Who We Are

The BlastPoint team is comprised of a diverse blend of data technologists, entrepreneurs, writers, and operations experts who come from a wide range of backgrounds. Together, we share a common goal: To provide reliable, excellent software that our customers can use to answer fundamental questions and drive smart growth.

company values: be useful, be excellent to each other — BlastPoint company values

We are a values driven organization that takes a wider view of AI analytics. It’s not adequate to simply achieve a one-time positive outcome for our clients; it’s equally important to take a critical look at the results and make sure that there are no blind spots for the people who are affected by data-driven business decisions. We protect our customers from unintended negative impacts while helping them serve their broader communities.

We also believe our mission as a company is not just to make money, but to serve the wider world. We offer special pricing and programs for non-profits and community change makers, often for free. Please contact us to learn more.

ALISON ALVAREZ

CEO & Co-Founder

Alison Alvarez spent over a decade building big data tools for large companies in the media, automotive and banking spaces. She became convinced that more affordable and accessible solutions should exist and applied those insights to build BlastPoint. She has emerged as an expert consultant regarding large geospatial data systems, lecturing around the country to teach people how to use data tools for themselves. Alison is an NSF Research Fellow, a Jack Kent Cooke Fellow, and a Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellow. She holds two Master’s degrees from Carnegie Mellon: a 2007 MS from the Language Technologies Institute at the School of Computer Science and a 2016 MBA from the Tepper School of Business. She is a former advisor to Y-Combinator’s Valor Water.

TOMER BORENSTEIN

CTO & Co-Founder

Tomer Borenstein has significantly expanded BlastPoint by developing AI technology for highly regulated industries. His leadership fostered partnerships, extending the technology’s reach that currently serves over 20% of the United States. He has been named a Business Times’ “30 under 30,” has authored numerous articles and speaks regularly at conferences on the benefits of A.I. and machine learning for customer engagement and business growth. His previous work in the startup space includes an exit to Apple. Tomer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Master’s in Machine Learning and Computer Vision from Carnegie Mellon University.

TONY CEBZANOV

VP of Engineering

Tony Cebzanov joined BlastPoint in the summer of 2020 after 15 years at Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute. He is a versatile and dedicated software engineer with 20+ years of experience planning, designing, and developing software for delivery to a diverse array of customers in government, academic, and industry settings. Tony is originally from Philadelphia and now lives in Pittsburgh with his wife, Erica, their dog, Kona, and cat, Pearl.

STEVE ESTES

VP of Product

Steve Estes, as VP of Product, focuses on the intersection of technology, finance, and market strategy and speaks the languages of all three, from coding web apps to term sheet nuances to analyzing competitive advantages. He has worked with data companies such as DataSift and Enigma as well as global enterprises like American Express. His approach to product design places user ergonomics as the top priority, with optionality a close second. Steve lived for a time in New York City, but is now back in Pittsburgh with his wife and two young daughters.

KELSEY HALL

VP of Operations

Kelsey Hall is BlastPoint’s problem-solving guru – or Director of Operations, as she is officially known. With a proven record of managing projects from concept to completion, building internal and external relationships, and creating operational consistency by defining new processes, she brings order to the chaos of startup life. She is particularly skilled in building cross-functional teams and making critical decisions during challenges. Kelsey lives in northeastern Ohio.