Our Story
Born during the largest real estate boom in history, Aloft's early years were spent pedaling as fast as possible to keep up with historically high volume.
Now, adjusting to life in a "normal" market, Aloft continues to thrive. Management has positioned the company for significant growth.
Our Timeline
Aloft was founded in Oct 2021, raising $5.3m in seed capital from Adreesen Horowitz and other investors. Aloft began hiring appraisers, and created it's first Order Tracking System.
Aloft expanded appraisal operations into 12 states, riding the high tide of orders, while developing the next level of scheduling software and data infrastructure. Rising interest rates derailed the refinance market, and Aloft adjusted accordingly.
Aloft delivered it's ordering API to lenders in early 2023, and delivered v.1 of Appraiser Toolkit in September. Our BPO division was launched at the end of the year.
Aloft launched RateMyAppraisal early in 2024, as well as Aloft University. Management is focused on growing RateMyAppraisal, and developing a new ROV platform (sorely needed in the industry).
- End-to-end appraisal software suite
- Real Estate Data API
- Vendor Platform (Home Services)
- Expansion into adjacent veritcals
Why Now?
$10Bn+ Real Estate Valuation Industry Undergoing Significant Upheaval
Unfavorable Demographic Trends and Turnover Among Valuation Professionals
A LOT of appraisers are retiring. New appraisers have higher expectations of technology and performance.
Through our Operations unit, Aloft has a unique pulse on the industry. By providing software and training to new Trainees (for free), Aloft is coaching the next generation of appraisers, with our tools at the center.
New GSE Requirements to Fundamentally Impact Appraisal Industry
Fannie Mae is pushing forward new requirements that will change the way appraisals are built, calculated, and reported.
Aloft is positioned on the front line of new Fannie Mae requirements. Not only are we designing industry training for the new format, we are actively building our tools to work seamlessly with the new methodology.
30-year Low in Housing Transaction Volumes
The US housing market is finding its footing in the world of historically average interest rates. Transaction volumes are expected to rise as homebuyers become accustomed to the new reality.
Aloft is positioned to benefit from increased order volume in Operations and SaaS products. Our flexible model allows us to seed individual markets at low or no cost, ready when volumes increase.
Emergence of Non-traditional Appraisals Driven by New Technology
The lending industry is looking for ways to achieve a better result with alternative appraisal products.
The built-in transparency of Aloft’s products provides a new flexibility for lenders looking to move away from traditional appraisals. Our flexible platform allows us to work with lenders to craft creative solutions that fit their individual needs.
Growing Attention to Valuation Bias and Equity Issues
Industry leaders are determined to stomp out bias of any type.
Aloft is positioned to benefit from increasing government and media scrutiny because Aloft’s technology is founded upon market-based data, allowing appraisers to transparently show their math and explain their results.
Our Leadership
Travis Soukup
Travis founded Aloft in 2021 with a vision of making a better home valuation experience for everyone. With his entrepreneurial spirit and deep industry knowledge, Travis has led Aloft to become a disruptive force in the real estate industry.
Avinash Joshi
As Head of Product, Avi oversees product design and development by Aloft’s Seattle-based technology team. He collaborates closely with appraisal and technology professionals to devise software innovations that uniquely address industry needs. Prior to joining Aloft, Avi held various product management roles at Amazon.
Hansel Dobbs
As Chief Appraiser, Hansel is responsible for Aloft's quality control, compliance, and appraisal escalations. His focus is real estate technology and product development to support company goals of valuation modernization. Hansel previously held positions at Consolidated Analytics, Radian and Bank of America and has extensive field appraising experience across North Texas.
Heather Sullivan
Heather spearheads an array of educational initiatives. Her efforts focus on cultivating the development of the next generation of appraisers and enhancing the skills and expertise of the current workforce. Heather is an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor and plays a pivotal role in shaping industry standards as a member of The Appraisal Foundation's Appraisal Standards Board.
John Jenkins
As Head of Operations, John fosters team growth and cultivates strategic partnerships to drive organizational success at every level. John leverages his experience scaling operational teams to guide the appraisal production, customer support, and operational recruiting teams to deliver exceptional and consistent customer experiences.
Jordan Yentzer
As Head of IT, Jordan is responsible for the management and scaling of Aloft's technology infrastructure, adapting to evolving business requirements, and cultivating strong vendor partnerships. With a background in supporting rapidly growing technology startups, Jordan leverages expertise in IT strategy to optimize operations and drive organizational success.
Tim Beard
Tim is responsible for Aloft’s financial and accounting operations. Earlier in his career, Tim spent more than a decade as an investment banker with several bulge bracket Wall Street firms and advised a wide range of technology clients on capital raising and M&A transactions. Prior to Aloft, Tim held CFO roles at several private technology companies.
