# Joe Kelly

> Joe Kelly, also known as Joseph Kelly, is the Austin-based co-founder and CEO of Unchained, a bitcoin financial services company founded with Dhruv Bansal in 2016. Previously he co-founded big-data company Infochimps, acquired by CSC in 2013. His public interviews trace his path through teenage sailing, leaving UT Austin, residential contracting and technology entrepreneurship; his writing explores custody, financial services, philosophy and systems.

- **Role:** Co-Founder & CEO at Unchained
- **Organizations:** Unchained, Infochimps, Computer Sciences Corporation
- **Education:** Attended undergraduate business studies; left without completing a degree, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas McCombs School of Business
- **Known for:** Co-founded Infochimps, acquired by CSC in 2013., Co-founded Unchained in 2016 and serves as CEO., Announced a $60 million Series B financing led by Valor Equity Partners in April 2023.

## Career timeline

- **2007-2008** — Attended UT Austin business school; subsequently left to pursue business ventures.
- **2008-2009** — Worked with the founders of Infochimps as the big-data company developed; later identified publicly as a co-founder.
- **2013** — CSC acquired Infochimps on August 5 in a $27 million all-cash transaction, according to CSC financial reporting.
- **2016** — Co-founded Unchained with Dhruv Bansal in Austin.
- **2017** — Unchained originated its first bitcoin-backed loan.
- **2022** — Announced approximately 15% workforce reduction in November and accepted responsibility for unsustainable bull-market hiring.
- **2023** — Announced $60 million Series B led by Valor Equity Partners.
- **2024** — Year-end letter reported clients and partners collectively securing over 100,000 BTC.
- **2026** — January letter reported more than $1 billion in loan originations; February California consent order imposed a $200,000 company penalty over underwriting practices.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Infochimps, acquired by CSC in 2013.
- Co-founded Unchained in 2016 and serves as CEO.
- Announced a $60 million Series B financing led by Valor Equity Partners in April 2023.
- Led Unchained as its platform passed 100,000 BTC collectively secured by clients and partners, reported at year-end 2024.
- Reported Unchained crossing $1 billion in loan originations in his January 2026 letter.

## Latest updates

- **2026-02** — California DFPI consent order required Unchained to pay $200,000 for failures to adequately consider certain California borrowers’ ability to repay; the order recorded satisfactory revised underwriting policies submitted in August 2025.
- **2026-01** — Published Unchained in 2026, reporting more than $1 billion in originations and Gannett Trust Company opening in Q3 2025.
- **2025-05** — Appeared on Build With Bitcoin to discuss company origins, customer engagement, culture, fundraising and bitcoin focus.

## Links

- Website: https://joeman.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephkelly
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/josephkelly

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/joe-kelly
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-14