Benjamin Ostrow, Finance Expert in New York, United States
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Benjamin Ostrow

Verified Expert  in Finance

Finance Expert

Location
New York, United States
Toptal Member Since
February 1, 2021

Ben is a thoughtful and creative investor with a background in public equity, distressed credit, and PE. He has applied his experience to large ($15B) public and mid-market companies in dozens of industries, including aerospace, wireless networking, SaaS, and retail. Ben is currently building a private credit investment vehicle and is available for short-term projects to help clients improve business strategy, evaluate and execute financing/fundraising, and develop financial forecasts/models.

Excel ExpertBusiness Plan ConsultingPricing ConsultingFinancial ForecastingMarket SizingInvestment BankingInvestment AnalysisPitch Deck ConsultantDue Diligence ConsultantFundraising ConsultantMergers & Acquisitions (M&A)Equity ResearchMarket ResearchFinancial ModelingComparable Company AnalysisInsuranceFinancial Strategies

Career Highlights

Senior Investment Professional (Equity Analysis, Equity Sales)
Forbes Media - Q.ai - Main
Partner
Lakeside Capital Group
Investment Analyst
Stadium Capital Management

Education Highlights

MBA
Columbia Business School

Case Studies

Work Experience

Senior Investment Professional (Equity Analysis, Equity Sales)

2021 - 2022
Forbes Media - Q.ai - Main
  • Designed and marketed over 20 AI-powered investment models, most of which outperformed through H1 2022.
  • Used fundamental and statistical analysis to improve existing and new investment strategies.
  • Launched an AI-powered oil and gas strategy in December 2021; up more than 90% since inception and above 2500 bps over the benchmark.
  • Refined existing predictive hedging overlay and developed the structure for integration with third-party brokerages.
Focus areas: Investments, Equity Research, Equity Research Analysis, Equities, Asset Allocation, Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Finance, CFO, Strategy, Net Debt Analysis, Insurance, Investment Memoranda, Investment Committee Advisory, Data Analysis, Equity Markets, Research, United States, Comparable Company Analysis, Hotels & Lodging, Statistics, Statistical Analysis, IT Services, Pricing, Pricing Consulting, eCommerce

Partner

2017 - 2020
Lakeside Capital Group
  • Negotiated the sale of a $10 million interest in a PE fund in a secondary transaction. The sale of the LP interest resulted in a small gain versus a likely substantial loss. Evaluated potential risk/reward with an independent waterfall analysis.
  • Led an M&A process for an oil and gas services portfolio company. Performed M&A modeling, due diligence, and valuation for the strategic acquisition ($10 million) that added new service verticals.
  • Built and maintained a multi-year, three-statement financial model to forecast performance and create quarterly and annual budgets for an aerospace manufacturing portfolio company with over $60 million in revenues.
  • Developed a multi-year financial model to support negotiations with bank contacts for an expanded $30 million loan for increased agricultural development and residential home construction.
  • Structured new common and preferred equity investments in an aerospace manufacturing portfolio company. Used the new securities to raise more than $10 million while complying with debt covenants and limiting dilution to current shareholders.
  • Evaluated regional startups for potential direct angel investments. Led due diligence and conversations with founders. Recommended changes to startups' pitch decks to ensure better fundraising success.
  • Led the financial modeling and forecasting for two M&A sales processes to explore the sale of two operating companies to strategic and financial acquirers. Led communications with investment banks and built the M&A models for both.
  • Managed a public equity portfolio with a total value of $150+ million. Positioned the portfolio for long-term growth with a concentrated group of high-quality companies. Led investment research and executed tax-efficient sales when appropriate.
Focus areas: Investment Research, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial Forecasting, Financial Modeling, Capital IQ, Capital Structuring, Waterfall Modeling, Operations Management, Microsoft Excel, Business Strategy, Market Research, Oil & Gas, Market Research & Analysis, Credit/Debt, Loans, Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A), Manufacturing, Cash Flow Modeling, Aerospace & Defense, Inventory Management, Cash Flow Management, Startups, Pitch Decks, Fundraising, M&A (Sell-side), M&A Modeling, Product-market Fit, Cannabis, Capital Raising, Initial Public Offerings, Private Equity, M&A (Buy-side), Due Diligence, Real Estate, Fashion, Fashion & Beauty, Financial Services, Investment Banking, Forecasting, Research Analysis, Investment Analysis, US GAAP, Finance Strategy, Financing, Fundraising Consultant, Three-statement Modeling, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Financial Reporting, Budgeting, Financial Restructuring, Excel Expert, Pitch Deck Consultant, Early-stage Startups, Equity Research Analysis, Business Modeling, Investments, Due Diligence Consultant, Revenue & Expense Projections, Debt, Equity, Valuation Modeling, Strategic Planning, Scenario Analysis, Retail & Wholesale, Hospitality, Consumer Products, Food & Beverage, Brokerage, Lending, Business Models, Cap Tables, ESOPs, Investor Reporting, Debt Restructuring, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Valuation, Intellectual Property Licensing, Venture Capital, Bloomberg Terminal, Equities, Asset Allocation, Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Debt Financing, Leveraged Buyout (LBO), Finance, Business Loans, SME/SMB Financing, Personal Storage Facilities, Business Plan Consulting, Logistics & Warehousing, CFO, Strategy, Net Debt Analysis, Insurance, Investment Memoranda, Investment Committee Advisory, Data Analysis, Equity Markets, Research, United States, Comparable Company Analysis, Hotels & Lodging, Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Exercise & Fitness, Wellness, NetSuite, Data Rooms, IT Services, Pricing, Pricing Consulting, eCommerce, Shopify

Investment Analyst

2018 - 2018
Malkin Capital (MBA Internship)
  • Evaluated the potential upside and downside risk of short selling a dubious drug manufacturer. Recommended a short position that would have returned 63.3% since the proposed investment (24.4% IRR).
  • Supplemented investment research by contacting more than ten specialist doctors who treat patients and prescribe competing drugs for relevant conditions.
  • Used current prescription data to estimate the market size for the target's key drug; determined that management likely overstated the total addressable market (TAM) potential by 4:1.
Focus areas: Equity Research, Valuation, Capital Structuring, Cash Flow Analysis, Drug Development, Total Addressable Market (TAM), Market Sizing, Financial Modeling, Waterfall Modeling, Financial Forecasting, Microsoft Excel, Market Research, Market Research & Analysis, Loans, Cash Flow Modeling, Pitch Decks, M&A (Sell-side), M&A Modeling, Product-market Fit, Hedge Funds, Initial Public Offerings, Private Equity, Due Diligence, Financial Services, Forecasting, Research Analysis, Investment Analysis, Bloomberg, US GAAP, Finance Strategy, Financing, Three-statement Modeling, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Excel Expert, Equity Research Analysis, Investments, Equity, Valuation Modeling, Scenario Analysis, Business Models, Cap Tables, Intellectual Property Licensing, Intellectual Property Valuation, Intellectual Property, Bloomberg Terminal, Equities, Finance, Net Debt Analysis, Investment Memoranda, Investment Committee Advisory, Data Analysis, Equity Markets, Research, United States, Comparable Company Analysis, Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Pricing, eCommerce

Investment Analyst

2016 - 2016
Owl Creek Asset Management (MBA Internship)
  • Led a research project to assess changes in the payments industry and the impact on select companies. Used industry research and company analysis to present a short idea to the investment team.
  • Assessed the risks of additional regulatory changes to the North American payday lending industry. Evaluated a distressed company in the industry to identify a potential investment in the complex capital structure.
  • Sourced and maintained research contacts to support investment research on a niche medical device category.
Focus areas: Distressed/Special Situations, Investment Research, Financial Analysis, Financial Modeling, Capital Structuring, Waterfall Modeling, Financial Forecasting, Microsoft Excel, Market Research, Market Sizing, Market Research & Analysis, Credit/Debt, Cash Flow Modeling, Aerospace & Defense, Pitch Decks, M&A (Sell-side), M&A Modeling, Hedge Funds, Initial Public Offerings, Private Equity, Due Diligence, Financial Services, Forecasting, Research Analysis, Investment Analysis, Bloomberg, US GAAP, Finance Strategy, Financing, Three-statement Modeling, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Financial Restructuring, Excel Expert, Equity Research Analysis, Investments, Debt, Equity, Valuation Modeling, Scenario Analysis, Retail & Wholesale, Consumer Products, Lending, Business Models, Cap Tables, Debt Restructuring, Bloomberg Terminal, Equities, Finance, Net Debt Analysis, Insurance, Investment Memoranda, Investment Committee Advisory, Data Analysis, Equity Markets, Research, United States, Comparable Company Analysis, Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Pricing, eCommerce

Investment Analyst

2011 - 2015
Stadium Capital Management
  • Identified an undervalued wireless hardware manufacturer with a strong competitive position, cultivated 75+ industry contacts to develop industry knowledge, and recommended an investment that generated a 100%+ return in under a year.
  • Conducted detailed primary research of the ISP industry. Attended multiple industry conferences and shadowed a wireless ISP's CFO and CTO over multiple days. Built an ISP financial model to better understand expected returns and key metrics.
  • Led the primary research of an apparel retailer. Built a relevant financial model and visited 100+ store locations. Presented research to the retailer's CEO and CFO, identifying areas for improvement and store manager feedback on new store layouts.
  • Led research for a potential investment in a publicly traded European football club. Prepared a detailed analysis of the ties between on-field sports success and financial performance for a management meeting with the CFO.
  • Created a research presentation to inform the investment committee on additive manufacturing and relevant investment opportunities.
Focus areas: Equity Research, Valuation, Investment Research, Financial Modeling, Capital IQ, Capital Structuring, Waterfall Modeling, Financial Forecasting, Microsoft Excel, Market Research, Market Sizing, Market Research & Analysis, Credit/Debt, Loans, Sports & Athletics, Cash Flow Modeling, Restaurant Operations, Restaurants & Dining, Startups, Pitch Decks, M&A (Sell-side), M&A Modeling, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Hedge Funds, Initial Public Offerings, Private Equity, M&A (Buy-side), Due Diligence, Fashion, Fashion & Beauty, Financial Services, Investment Banking, Forecasting, Research Analysis, Investment Analysis, US GAAP, Finance Strategy, Financing, Telecommunications, Three-statement Modeling, Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), Leveraged Buyout Modeling, Excel Expert, Equity Research Analysis, Investments, Equity, Valuation Modeling, Scenario Analysis, Retail & Wholesale, Consumer Products, Lending, Business Models, Cap Tables, Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property Valuation, Intellectual Property Licensing, Gambling, Fantasy Sports, Casinos & Gaming, Bloomberg Terminal, Equities, Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Debt Financing, Leveraged Buyout (LBO), Finance, SME/SMB Financing, Net Debt Analysis, Insurance, Investment Memoranda, Investment Committee Advisory, Data Analysis, Equity Markets, Research, United States, Comparable Company Analysis, Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Exercise & Fitness, Wellness, Data Rooms, IT Services, Pricing, eCommerce
2015 - 2017

MBA in Business Administration

Columbia Business School - New York, NY, USA

2007 - 2011

Bachelor's Degree in Commerce

University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA

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