combination of deep software, product, and insurance expertise, coming to us from really diverse backgrounds to create something new and special. We picked a really tough mountain to climb in building a platform for insurers and it would have been impossible to meet our challenges if it wasn’t for the team we’ve gathered
What would others find cool about working with or for Joshu?
We are a group of dedicated, professional, experienced, and caring people. We bring many disciplines together to build a platform that solves real needs for a huge industry that underpins almost all economic activity. We’re in the most exciting and adventurous stage of any company being early and with so much space to expand.
What do you do outside of work?
My wife, Gili, and I have three active kids, ranging from elementary to high school. They keep us pretty busy. We like hiking together and hanging out with our friends. I also enjoy listening to podcasts and music, playing on my acoustic guitar, and reading.
What was your journey before you started Joshu?
As a teenager I spent hours listening to music. When my father brought home a Modem and connected us to Haifa University's network, I could not believe my luck. I discovered the world of BBS. Finding the lyrics to The Pixies, Prince and the Revolution, Bob Dylan and many others who helped me survive high school.
I honed my programming skills during my IDF service, at an elite intelligence unit. These skills helped me pay for my degree in Film and Television at Tel Aviv University. While studying, I helped different organizations with the first digital transformation – put Israel's first newspaper online, and built Internet applications for Israeli banks and insurance companies.
Later I was lucky to play a leading role working for several successful startups - Infinidat (Storage), Intucell (Cellular Network optimization) and At-Bay, where I founded and headed the R&D team. At At-Bay I met Roy, and found a soul mate.
What makes Joshu special to you?
Building great products and teams is always a thrilling adventure. There is never a dull moment. Joshu also takes me back to my roots. I took an active part in the first Internet revolution, and it's exciting to participate in the 'InsureTech 2.0' revolution.
What would others find cool about working with or for Joshu?
Joshu is young at heart. We all try to do things better, and bring value to our clients and colleagues. We also pay attention to details, building not only useful but also a beautiful product.
What do you do outside of work?
I love sports of any type, in any form: playing, playing gaming consoles, watching live sports in person or watching it on TV. Over the past few years, my wife Noa and I got hooked on Water Polo. We proudly support ASA Tel Aviv, where our teenage daughter plays as a right driver. I still listen to music (I love https://wfuv.org), and enjoy reading.
What was your journey before joining Joshu?
I have been in the industry for decades. My experience has been in both operations and sales / marketing. I also have worked with a carrier (WR Berkley) and other software providers such as DRC, Fiserv Insurance Solutions to name two. My journey here was a bit of faith from contacts that I worked with prior who said Joshu would be a good home for my skill set.
What a place worth visiting?
Bali is the coolest place I have ever been. Lanai or Maui are decent back ups.
What is a newsletter worth reading?
Bill Gates' concepts in his are interesting even if you are not a fan of him.
What do you do outside of work?
Travel and golf seem to be at the top of my list.
Zhàozhōu Cōngshěn (Jōshu), 778–897. Woodcut from Fozu zhengzong daoying, c. 1880.
We wanted our company name to convey a sense of intelligence and wisdom, while still being somewhat playful and accessible. Jōshu (pronounced “Joe-Shoe”) was a Buddhist master from China, especially known for his paradoxical sayings. He seemed like a decent role model.
We also happily discovered that in Japanese, the word joshu means “helper” or “assistant.” Which perfectly describes the kind of relationship we want to have with our customers.
In our logo, the shield represents the security of insurance while the vertical bars inside symbolize the growth we want our customers to experience. And if you aren’t into deep symbolism, that’s ok. It looks nice on a t-shirt too.
From our headquarters in Silicon Valley, to our R&D team in Tel Aviv, and several home offices in between, we work hard and have fun doing it!
As the Operations and HR Manager, I'm excited to share what makes our company tick. With various teams spanning product, marketing, support, sales, operations, and engineering, we believe in striking a balance between structure and flexibility. While we're big on organization and efficiency, what sets us apart is our knack for thinking outside the box. Flexibility isn't just something we do; it's who we are.
Our team thrives on versatility, recognizing that our individual mastery contributes to the collective success of Team Joshu. We're all about teamwork, leaving egos at the door and working together to achieve greatness. This collaborative approach extends to how we hire - valuing teamwork, creativity, and a shared dedication to getting things done.
As we expand, our unique culture remains at our core, with each team member playing a vital role in the Joshu journey. Ready to join us?
