Founder Storiez: Recent Episodes
ephraim yarmak
The purpose of "FounderStoriez Channel" is to interview Entrepreneurs from around the world to share their story, experience, and wisdom with you so you can learn from them and be inspired.
Israel Duanis sold his first company, then started Linx Security, an identity security platform for the AI-agent era. This conversation is the honest version of the founder journey: the loneliness of every decision, why he turned down a seven-figure deal, building with a co-founder he's known for 23 years, the family cost, and the restless drive to "prove something to someone." Plus why identity is the security battleground of the AI era.
A raw, personal conversation for anyone building or thinking about it.
Chapters:
(01:00) Conviction, people & values
(06:00) Saying no to a 7-figure deal
(11:00) Co-founding with your best friend
(18:00) The loneliness of deciding alone
(26:00) Why he's really doing this
(34:00) Who are you trying to prove yourself to?
(38:00) Beating the comparison trap
(51:00) AI agents & the identity problem
(1:05:00) "Just show up"
Guest: Israel Duanis, Co-Founder & CEO, Linx Security (linx.security)
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Erica Brescia has done it all in tech: she founded and sold Bitnami, served as COO of GitHub during the launch of Copilot, and is now a Managing Director at Redpoint Ventures, where she decides which startup founders get funded.
In this episode of Founder Stories, Erica shares how she closed a $2.7M deal with Microsoft just days after giving birth, drove to her Y Combinator interview with a two-week-old, and the "chip on the shoulder" she now looks for in every founder she backs. It's an honest conversation about venture capital, ambition, motherhood, resilience, and learning to trust your gut when every decision is a one-way door.
A must-listen for startup founders, aspiring investors, and anyone building something of their own.
In this episode:
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What VCs really look for in founders
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Closing a major deal as a brand-new mom
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Why "trust your gut" is the hardest lesson in investing
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Balancing startup life and family
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Hiring for EQ over IQ
Guest: Erica Brescia (Redpoint Ventures, ex-GitHub, Bitnami)
Follow the show and subscribe for new episodes every week.
Steve Ward has been a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, a Secret Service agent who ran one of the first computer-network wiretaps in U.S. history, the CISO of Home Depot, a partner at Insight Partners, and an early backer of Wiz, Abnormal and a dozen others . Today he runs his own cyber venture fund, Bright Mind — named after his son.
But this isn’t a victory lap. Steve talks openly about the engine underneath all of it: a relentless feeling that he doesn’t belong and doesn’t deserve what he’s achieved, and what that’s cost him. He shares why the Wiz money is going into a trust for his son with autism, the ego that pulled him away from his family, the mentor he’s spent two decades trying to find, what he looks for in founders, and how he now defines success — hint: it has nothing to do with the wire transfer.
Honest, raw, and unexpectedly moving. As Steve put it: “It was like a free therapy session.”
A conversation about cybersecurity, venture capital, and the cost of ambition — hosted by Ephraim.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:00 The Wiz acquisition call — and why he posted it
04:00 “The real heroes are the siblings.”
05:30 Naming Bright Mind after his son
10:00 Steve at 17: farms, dirt bikes, and a lost kid
13:00 The Coast Guard and the roommate who taught him to learn
24:00 Home Depot: “I chased my ego.”
29:00 “A magnifying glass over an ant” — the CIO who humbled him
42:00 Secret Service, hackers, and 41 arrests across 11 countries, Steve Ward
43:00 The Wiz job he turned down
47:00 Learning venture from 24-year-olds at Insight
57:00 Why he started Bright Mind
01:03:00 Trust vs. proficiency: building a Navy SEAL team
01:08:00 “I don’t belong and I don’t deserve” 01:14:00 Paying off his brother’s mortgage
01:21:00 What he looks for in founders
01:23:00 What success actually means
01:31:00 Advice to his younger self
Niv is the co-founder and CEO of Noma Security. He raised a $100M Series B and scaled from 20 to 100 employees in a year, as a first-time founder, in cybersecurity, in the middle of a war that started the day Noma launched.
In this conversation, Niv talks about what it actually takes to win: the four-day POC sprint with no product, the candidate they signed three days after he'd already signed with a competitor, the customers he turned away because the feature didn't justify a company, and the toll it takes when you're a founder who's "never full."
We also get into the stuff founders don't say on stage — the loneliness, the lost sleep, the stress that physically catches up with you, and the slow realization that the company you're building starts to look uncomfortably like you.
▬▬▬ CHAPTERS ▬▬▬
00:00 Cold open
01:05 Intro
01:30 What "winning mentality" actually means
03:25 The 4-day POC with no product
06:30 How Noma signed a candidate who'd already signed elsewhere
08:45 How to cultivate culture at scale
14:30 How fast to let someone go when culture doesn't fit
18:30 Niv's childhood and where the competitiveness came from
22:00 "I'm never full" — the founder hunger problem
24:30 The day-to-day suffering of being a CEO
28:20 The 5% empty glass mistake every founder makes
32:30 Has anyone told you you're too transparent?
36:30 Strong opinions, loosely held — the anti-blaming culture
41:00 The hardest part of giving up control as you scale
45:30 Loneliness, sleep, and the hidden cost
46:30 What Niv got right as a first-time founder
48:30 Why he told customers to buy from Palo, not Noma
51:30 Did you have this vision on day one?
53:30 Are you the same person you were 2 years ago?
57:30 The biggest blind spot: social media and branding
1:00:00 When Niv became the bottleneck
1:03:30 The moment he realized Noma was something different
1:07:00 Does he ever take a moment to appreciate it?
1:08:30 The sticky-note values exercise that defined the company
1:10:30 Inside the $100M Series B decision
1:13:30 What success actually means to Niv
1:14:30 Is Noma your full identity?
1:16:30 Legacy
1:18:30 What people misunderstand about him
1:21:00 Closing
If you want the producer notes, the clips, or to get in touch with the show: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Raj grew up in a town in India with two traffic lights. He's now the CEO of Jetstream, a cybersecurity startup he founded after leaving CrowdStrike, which then turned around and invested in his company.
In this conversation: his mother's anything less than #1 pressure, the failures behind the successes (a WhatsApp competitor he didn't build, Cylance's missteps), the July 19th CrowdStrike outage and what it taught him about leadership, why he believes older founders have the real edge, and the five core values (CRUSH) he built Jetstream around.
A masterclass on differentiation, conviction, and starting a company in your late forties.
Shachar Hirschberg, Co-founder & CEO of Artemis Security, on building a cybersecurity company with thirty employees, one manager, and no traditional titles, only "Builders."
We get into the flat-org experiment, why he thinks AI-era product velocity makes traditional hierarchies obsolete, the hiring process that gets candidates an offer in 24 hours (sometimes 3), the decade-long career plan that led to founding Artemis, and what competitive tennis taught him about surviving the founder rollercoaster.
Plus: how they raised a $15M seed and a $70M Series A, the five values set before the first employee joined, and the first customer who asked to pay before being pitched.
A useful one for anyone building, hiring, or rethinking how to run a team in 2026.
In this episode, I sit down with Dean Shahar to discuss the reality of venture capital decision-making.
Investors often have to make high-stakes decisions with incomplete information, especially when startups are reaching critical inflection points.
Topics include:
• The hardest part of venture capital
• When startups transition from early customers to enterprise
• How investors evaluate risk
• Why hindsight makes investing look easier than it actually is
A must-listen for founders, investors, and anyone curious about how venture capital really works.
Lia Cromwell, Partner at UpWest, joins us for a candid conversation about venture capital, founder psychology, and the signals most entrepreneurs misread during fundraising.
We discuss:
– What VCs really think after your pitch
– How to know if a meeting actually went well
– Israeli vs American business culture
– Why conviction can’t be built in one meeting
– Founder red flags investors notice immediately
– The importance of equity splits and co-founder chemistry
– Gut instinct vs data in venture capital
Lia also shares the personal story behind turning down a job, moving to Tel Aviv in 30 days, and building her career in early-stage investing.
This episode blends tactical advice with personal conviction for founders who want to build the right way.
In this powerful conversation, We sit down with Shay Sandler, co-founder of Vega, to unpack how grit, identity, and discipline shaped his journey from immigrant kid to elite operator to cybersecurity founder.
Shay shares raw lessons from his upbringing, the mental battle of running marathons, and how those experiences shaped the way he builds companies and leads teams. They dive deep into what’s broken in modern security, why “more alerts” don’t equal safety, and how Vega is giving security teams real leverage instead of more noise.
You’ll also hear how radical transparency, relentless consistency, and a sales-first mindset became the backbone of Vega’s culture and growth.
Whether you’re a founder, CISO, investor, or aspiring operator, this episode is a masterclass in mindset, endurance, and building with intention.
Key themes:
• Immigrant mindset & resilience
• Marathon mentality for founders
• From sales to startup founder
• Why cybersecurity is broken
• Building culture through transparency
• How elite performers think
🎙 Hosted by Ephraim Yarmak
🚀 Guest: Shay Sandler (Vega)
Rom Carmel, CEO & Co-Founder of Apono, shares a deeply personal founder story from running his first business at age seven in Nigeria to leading a $54M, post-Series B cybersecurity company today.
In this conversation, Rom reflects on how growing up in Lagos shaped his adaptability, how Israeli intelligence changed his leadership style, and how he evolved from perfectionist founder to empowering CEO.
He also reveals the story behind meeting his co-founder Ofir, getting stuck together in Seychelles during COVID, and spending nine months speaking with 100 CISOs before building Apono.
This is a masterclass in founder psychology, co-founder alignment, and what it really takes to scale a company without losing yourself.
🎙 Founder Storiez. Conversations that reveal what really makes great founders.
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📌 Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway
In this episode, we sit down with Ori Barzilay, Partner at Team8, to explore what truly drives exceptional founders and investors.
Ori shares his journey from elite military service and competitive sports to becoming one of the youngest partners at a tier-1 venture firm. We discuss winning mentality, humility, intuition in investing, founder-team dynamics, execution as a moat, and why Israel’s tech ecosystem continues to defy the odds.
A thoughtful conversation on leadership, grit, and building long-term success—inside and outside venture capital.
In this deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation, Zohar Einy, Founder & CEO of Port.io, shares the real story behind building one of the fastest-growing developer platforms in the world.
Zohar opens up about raising a $100M Series C at an $800M valuation, one week before his wedding, how partnership (both personal and professional) became an amplifier rather than a distraction, and why self-awareness, paranoia, and humility are essential traits for elite founders.
From growing up on a farm, to elite military service, to multiple acquisitions, to building Port into a near-unicorn redefining developer experience, Zohar explains how belief, relentless execution, and inner work shaped his leadership style.
This episode dives into:
Why founders in strong relationships often outperform
How self-awareness directly impacts company performance
What great boards and investors actually look like
Why success breeds danger if it leads to complacency
The future of autonomous software engineering
How to stay humble while building something massive
This is not a tactics episode.
It’s a founder mindset masterclass.
Jacques Benkoski, Managing Partner at USVP, joins the show for a candid, wise, and insightful conversation on venture capital, company building, and life.
Jacques opens up about:
- Growing up without money and raising kids young
- The emotional moment he finally felt financially secure
- Why are many serial entrepreneurs driven by unresolved childhood scarcity
- Why the venture industry has lost its discipline
- What “original venture capital” actually looks like
- Why founders must choose their customers
- The real role of a mentor (and the one line that changed his life)
- How he thinks about legacy, purpose, and what truly matters
📘 Jacques’ Book: The Market Entry Strategy
A practical, step-by-step guide to choosing customers, differentiating your product, and building a go-to-market motion that actually works.
If you’re a founder, operator, VC, or anyone who appreciates wisdom earned through decades of experience, this episode is for you.
In this episode of Founder Stories, we sit down with Dan Povitsky, co-founder of Vine Ventures, to explore the deeply personal and professional story behind one of the fastest-growing venture firms in the world.
From an immigrant upbringing and academic family roots to launching a $60M fund at the height of COVID, Dan shares the principles, lessons, and personal growth that shaped his journey, including how faith and authenticity became the foundation of Vine’s culture.
Highlights:
- The immigrant mindset that fueled Vine’s creation
- What it takes to win deals against top-tier firms
- How personal growth makes better investors
- Why Vine leads every deal, and what that means for founders
- The role of spirituality, authenticity, and community in venture capital
- Lessons on leadership, humility, and staying steady through market cycles
“At the end of the day,” Dan says, “it’s about being sure this is exactly what you want to be doing — for reasons that will motivate you for a long time to come.”
Connect with Dan: LinkedIn
In this episode of Founder StorieZ, I sit down with my good friend Dor Fledel, co-founder and CEO of Spera, which was acquired by Okta.
Dor opens up about his childhood lessons in competitiveness, how tennis and debating shaped his mindset as a founder, and the intrinsic motivation that drove him forward. We dive into:
• How Israeli culture and 8200 shaped his journey.•
• Building Spera from 0 → 1 → acquisition.
• The decision-making framework behind selling to Okta.
• How to choose the right co-founder and handle disagreements.
• The truth about founder loneliness and the importance of support systems.
• Mistakes Israeli founders make when selling to U.S. customers.
• When to follow your gut vs. customer feedback.
If you’re a founder, operator, or future entrepreneur—this episode is packed with insights on resilience, decision-making, and building for the long term.
👉 Subscribe for more Founder StorieZ episodes featuring top founders and leaders.
Dean Sysman, CEO and co-founder of Axonius, built a $2 billion cybersecurity company—but his real story starts long before that. In this raw, powerful conversation, Dean opens up about growing up with financial hardship, battling childhood obesity, and forging an unbreakable mindset.
From extreme sports injuries and military service to failed POCs and an unwavering commitment to his wife, daughter, and co-founders—this is the story of a founder who lives by one mantra: Make Each Day Count.
🎯 Topics we cover:
Dean’s childhood struggles and drive for independence
How personal pain became the fuel for purpose
What it took to survive multiple failed product launches
The breakthrough moment that changed everything
Health, fatherhood, legacy—and why he tracks everything
The truth about billion-dollar startups and staying grounded
This episode is not just about building a massive company. It's about building a meaningful life.
Call-to-Action: 👉 If Dean’s story inspired you, please like, subscribe, and share this with someone chasing their own mountain.
Connecting with: Dean | Ephraim
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dheeraj, who arrived in the U.S. with just $900 and went on to found tech giants Nutanix and DevRev. From growing up in one of India’s poorest states to building multi-billion dollar companies, Dheeraj shares deeply personal stories of sacrifice, resilience, and ambition.
In this episode, discover how education became his gateway, how he balanced family and entrepreneurship, and why staying grounded and humble has been key to his success. Raj opens up about leadership lessons, embracing vulnerability, investing in people, and using philanthropy—especially in computational biology and education—to make a lasting impact.
What You’ll Learn:
Overcoming adversity and the immigrant experience
The role of hunger, perseverance, and innovation
Building and leading billion-dollar tech ventures
Balancing personal values with professional success
The power of philanthropy and legacy
Timestamps:
00:00 Starting from Scratch: A Humble Beginning
00:28 The Power of Education and Perseverance
01:22 Building a Life in the US
02:35 Overcoming Hardships and Family Support
04:23 Lessons in Adversity and Entrepreneurship
07:11 Balancing Wealth and Humility
15:24 The Journey of Nutanix
17:54 Founding DevRev and Future Ambitions
19:09 The Importance of Hunger and Innovation
29:19 The Role of Investors and Early Customers
31:54 Authenticity and Integrity in Leadership
33:34 Embracing Systems and Design
35:01 Mentorship and Personal Growth
40:06 Balancing Dualities in Leadership
51:09 Philanthropy and Purpose
55:39 Reflections on Life and Legacy
About Dheeraj:
Dheeraj is the founder of Nutanix and DevRev. His story is a testament to perseverance, humility, and visionary leadership. He is passionate about innovation, education, and giving back through philanthropy.
About the Host – Ephraim Yarmak:
Ephraim runs TGVG Fund, a micro VC backing early-stage cyber founders. He’s all about real conversations with builders who lead with purpose.
Enjoyed this episode?
Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share with someone who needs a dose of inspiration.
Three top-tier rising VCs – Jordan Siegel (RedPoint), James Green (CRV), and Morgan Gerlak (TCV) – pull back the curtain on venture capital. In this candid conversation, these friends and competitors share their journey from career pivots and childhood lessons to competitive deal wins and investment philosophies. Discover how they evaluate founders, maintain relationships in a cutthroat industry, and navigate the evolving VC landscape. Perfect for aspiring investors, entrepreneurs, and anyone fascinated by the startup ecosystem.
Episode Notes 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome * 00:35 Morgan's Career Challenges: Overcoming rowing setbacks that shaped his approach to failure * 01:52 Jordan's Career Pivot: Transitioning from engineering to business consulting * 02:52 James' Childhood Influences: Early lessons in communication and resilience * 05:01 Friendship in Competition: Balancing relationships while competing for the same deals * 08:23 Founder Evaluation: What makes a great founder? Grit, market fit, and relentless drive * 13:46 Dealing with Failure: Staying motivated in a high-rejection industry * 16:59 Deal Hunt Stories: The lengths they've gone to win competitive deals * 21:11 Market Trends: Current investment climate and future predictions * 22:18 Israel's Startup Scene: Future exits and opportunities * 23:11 VC Challenges: The hardest aspects of the job * 24:53 Fund Creation: Insights on starting a new venture fund * 27:26 Work-Life Balance: Managing personal and professional boundaries * 31:10 Mentor Relationships: The importance of non-transactional connections * 39:34 Advice for Aspirants: How to break into venture capital * 43:36* Closing Thoughts: Final reflections on the VC journey
Links:
• Morgan Gerlak
• Jordan Segall
• James Green
In this episode, we speak with Yair Kuznitsov, CEO and co-founder of Anecdotes. Yair recently led the company through a successful Series B funding round, securing a total of $55 million. Yair provides fascinating insights into the strategic decision to extend Series B rather than rushing to Series C and how Anecdotes is positioned to disrupt the GRC market with its unique approach to data and AI solutions.
The conversation explores Yair leadership philosophy, including the value of trust in business partnerships and learning from competition. Yair candidly shares his personal growth journey from technical expertise to executive leadership, the impact of remaining in Israel during challenging geopolitical situations, and how building a company during COVID-19 shaped his perspective.
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a business leader, or simply interested in the human stories behind successful startups, this episode offers valuable lessons on resilience, strategic thinking, and maintaining balance while building a game-changing company.
Episode Highlights:
- Raising $55M and strategic funding decisions
- Disrupting the GRC market with innovative solutions
- Transitioning from technical expert to CEO
- Building trust and learning from competition
- Managing stakeholder expectations
- Personal growth and maintaining resilience
- Balancing professional challenges with personal interests
Founder Storiez brings you unfiltered conversations with the world's most compelling entrepreneurs. No fluff, no platitudes—just raw wisdom from those who are redefining what's possible.
In this powerful episode, Tomer Targin CEO of Yotpo, shares his extraordinary journey of surviving stage 4 lymphoma twice while building a successful company. Tomer reveals how cancer transformed his approach to leadership, family, and life itself. Through meditation, gratitude, and unwavering positivity, he turned devastating diagnoses into fuel for personal growth and business innovation. Learn how Yopto evolved through deep customer understanding and authentic brand-building, and discover the mindset that helped Tomer overcome chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and entrepreneurial challenges. This is a story of resilience, purpose, and the power of maintaining perspective when facing life's greatest tests.
Founder Storiez brings you unfiltered conversations with the world's most compelling entrepreneurs. No fluff, no platitudes—just raw wisdom from those who are redefining what's possible.
"The biggest risk isn't failing—it's not pushing yourself far enough." — Gil, CEO of Orca Security
In this episode, we dive deep with Gil Geron, CEO & co-founder of Orca Security. With over $600M in funding and a unicorn valuation, Gil reveals the mindset that's disrupting the cloud security landscape.
This isn't your typical success story. Gil opens up about the childhood experiences in Israel that forged his resilience—from parents who deliberately pushed him beyond comfort to early leadership challenges that taught him to embrace the impossible. You'll hear firsthand how these formative experiences translated into building a company that's reshaping an entire industry.
Episode Highlights:The conversation takes unexpected turns as Gil discusses:
- The psychological impact of raising hundreds of millions in VC funding
- How he evaluates which boundaries to push (and which to respect)
- Practical strategies for making high-stakes decisions under pressure
- The reality of balancing intense CEO responsibilities with family commitments
- Implementing AI solutions that deliver genuine customer value
Whether you're building your own venture or simply fascinated by the inner workings of billion-dollar startups, this episode delivers rare, actionable insights from someone who's currently in the arena.
Founder Stories brings you unfiltered conversations with the world's most compelling entrepreneurs. No fluff, no platitudes—just raw wisdom from those who are redefining what's possible.
Listen now.
In this powerful episode of Founder's Stories, Bruce, Managing Director of Blumberg Capital, takes us through his remarkable journey in venture capital and shares deeply personal insights about life, loss, and leadership. From humble beginnings to managing over a billion dollars in assets, Bruce's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, relationships, and unwavering values.
What You'll Learn:
- How personal loss and grief shaped Bruce's leadership approach
- The evolution of Blumberg Capital and key investment strategies
- Wisdom gained from mentors like Sir Jacob Rothschild
- Building meaningful relationships with entrepreneurs
- Balancing business success with family values and philanthropy
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:04 Personal Reflections and Family Values
03:24 Dealing with Grief and Life Lessons
08:25 Family Legacy
13:02 Journey into Venture Capital
16:02 Building Blumberg Capital
24:45 Role of Luck and Key Investments
42:37 Understanding the Entrepreneurial Journey
44:04 Building Entrepreneur Relationships
45:23 Networks and Innovation
46:42 Core Expertise Focus
47:49 Success Stories
55:18 Maintaining Humility
58:58 Philanthropy
01:03:14 Next Generation Values
01:06:33 Business Ethics
01:22:08 Mentorship and Hard Work
01:23:58 Final Thoughts
Listen in as Bruce shares invaluable insights on building a successful venture capital firm while maintaining integrity, humility, and a commitment to making a positive impact in both business and life.
Connect with Bruce
Connect with Ephraim
Meet Aleksandr Yampolskiy, the founder and CEO of Security Scorecard, whose journey embodies the American dream. Arriving from Moscow at 14 without speaking English, Aleksandr transformed early hardships into fuel for success, building a cybersecurity company now valued at $1 billion with over $100M in annual revenue.
In this episode, Aleksandr opens up about his family's immigrant struggles, from gathering furniture off streets to relying on food stamps. Host Efraim guides us through Alexander's fascinating evolution from a curious teenager intrigued by an early cybersecurity incident to a visionary leader in the industry.
Discover how Aleksandr built Security Scorecard from the ground up, navigating the challenges of fundraising, team building, and scaling a technology company. He shares authentic insights about leadership, customer obsession, and maintaining innovation in a competitive market. Whether you're an entrepreneur, cybersecurity professional, or someone pursuing ambitious goals, Alexander's story offers valuable lessons about resilience, continuous learning, and the power of long-term thinking.
Key Topics:
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Immigrant journey and early challenges in America
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The genesis and growth of Security Scorecard
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Leadership lessons and building company culture
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Innovation strategies in cybersecurity
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Balancing personal growth with business success
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The future of cybersecurity industry
-
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and immigrants
Timeline:
00:00 Introduction
00:51 Immigrant Origins
02:00 Early Struggles in America
03:54 Education & Career Beginnings
10:34 Security Scorecard's Genesis
14:20 Fundraising Journey
20:36 Leadership Evolution
35:35 Learning from Failure
37:26 The Power of Mentorship
38:02 Work-Life Integration
39:48 Partner Support in Entrepreneurship
42:08 Innovation Strategy
46:10 Building Accountability
56:30 Future of Cybersecurity
01:01:39 Advice for Entrepreneurs
01:05:21 Closing Thoughts
Connect with Aleksandr:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayampolskiy/
Connect with Ephraim:
https://x.com/ephraimyarmak
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
📢 SPONSORSHIP Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Mo Koyfman, founder and General Partner of Shine Capital, as he shares his remarkable journey from immigrant roots to venture capital success. Mo reveals how his parents' teachings shaped his core values of freedom, family, and meritocracy, while exploring his innovative approach to venture investing through "lateral thinking."
In this episode, we dive deep into:
• The power of modeling behavior and patient parenting
• First principles thinking in venture capital
• Building Shine Capital from the ground up
• The concept of "lateralists" and interdisciplinary investing
• Mo's work with Sefaria, revolutionizing access to Jewish texts
• Finding clarity and gratitude in both business and life
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:55 Immigrant Values & Success
08:39 Next Generation Values
10:05 Modeling & Patient Parenting
15:00 First Principles Thinking
20:53 Personal Fulfillment Journey
36:14 Shine Capital Story
43:29 Learning from Hardship
44:46 The Lateralist Approach
52:38 Pattern Matching in VC 01:00:46 Sefaria Vision
01:15:06 Clarity & Gratitude
01:22:34 Final Thoughts
Link to Sefaria
_______________________________________
Connect Mo:
Shine Capital
Connect with Ephraim:
📢 SPONSORSHIP Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
In this conversation, we sit down with Yotam Segev, co-founder and CEO of Cyera, for an intimate conversation about entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, and the remarkable journey of building a billion-dollar company.
Key Highlights:
• From 50 to 400 Employees: Cyera Explosive Growth
• Raising Funds: $60 Million to $740 Million
• Company Valuation: $3 Billion Success Story
• Leadership Insights from a Visionary CEO
Time:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:13 Company Growth and Personal Development
02:16 Leadership and Team Dynamics
09:53 Market Challenges and Pain Validation
15:07 Sales Strategy and Customer Engagement
26:16 Fundraising and Future Vision
28:50 AI and Data Security: The Future
30:52 The Wealth Perspective
40:49 Future Plans for Cyera
44:26 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs Call to Action
Quote of the Episode "Success is not just about growing a company, but about understanding the human elements of leadership, innovation, and continuous learning."
Subscribe to Found the Stories Podcast
Follow Yotam Segev on LinkedIn
Follow Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn
📢 SPONSORSHIP Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
In this episode, we speak with Jonathan Lehr, General Partner and Co-founder of Work-bench, a VC firm that placed an early, bold bet on New York's enterprise tech scene. Drawing from over a decade of venture capital experience, Jon offers a masterclass in VC, startups, and life.
Episode Highlights:
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How Workbench recognized NYC's unique position as an enterprise tech hub
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The power of diverse industries in shaping innovation
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Why gratitude and kindness are competitive advantages in VC
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Building a firm that reflects personal values while delivering returns
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How NYC's diverse industry landscape creates unique opportunities for enterprise tech
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The role of personal values in shaping institutional success
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Why relationship-building trumps transactional networking
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Balancing ambition with authenticity in venture capital
[00:00] Meet Jon
[01:11] The Workbench origin story: From concept to reality
[04:09] NYC's secret weapon: Industry diversity driving innovation
[07:24] Navigating career pivots and embracing uncertainty
[10:28] Investment philosophy: The Workbench approach
[16:58] Partnership dynamics: Building a complementary team
[19:02] Daily rituals and mindset management
[20:38] Differentiation in a crowded VC landscape
[22:50] The gratitude advantage in venture capital
[23:04] Evolving with the market: Workbench 2.0
[23:24] Spotting trends before they emerge
[24:37] The art of relationship building in tech
[26:53] Fundraising wisdom: Lessons from the trenches
[34:42] Values-driven leadership: Family, authenticity, impact
[39:46] Beyond returns: Creating lasting value
[42:02] Words of wisdom for the next generation
Connect with Jon
Work_bench
Blog
Connect with Ephraim
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👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
In this episode, we speak with Lior, VC at Battery Ventures,
• From his early days dreaming big to becoming a key player at Battery Ventures, Lior shares how he climbed the VC ladder. He dives into something we don't often hear about - how growing up shaped his money mindset and career choices.
• Want to know how VCs really think? Lior breaks down his playbook for spotting winning startups. It's not just about flashy metrics - he's looking for founders who can go the distance. He explains why sometimes the best deals are the ones you walk away from, especially when prices get too hot.
• Battery Ventures isn't just another Silicon Valley VC firm. Lior reveals how they're making waves globally, especially in Israel's booming tech scene. He shares their strategy for finding hidden gems in cybersecurity and software.
• Here's where it gets real - Lior talks about keeping sane in the crazy VC world. From hitting the gym to traveling with family, he shows how taking breaks actually makes you better at your job. The big surprise? Fear isn't always your enemy - sometimes it's your best advisor.
Words of Wisdom
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Build real relationships with founders
-
Trust your gut on pricing
-
Make time for life outside work
-
Focus on long-term impact over quick wins
-
Keep learning and evolving
The big takeaway? Think long-term, make a real difference, and don't forget to enjoy the ride along the way.
Topics:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:57 Fatherhood and Personal Growth
04:34 Early Life and Career Aspirations
07:25 Financial Independence and Priorities
11:26 Venture Capital Insights
16:19 Mentorship and Industry Relationships
21:24 Evolving Perspectives in Venture Capital
23:32 Evaluating Founders: The People Aspect
27:22 The Importance of Price Sensitivity
29:48 Battery Ventures: A Global Approach
34:48 Deep Diving into Sectors
37:43 Balancing Work and Personal Life
39:42 The Role of Fear in Decision Making
41:12 Defining a Good Day
42:39 Final Thoughts and Advice
RESOURCES:
Follow Lior on LinkedIn
Follow Ephraim on LinkedIn
Follow Ephraim on Twitter
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and subscribe. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
In this episode, we talk with Alon Arvatz, tech entrepreneur and author. Alon, founder of PointFive, a company that helps manage cloud costs, shares his experiences and ideas.
What You'll Hear:
-
Alon's Journey: Learn how Alon sold his first company, Insight, for $350 million and why he started PointFive.
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Making an Impact: Why it's important to do more than just make money in business.
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Family Life: How Alon balances work with family and teaches his kids about money and helping others.
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Business Lessons: Tips on hiring good people, working with investors, and building a successful company.
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Moving to America: Alon's experience moving to the U.S. for his business.
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Overcoming Challenges: Dealing with doubts and difficulties in his work.
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Future Plans: What Alon hopes to achieve with PointFive and his other projects.
Throughout this conversation, Alon gives honest advice and shares personal stories. Whether you're interested in starting a business, working in tech, or just curious about how successful people think, this episode has something for you.
Main Topics:
[00:00] Welcome and introduction
[02:19] Alon's values and goals
[03:47] Making measurable impact
[10:15] Teaching kids about money
[20:08] Starting PointFive
[34:39] Learning from past experiences
[44:04] Working with investors
[53:39] Moving to the U.S.
[59:53] Looking ahead
[01:06:03] Advice for others.
Listen in to hear how Alon is trying to use technology to make the world a little better, one step at a time.
RESOURCES:
Follow Alon on LinkedIn
Follow Ephraim on LinkedIn
Follow Ephraim on Twitter
Watch on YouTube
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and subscribe. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
In this episode we sit down with Ron Rofe General Partner of Rainfall Ventures, to explore his inspiring journey from a charitable childhood to remarkable success in venture capitalism.
At the heart of Ron's story is a deep emphasis on personal values such as humility, passion, and a commitment to making a positive impact. He openly shares how these principles have guided his unconventional career path, from overcoming imposter syndrome to discovering his true calling in investing.
Delving into his investment philosophy, Ron speaks passionately about the power of trusting people over rigid theses and the importance of backing purpose-driven founders. His insights on embracing uncertainty and the role of divine providence in his life and work provide a unique and thought-provoking perspective on the venture capital industry.
Throughout the conversation, Ron's heartfelt anecdotes and genuine care for others shine through. He discusses the significance of giving back, using his hobby as a skilled chef to spread positivity and connect with his community. Ron also reflects on the evolution of both his personal and professional spheres, emphasizing the value of continuous growth, adaptability, and the pursuit of meaningful impact.
Ron's inspiring story underscores the transformative potential of blending business acumen with a steadfast commitment to humility, empathy, and a deep trust in the divine.
You will surely be captivated by Ron's insights, which provide a refreshing and compassionate perspective on the often fast-paced and competitive landscape of venture investing. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the power of embracing uncertainty, investing in people, and leveraging one's unique gifts for the greater good.
[00:00] Introduction
[00:18] Background and Ventures
[00:48] Personal Values and Charity Acts
[01:18] The Journey to Rainfall Ventures [
03:01] Lessons Learned in Venture Capital
[07:33] The Importance of Investing in People
[11:31] Challenges and Successes in Venture Capital
[28:29] The Role of Luck and Divine Providence
[39:50] The Value of Belief and Personal Development
[40:26] Money and Purpose in Life
[41:02] Human Connection and Humility in Business
[43:24] Assessing Character in Founders
[46:36] The Importance of Humility and Adaptability
[53:08] The Evolution of Rainfall Ventures
[58:01] Spreading Goodness and Positivity
[59:34] The Journey of Becoming a Celebrity Chef
[01:06:31] The Impact of October 7th and Responsibility
[01:14:28] Final Reflections and Gratitude
🔗 CONNECT WITH Ron Rofe
💻 Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH Ephraim Yarmak
💻 Website
Investments
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review and subscribe. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Edward Kolodenko, the founder of Questrade, we explore his remarkable journey from a young immigrant in Canada to leading one of the country's most significant financial institutions. Edward shares insights into his personal growth, the impact of his religious faith, and practical wisdom on achieving success without compromising core values. This episode delves into Edward's life philosophy, the challenges faced in building and scaling Questrade, and the importance of hard work, ambition, and spirituality in creating a meaningful life. You can expect to gain valuable life and business lessons, emphasizing the power of consistency, ethical commitment, and transformative leadership.
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
1:08 Early Life and Immigration Challenges
3:10 Lessons from Parents and Hard Work
5:01 Embracing Religion and Its Impact
9:39 Daily Routine and Maintaining Standards
15:31 Founding Questrade: The Early Days
18:27 Overcoming Struggles and Achieving Success
23:25 Scaling the Company and Personal Growth
24:56 Hiring and Building a Management Team
25:28 Maintaining Company Culture
26:41 Personal Sacrifices and Family Balance
30:13 Work-Life Balance and Priorities
32:57 Motivation and Personal Mission
35:40 Charity and Giving Back
39:41 Innovation and Competition
42:48 Reflections and Life Lessons
46:12 Concluding Thoughts and Blessings
Watch this episode on Youtube
______________________________________
🔗 CONNECT WITH Edward Kholodenko
💻 Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH Ephraim Yarmak
💻 Website
Investments
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
I'm excited to welcome Aaron Rosenson, co-founder of Aption. With an impressive career at top venture capital firms like Insight Partners and Alef Partners, Aaron has a wealth of experience to share. We'll explore his transition from VC to startup operator, his personal challenges, and the invaluable lessons he's learned along the way. Don't miss this insightful discussion!
Key Takeaways:
-
Balance: Balancing professional ambitions with personal growth is crucial for long-term success and happiness.
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Transition: Aaron's journey from venture capital to becoming a startup founder offers valuable insights into career transitions.
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Spirituality: The role of spirituality and personal values can help maintain balance and focus in both personal and professional life.
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Loneliness: Strategies for overcoming loneliness and maintaining mental health are vital for entrepreneurs.
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Leadership: Aaron's unique approach to leadership and team building can inspire others to lead with empathy and authenticity.
-
Persistence: Overcoming challenges and staying true to one's values can lead to personal and professional growth.
Watch this interview on You Tube
_________
🔗 CONNECT WITH Aaron Rosenson
💻 Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH Ephraim Yarmak
💻 Website
Investments
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
In this episode, we welcome Eran Bielski, GP at Entree Capital, to discuss his personal journey and experiences. Eran shares his reflections on serving as a reserve soldier in the IDF during conflict, emphasizing how this experience recalibrated his mind and heightened his tolerance for risk. He delves into what makes exceptional startup founders, highlighting qualities such as relentless drive, mission-driven focus, and the ability to overcome personal hardships.
Eran discusses his recent six-month period as a reservist soldier, detailing how the experience of war shaped his risk tolerance and approach to investing. He offers insights into his investment philosophy, focusing on mission-driven founders who exhibit dedication and resilience. Eran underscores the importance of personal experiences in shaping successful entrepreneurs and talks about the long-term nature of venture capital, the patience required for significant returns, and the importance of making disciplined investment decisions.
The conversation also covers Eran's career ascent at Entree Ventures, his mentorship of new VCs, and the challenges of balancing work with family life. Eran reflects on his relationship with his partner Avi and his transition from financial banking to venture capital, which came about through a serendipitous connection made by his grandmother. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the resilience and adaptability of Israeli entrepreneurs and concludes with valuable advice for young professionals pursuing their goals.
00:00 Introduction to the Founder Stories Podcast
00:58 Eran's Military Service and Its Impact
02:35 The Positive Impact of War on Israeli VCs
03:56 The Importance of Risk Tolerance in Startups
06:48 Focus on Founders: Traits and Qualities
11:58 Mission-Driven Founders and Their Stories
17:54 Mission-Driven VCs: A New Perspective
21:20 The Patience and Self-Assessment in Venture Capital
21:33 The Long Road to Big Wins
22:14 Portfolio Reflections and Measuring Success
23:40 The Dilemma of When to Exit
26:11 Valuation Justification in Cyber Companies
27:39 The Importance of Genuine Self-Assessment for Founders
36:03 The Role of Family and Personal Sacrifice
38:39 Advice for the Younger Generation
41:40 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
🔗 CONNECT WITH Eran
💻 Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
💻 Website
Investments
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Roy Rubin, VC @ R-Squared Ventures. Founder @ Magento acquired by Ebay.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Roy Rubin
💻 Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
💻 Website
Investments
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Adam Fisher Partner @ Bessemer Venture Partners and one of the most successful investors in Israel with 23 successful exits over the last two decades with seed investments in Fiverr, Wix, Melio, HiBob and more.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Adam Fisher
💻 Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
💻 Website
Investments
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
Live conversation with Amitai Ratzon at RSA 2024 on the expo floor.
Link to our first podcast recording in 2023:
Spotify
iTunes
Transcript
🔗 CONNECT WITH Amitai
💻 Website:
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel
💻 Website
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Amiram Shachar CEO Upwind Security.
🎥 Video of the conversation
🔗 CONNECT WITH Amiram
💻 Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
💻 Website
Investments
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Ami Daniel CEO Windward
🔗 CONNECT WITH DANIEL
💻 Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
💻 Website
Investments
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Daniel Frankenstein GP Joule Ventures
🔗 CONNECT WITH DANIEL
💻 Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
💻 Website
Investments
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the episodes. We'll personally thank you for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!
This conversation is with Steve Kaufer, Founder TripAdvisor and Give Freely.
🔗 CONNECT WITH STEVE
GIVEFREELY
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel
💻 Website
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Welcome to this special episode where we sit down with Ido Neeman, the CEO of Firefly, to delve into the events of October 7th. In this candid conversation, Ido shares the harrowing details of that day, recounting his efforts to rescue his co-founder and friend, Sefi Genis. Join us as we explore the profound impact of losing such a crucial figure, both personally and for the company. Amidst the grief, we also discuss the resilience of Firefly and how it will continue to grow in the face of adversity. This episode pays tribute to Sefi's memory and offers insights into the strength and determination that propels Firefly forward.
This conversation is in honor of Sefi Genis, Co-founder of Firefly, who was horrendously murdered by Hamas on OCT 7th, at the Supernova festival in Israel.
🔗 CONNECT WITH IDO
Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel
💻 Website
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
On this episode, we have the privilege of hosting Amit, a seasoned technology professional with over two decades of experience in Silicon Valley. As a venture capitalist, Amit's focus lies in seed-stage applied AI investments, particularly in the realms of Digital Health, Automation (including automotive and robotics), and Enterprise solutions.
Among his notable achievements, Amit played a pivotal role in the success of nuTonomy (a seed-stage venture acquired for an impressive $450 million) during his tenure at Samsung NEXT Ventures. He also contributed significantly to the triumph of Misfit Wearables (another seed-stage success, sold for $260 million) while at Norwest Ventures.
Amit's background extends beyond investing; he has hands-on experience in product development and analytics, both at his startup venture, HealthIQ (which boasted a last disclosed valuation of $450 million in May 2019), and at Google, where he joined the company in its pre-IPO stage and experienced the challenges and rewards of hypergrowth.
Born and raised in Brazil, Amit is a polyglot, proficient in three languages and fluent in two others. He's a true global citizen, having lived in five different parts of the world. Notably, Amit co-founded and has been at the helm of a non-profit organization since 2000. Through crowdfunding efforts, this organization successfully established a high school lab, a library, and even a hospital in rural India, benefiting a community of 100,000 people. For a more in-depth look at this inspiring journey, you can read about it here.
Amit's contributions to the world go beyond technology and venture capitalism. He's a sought-after speaker, having graced the stages of three TEDx events (San Francisco, São Paulo, Vitória) and the prestigious Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh. Recognized as a young leader (Global Shaper) by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Amit also champions sustainability, living in close proximity to carbon neutrality.
In his personal life, Amit is an accomplished athlete, having completed a 70.3 Ironman, earned qualification for the Boston Marathon, and even conquered the heights of Mount Kilimanjaro. But perhaps most importantly, he possesses a delightful penchant for silliness that adds a unique and enjoyable flavor to his endeavors. Without further ado, let's dive into Amit's fascinating journey and insights on today's podcast."
For transcript and show notes please visit this PAGE
🔗 CONNECT WITH Amit
Website
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel
💻 Website
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
I had the distinct privilege of sitting down with the remarkable Amitai Ratzon, the visionary CEO of Pentera. Amitai's journey is nothing short of extraordinary, and our conversation delves deep into his inspiring ascent to the CEO position at the age of 40. Join us as we explore his incredible journey, from propelling Pentera from a humble beginning to a staggering $100 million enterprise to orchestrating successful fundraising campaigns exceeding $100 million and fostering a thriving team of 350 exceptional individuals.
For transcript and show notes please visit this page.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Amitai
💻 Website:
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel
💻 Website
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Nathan Shuchami Managing Partner Hyperwise Ventures.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Nathan Shuchami
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathan-shuchami-1152721/
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/HyperwiseVC
💻 Website: https://hyperwise.vc/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
💻 Website: https://founderstoriez.substack.com/
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Zohar Alon is an entrepreneur and founder of several successful startups. He co-founded Dome9, which Check Point Software Technologies acquired in 2018 for $200 million. Alon is also a co-founder and chairman of the Israeli cybersecurity think tank Cyberstarts, and an active investor and mentor in the startup community. we delve into his story and his journey of overcoming immense challenges in building successful startups. Alon shares his experience of almost shutting down his company, the heartbreak of an acquisition deal falling apart, and the invaluable lessons he learned along the way. In this conversation we will gain a deeper understanding of the true grit and determination it takes to build a successful startup.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Zohar Alon:
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoharalon/
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/zoharalon?lang=en
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
💻 Website: https://founderstoriez.substack.com/
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
🎙️ Exciting Podcast Episode Alert! 🎙️
Join us for a captivating conversation with Danny Leshem Managing Partner INT3. Former founder of OpenRest (ACQ BY WIX) & Kidaro (ACQ BY MICROSOFT).
🔗 Connect with Danny:
👥 Linkedin: Danny
🐦 Twitter: Danny
💻 Website: Danny
💻 Website: INT3
🔗 Connect with Ephraim:
👥 Linkedin: Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn
🐦 Twitter: Ephraim Yarmak on Twitter
🎥 YouTube Channel: FounderStoriez on YouTube
💻 Website: FounderStoriez Website
🙏 Leave a Review:
Thank you for being a loyal listener! Your support is invaluable to us. If you enjoyed the show, we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review helps us reach more listeners and continue providing valuable content.
👋🏼 Get in Touch:
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts on the lessons you've learned from our episodes. We genuinely appreciate your support!
📢 Sponsorship:
Interested in sponsoring our show? Please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. We sincerely appreciate your consideration!
Tune in to this episode for insightful discussions and valuable takeaways. Happy listening! 🎧
Conversation with William Lin former VC at Forgepoint Capital now founder at stealth.
🔗 CONNECT WITH WILLIAM:
👥 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linwilliam/
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/williamlin
💻 Website: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6922608965763694593/
📚 Book: https://www.amazon.com/VC-Field-Guide-Fundamentals-Venture/dp/1394180659/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
💻 Website: https://founderstoriez.substack.com/
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Amit Kurz, General Partner Sweetwood Ventures
🔗 CONNECT WITH AMIT:
👥 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitkurz/
🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/amitkurz
💻 Website: https://www.sweetwoodventures.com/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
💻 Website: https://founderstoriez.substack.com/
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Conversation with Nurit Shiber, Chief People Officer at Axonius.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Nurit:
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nurit-shiber/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
💻 Website: https://founderstoriez.substack.com/
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
🔗 CONNECT WITH Guy:
💻 Website - https://www.guygamzu.com/
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/guygamzu
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/guygamzu
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
💻 Website: https://founderstoriez.substack.com/
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Some of Recursive investments include Deel, Cherre, Credible, Honeybook, and many others.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Itamar:
💻 Website - https://www.recursiveventures.com/
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamarnovick/
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/Itamar_Novick
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
💻 Website: https://founderstoriez.substack.com/
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Show Notes:
0:00 - 2:22 Introduction
2:23 - 4:18 Ran Ribenzaft
4:19 - 7:00 Shahar Eerz
7:01 - 8:49 Dan Scheinman
8:49 - 10:03 - Guy Benjamin
10:04 - 12:01 Alon Arvatz
12:02 - 12:39 ending
🔗 CONNECT WITH
Ran Ribenzaft: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ran-ribenzaft/
Shahar Erez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaharer/
Dan Scheinman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danscheinman/
Guy Benjamin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-benjamin-9904b844/
Alon Arvatz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alon-arvatz/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
💻 Website: https://founderstoriez.substack.com/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Join us as we sit down for an unscripted conversation with Kobi Samboursku founder and managing director Glilot Capital. This is Kobi's second time on the podcast. The previous conversation was together with Shai Morag CEO Ermetic, You can find that episode below.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Kobi:
💻 Website - https://www.glilotcapital.com/
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kobisamboursky/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
💻 Website: https://founderstoriez.substack.com/
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Welcome to Uncovering Life Lessons 2.
In this episode, you'll hear from Lee Kappon, Cofounder and CEO of Suridata. Roey Dor, Cofounder & CEO Obligo. Asaf Horesh, Managing Partner Vintage Investment Group. Yotam Segev, Cofounder & CEO Cyera. and Bar Cofounder & CEO Agora.
0:00 - 1:45 Introduction
1:45 - 3:31 Lee Kappom
3:33 - 4:30 Roey Dor
4:30 - 5:48 Asaf Horesh
5:49 - 7:53 Yotam Segev
7:54 - 8:28 Bar Mor
8:28 - 9:04 Ending
_________________
🔗 CONNECT WITH:
Lee Kappon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-kappon/
Roey Dor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roey-dor-bab523142/
Asaf Horesh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asaf-horesh-4221a14/
Yotam Segev: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yotam-segev-096156113/
Bar Mor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bar-mor-955056111/
__________________________
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Join us as we sit down for an unscripted conversation with Brian Rosenzweig GP Joule Ventures. Joule has led or was actively involved in investments in Coralogix, Reeco, Cellwize, Arnica, Unomy, and many others.
In Today’s Episode with Brian We Discuss:______________________
0:00 - 1:23 Introduction
1:23 - 4:05 How did you get into Venture Capital
4:06 - 7:43 The change in the ecosystem between 2004 - 2023
7:44 - 11:45 Raising his first $5 Million fund
11:46 - 13:56 How he handled the difficult times
13:56 - 15:02 Cofounder relationship
15:02 - 16:36 How does he handle a difficult conversation
16:37 - 17:14 Sitting on boards
17:15 19:22 Relationships
19:22 - 23:58 What should founders expect from their board members
23:59 - 27:01 Raising money for a fund
27:02 - 30:29 How do you handle difficult times | Building mental & emotional strength
30:29 - 32:21 Current market 2023
32:22 - 34:51 Things that made him better
34:52 - 38:42 Advice for founders |
38:43 - 40:28 Message to his younger self
40:28 - 41:54 Closing notes
_______________________
🔗 CONNECT WITH Brian:
💻 Website - https://joulevc.com/
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrosenzweig/
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/BHRosenzweig1
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
In this episode, you'll hear from Nadir Izrael, Cofounder and CTO of Armis, Dror Berman, Managing Director of Innovation Endeavors, Eitan Reisel, Managing Director of VGames, Ben Rabinowitz, Managing Director of Amiti Ventures, and Lotan Lefkowitz of Grove Ventures.
0:00 - 1:14 Introduction
1:14 - 3:52 Nadir Izrael, Cofounder Armis.
3:52 - 6:42 Dror Berman, Innovation Endeavors
6:43 - 7:29 Eitan Reisel, Vgames
7:30 - 9:42 Ben Rebinowitz, Amiti Ventures
9:43 - 12:46 Lotan Lefkowitz, Grove Ventures
12:46 - 13:20 Ending
__________________________
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
Thank you for listening to the podcast! Your support means the world to us. If you enjoyed the show, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Your review will help others discover the show and continue to support our efforts.
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes. We'll thank you personally for your support!
📢 SPONSORSHIP
If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please email Ephraim at ephraim@1000hires.com. Thank you for considering!
Join us as we sit down with Ron Gura, CEO of Empathy, a company on a mission to help families overcome loss and navigate their grief journey. With a passion for making a difference, Ron is leading the charge in creating a more empathetic society. Tune in to learn how he's building a mission-driven company and the impact it's having on bereaved families.
Have a great listen, and if you do benefit please suggest it to a friend who can benefit from it too.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Ron:
💻 Website - https://www.empathy.com/
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rongura/
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rongura
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :)
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
You can also reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
📢 SPONSORSHIP
To partner with the Founder StorieZ Mission please email me at ephraim @1000hires.com
Thanks!
Cypago[00:00:00] Ephraim: Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode on founder stories. I am super excited to be back after taking a little break and to continue producing more episodes. Now we have an incredible lineup for 2023. We have VCs founders and this year we are going to be doing something very special.
[00:00:17] Ephraim: We are opening up the interviewing pool to interview many more different positions and people. So we have CRO CMO, CFO, CTOs. From all the top companies around the world. Our goal is to bring you the best knowledge, the best education, the best lessons possible, so we can apply them to our own life. So I am very excited about that.
[00:00:37]
[00:00:37] Ephraim: This week's episode is with a very dear friend of mine. His name is Eric Solomon co-founder and CEO of This was an amazing conversation. Arc is a first time founder at the age of 46. And there's so many takeaways from this conversation. So I hope you enjoy. Now I am personally very excited about 2023.
[00:00:58] Ephraim: And I hope you are too. [00:01:00] There are many incredible plans in the works. Two things we will be launching very soon. And I cannot wait to share with you. More info is one, we'll be launching a brand new show, which is going to be awesome. And two, which is currently still under the wraps is that we will be launching a fund.
[00:01:17] Ephraim: And both of these are really special to me. And M Shreeny. Really extremely passionate about. And I cannot wait to share together with you, if you would like more information, definitely feel free to reach out to me. At the same time, if you are working on something amazing, something cool. And if I can be of help in any way, please reach out to me on LinkedIn at a frame Yarmouth.
[00:01:39] Ephraim: Or send me an email, which is in the description box below. Now before you go, if you did the benefit from listening to this episode of Arik. Please describe. And tell us. In the review box, what exactly did enjoy and what will be your takeaway? Thank you.
[00:01:58] Ephraim: Happy listening. [00:02:00] And I hope this you back very, very soon.
[00:02:02] Ephraim: hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Founder Stories Today I'm super excited to have with us a very, very dear friend of the podcast. Dear friend of mine, his name is Arik. Arik is the founder of an incredible company called Cypago, and he's going to get into a. What they do, what they try to accomplish, and what their mission is their purpose of their existence.
[00:02:24] Ephraim: So besides that, Eric is also a phenomenal, phenomenal guy. He is the father to five beautiful children, the husband to a great wife, and a just an all around super duper, a plus guy. I personally am excited to learn about his own personal journey thoughts he gets up with in the morning, how he tries to become the best version of himself and to utilize that in order to become the best founder possible.
[00:02:49] Ephraim: So Eric, thank you so much for joining us.
[00:02:53] Arik: Thank you. Thank you, for the kind words. Uh, it's a true excitement for me to be here today. I mean, since the moment that we met, [00:03:00] I knew that I just bought a new friend and, it's a great, great opportunity to, uh, share on my angle of the story of how you go out and, and found a new company.
[00:03:09] Arik: Uh, do I do hope it's gonna be,
[00:03:13] Ephraim: As first of all, the feeling is likewise. Um, and I appreciate that a lot. You definitely. Dear friend, and you always have a, a home here in New York, and I personally am excited to hear about your journey of how you got up to startups, um, and everything else around there. But let's, take it all the way from the beginning.
[00:03:29] Ephraim: Your first time founder, first time founder of the Asia 46. Very different than everyone else in Israel. It's different than the kids that are coming out of, let's say unit 8,200 and the Army, and then going ahead and launching company over here in the. It's different because, you know, usually kids are starting a startup these days.
[00:03:45] Ephraim: Right out of college, you had a whole entire career before you launched your company. You worked at other startups, you worked in government. Um, what happened what was going wrong in your life that at the age of 46 you decided, you know [00:04:00] what? I had enough. This midlife crisis is killing me.
[00:04:02] Ephraim: I'm gonna go ahead and do the hardest thing possible besides starting a family and start a startup. What was going through your mind then?
[00:04:08] Arik: Yeah, when you put it like that, it does sound like, like craziness, . But I think that, when I quietly, look back, I think that has been a journey for me and I was kind of waiting for the right moment, for that to happen.
[00:04:20] Arik: I actually, also graduated from 8,200, but that was back in the nineties. Uh, and I then started, working as a developer for a startup company again in year 2000. Back in the happy old days of startups. And I went through a very long career where I, think that I added and refined my skills and my capabilities and again, waited for that right moment to happen.
[00:04:41] Arik: So I will be able to do that, uh, step forward and establish own company, and, uh, eventually, or apparently, it took me 20 years.
[00:04:51] Ephraim: When you say the right moment, what does the right moment mean for starting a startup?
[00:04:55] Arik: I actually don't think that there is a right moment, but again, for [00:05:00] me, I think that it was, a double folder one, uh, from the personal angle.
[00:05:04] Arik: I belong to that group of people that, go on to that, long journey. Uh, you do the first step and then the other one, and then you find yourself in a long way. Again, acquiring and, expanding your experience and your abilities? Uh, I think that from the more business wise, more business perspective.
[00:05:22] Arik: I did notice back when I was CT O for NY Cybersecurity Center, I was based in Tel Aviv, but all of my, customers were, uh, large corporates in the us. I did notice, how difficult it was for them to manage and align their security program. With all the, compliance other regulation and all the, these kind of requirements that they had in place, uh, they were doing all that manually.
[00:05:44] Arik: And this is where that kind of a aha moment happened when I realized that there's a huge potential there. It took me an additional, uh, three years, I think, uh, to actually do that. Once I, remat with my co-founder, Yaha Perry, which is one of. [00:06:00] Most amazing, founders you can ask for. And, uh, this is where we actually started, went on this, amazing journey.
[00:06:07] Ephraim: Wow.
[00:06:08] Ephraim: before I get into and asking, the lessons and everything you've learned so far from actually building a startup, um, you know, I wanna know, like, first of all, what was that conversation like with your wife when you decided you wanted to start a company?
[00:06:20] Arik: Um, yeah, it was, uh, a conversation that, we had, uh, for over I think 10 years almost.
[00:06:27] Arik: I did have some other, initial, tries, was thinking about, starting a company, more than 10 years ago. So we started the conversation back then and it ended up, uh, three years ago, when she said, you know what? I understand that you have to do. Do it. I'm your beck, I'm here. I will do everything.
[00:06:46] Arik: I will support you in any, any way that you need. Just make it happen. And this is exactly what she's doing. And uh, you mentioned that bok, we have five kids. She has a very amazing career by [00:07:00] herself and with all that together, um, yeah, I think. The family, the safety net that I have there, that allows me to go out there and, uh, be, as you mentioned in the beginning, the better version of myself every day,
[00:07:14] Ephraim: That emotional support from the spouse, Is so important.
[00:07:18] Ephraim: Like that could literally make or break sometimes the founder, cuz when you come home at end of the day, who, who are you complaining to? You complaining to your better half. You know, it could be your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your, your husband, your wife, whoever it may be.
[00:07:29] Ephraim: But end of the day they are dealing with the grunt work of what you've dealt with, what you had to deal with that whole entire day. So to have that emotional support is so important in the success of a company that I think so many times it's like so underestimated and like, it's not even like brought up enough and spoken about enough about the support of a spouse the support a founder gets from a better half.
[00:07:50] Arik: You're absolutely right. And you know, why is that? sadly enough, most of the industry is based on men. And we usually don't go about and complain or share about our [00:08:00] feelings. That's the set side of, of the story. But I do think that, you know what, uh, other than emotional support, the key is to have support.
[00:08:06] Arik: To find your support. And I'm, I'm lucky to have many, many, uh, circles of. Of course working with my co-founder, our investors, the team that we have in the company, , my wife, my kids, my friends, my parents. Every, I mean, this is super important advisors that I work with. the more circles of support that you have.
[00:08:27] Arik: I think the more confidence that you gain and your, uh, more, easily, can go about and take risks because you know that you have that support and you have been, let's say, been exposed to all the other, all the possible implications that now you can go and take that decision,
[00:08:43] Ephraim: yeah, a hundred percent That support is so, so necessary. And it really gives you the courage because a lot of times what happens is, especially when starting a startup and you know, everyone goes through their own individual experience, no two experiences aren't the same. So you can't compare, but you can identify shared experiences.
[00:08:59] Ephraim: So, [00:09:00] you know, for example, what you're saying is most times when you're starting a startup or a new venture, you walk all the way up to the ledge. You're going all the way to the ledge and up until the top of the ledge is known territory, so you know it already, you're comfortable.
[00:09:13] Ephraim: You know, some of it's a little perky, you know, stepping on a few rocks, a few obstacles, but you're able to go overcome that. Then eventually you come to that ledge, and the ledge is basically, you trusting. That you are gonna put your foot over the ledge and you're gonna be safe and be okay because this is all the unknown territory.
[00:09:29] Ephraim: And starting a startup, launching a company is exactly that. You're putting your foot over the ledge. So having all that support, like you mentioned from VCs or anyone else, or whoever, may it be, it could be, is such a necessary thing. Cuz sometimes we just need that push, and we have to obviously have that belief that's gonna be okay too.
[00:09:44] Arik: Absolutely. I think that as everybody I was saying, there's no playbook for, uh, building a startup. I mean, you need to have a product, you need to have customers, and you need to have the resources in order to build the product and sell it to, customers.
[00:09:55] Arik: But that's pretty much it. All the rest is [00:10:00] things that you just come up. And the more, again, support that you have, the more visibility you have to other people's experience and the more confidence that you have in taking the risks and doing that, uh, additional step. And by the way, measuring, when you don't have any data, you don't have any visibility.
[00:10:17] Arik: You need to be able to measure. And I think that, I don't know if it's uh, if you find it interesting, but, when I am trying to figure out what are the major challenge, for a solid founder, I think, I believe that the number one challenge, from the professional angle is, uh, to be able to measure things.
[00:10:36] Arik: To goals and to be able to achieve these goals. I think that being a startup founder is, or the startup business, uh, in general, the technology in general is the most challenging, occupation that you can have. Uh, because of this you are constantly being measured, being, compared to whatever you were saying was your.
[00:10:55] Arik: Because it's very easy if someone else set the goals, it's very easy [00:11:00] to say, yeah, that was not realistic or whatever. But when you set it as a CEO in the previous board meeting, and now you need to to show that you, were able to, meet these goals. This is a completely different story.
[00:11:11] Ephraim: So then talk to me about your process of creating. The goals and how do you measure them? And I want you to do it if possible, not just on the professional side, on the company side, but on your personal life too, and specifically what you think really helps you. How do you actually be honest with yourself when you're measuring?
[00:11:30] Arik: Yeah, that's the most difficult part. Um, You know, there are some concrete goals that are based on the achievement that you had so far on the benchmark data that you get from companies like yourself, from the, domain that you operate in and all that, how much a r r you should get, uh, this coming year.
[00:11:50] Arik: What should be the cost of acquisition and all these different metrics. And so many of those, uh, in our. Uh, this is the technical, let's say, aspect or the more [00:12:00] concrete aspect. The more soft part of these goals is, uh, let's say how happy you are with what you are doing.
[00:12:07] Arik: How satisfied and happy are your team members, the people that work with you? Uh, how clear is the path
[00:12:14] Ephraim: ahead? How difficult it
[00:12:16] Arik: is, You get to experience a lot of, frustrations yourself, myself, let's say as a ceo O but any other role in the solar company?
[00:12:23] Arik: It can be an account executive that had account or a prospect that you are a hundred percent sure that it's gonna be closed this quarter with this amount of, uh, of money. But then again, uh, I don't know, a minute before they sign, dis. There are so many frustrations that you need to handle, so how do you measure?
[00:12:40] Arik: How do you measure your satisfaction, your happiness, your, consent? Uh, the level of, acceptance of, the environment that you, work in? I think these are the most difficult, metrics to measure. And the only way to do it is to talk, is to talk with people, uh, to fill.
[00:12:56] Arik: To be there to sense it. And we have so many different [00:13:00] ways to sense, these kind of things, orally, of course, but all the different, uh, technologies that we're using from Slack, WhatsApp, texting, whatever. But you need to get all this info. And I think that this is where the fact that I started this company at this specific age, with that mileage behind me, truly.
[00:13:18] Arik: Because I'm now at a point that, I don't want to say it's easy, but it's easier for me, to identify, to learn, from the look in their eyes how people are feeling.
[00:13:28] Ephraim: You brought up something interesting. I mean, at least when you're talking about it, the way I understood it and it popped into my mind, um, you discussed about like the different forms of communication you're using and specifically right now.
[00:13:38] Ephraim: And what popped into my mind, you're talking about it, is the concept of having a very difficult conversation. Um, so I want to understand how you have that difficult conversation, but specifically with your co-founder, how do you and your co-founder navigate Differe? Challenges, how do you have maybe you do or you don't have that sense of vulnerability between each other, um, to be totally [00:14:00] open, and how do you create that space to have that conversation?
[00:14:04] Arik: Yeah. So let me start with the, with the last part of your question, how do you create that setup? in times it must be a physical setup.
[00:14:12] Arik: So you actually go out and have a drink or have a coffee, and then you sit down and talk. And some of these dogs are not, Because there are differences. There are differences in approach. There are differences in our affinity and the way that we see the company in 2, 3, 4 years from today.
[00:14:28] Arik: And even in a more tactical, questions like, what should be the next big feature that we need to, uh, implement or what type, exactly what type of customers we need to tackle and all that. So the first thing is to create that setup. To create that, to create these opportu. And then the content, I mean, what are you saying and how do you say it?
[00:14:46] Arik: I'm gonna be the last one to, a test for myself and said that I'm perfect with that. I don't think so. Uh, I do have a lot to, uh, improve. And, this is where all my experience doesn't necessarily comes into play. I still have like 80 years in front of [00:15:00] me to learn how to do that.
[00:15:01] Arik: Um, but I'm trying, I'm trying and hopefully improving. But what you are saying, how do you say it? How do you share it? Learning what to share, via zoom or on phone call, and what do you need to keep and wait until you meet face to face, and then, it can happen. That one sentence is enough.
[00:15:18] Arik: You just say something and immediately the other side gets it, and you'll then move on to the next topic. So it's really in there, in the fine print, of, uh, how you say things and how you, uh, make sure that the message comes across
[00:15:32] Ephraim: I mean, a lot of times people compare the co-founded relationship to a marriage. You're gonna be hanging off your co-founder for many more hours than your spouse. Um, you know, you're married 25. Congratulations, which is an accomplishment in itself. Um, how do you take that? I mean, you have all this relationship experience previously from together with you and your wife and God willing, another a hundred years, how do you compare the two and, what do you take from, marriage advice to the co-founder relationship?
[00:15:58] Arik: Uh, well, there [00:16:00] are several things I think that are in common that you can use, reuse or leverage, uh, based on your experience. Um, there are going to be differences and, uh, key to manage these differences. Uh, there's no such thing as, uh, two people that agree on everything, especially when you, again, get to spend a lot of hours together.
[00:16:19] Arik: Uh, so there are going to be differe. Learn how to manage them. That's, I think the first and foremost, advice that I give to myself, not to other people. Second is to maintain this open conversation. And again, it really doesn't really matter how it might be face to face or in any other way, but make sure that the communication, keeps, keeps going.
[00:16:40] Arik: Okay. Because you need to exchange it. And there's so many things that you need to. And that's, uh, the third advice is to, uh, find the right balance between the important stuff and the even more important stuff. There's an exercise that, many, um, uh, management, courses, teaches how to differentiate between the important and the things that [00:17:00] are even more important or.
[00:17:01] Arik: So there are things that are important and things that are urgent. How do you tell the difference? And what are you going to share now today, this minute, and what can wait for another week or should wait for another week? But why? Because you need to have the right setting to discuss. So these are the three, uh, would say three key things that I, uh, give us an advice for myself every
[00:17:20] Ephraim: other morning.
[00:17:21] Ephraim: Every other morning.
[00:17:23] Arik: Yeah. Other morning. Yeah. Because you need to have, uh, some, uh, you know, time off
[00:17:28] Ephraim: Wow. There's a lot going on over here. I mean, thank God a lot of things being thrown out, we're all over the place, which is a great thing. Um, but I wanna touch upon Sogo for a second, and really understand, On a high level overview, you know what?
[00:17:42] Ephraim: Sip, Pago, trying to accomplish.
[00:17:45] Arik: That's a very good question. And, uh, that's another thing that we keep refining, but I think in, in essence, the core drivers for, uh, establishing SA pago are very, very clear. The first is the fact that, compliance and [00:18:00] regulation is a must, and it's a requirement that has been growing constantly over the last five, six years.
[00:18:08] Arik: and that has already become, something that companies specifically more mature companies, uh, cannot handle manually. I think the other important driver is the, the cloud and everything that happens around the cloud. And the fact that there are so many different types of ways to, uh, leverage the cloud and data is spread across almost everything that moves.
[00:18:31] Arik: And if you are managing your customer's data, you're now, in the liability to make sure that, all this data is kept private and secure. And regulators and other, um, business, uh, uh, factors, they require you to prove that you did that. So when you put these two drivers together, the fact that there are so many different types of regulations and, and requirements out there, and the fact that the data is actually vulnerable and you need to prove that you did that right.
[00:18:59] Arik: Uh, when you put these [00:19:00] two together, You come to the fact that organizations are having a difficult time to maintain compliance with almost over 250 different types of regulations that are out there today. And it keeps growing. And this is exactly what we realized. And, uh, when we take that and when we put behind it or under the.
[00:19:20] Arik: Cutting edge technology that leverages everything that the cloud can, uh, offer you and some other advanced capabilities that both Yeah, my co-founder and myself brought in from our experience. And, uh, you distill, all the domain expertise that we bringing, I think that's what you get.
[00:19:36] Arik: Is, algo's compliance platform, uh, it's compliance management platform that truly helps organizations to turn these compliance management processes from fully manual into automated and cost effective ones.
[00:19:49] Ephraim: I'm not a compliance or cybersecurity expert, so I'm not gonna really touch upon, you know, going into deeper dive about what the company's trying to do beyond this high level overview.
[00:19:56] Ephraim: But I do want to. How did you actually [00:20:00] inquire your first customer? That's what I want to know. Your first customer beyond your close friend, um, and your also, how did you go about raising your first initial checks?
[00:20:12] Arik: Yeah, so since we are already with many dozens of customers, I.
[00:20:16] Arik: shame admit that I don't remember how we acquired the first customer beyond friends and family. So then lemme
[00:20:22] Ephraim: rephrase the question. Which customer of your many dozens of customers has been the most meaningful customer that you've, you've acquired? Yeah, so that,
[00:20:30] Arik: that's a tricky question because now every customer that will listen to this podcast, and I'm sure that all of them will, uh, will be, insulted, maybe because I will mention another.
[00:20:40] Arik: But I will do say, There were several customers, and which I truly felt that we went with them through, a process of, transforming their compliance management processes. And by doing that, I truly, uh, sense and they share that with us as well, that they now [00:21:00] realize that they can do things much better, much faster.
[00:21:03] Arik: More efficiently and ultimately, gain all that time that precious time, which is the our most precious. uh, Resource that we can get to do other important stuff that now the technology, our technology does all that for them. I think that these ones were the most meaningful for me.
[00:21:19] Arik: And again, happily enough we have, uh, uh, many of those. so yeah, this is exactly where, where I do feel. Yes, we did something. We did a change. We managed to bring something new to this world, to the business world, and to help organizations out there to be better at what they do, because we take that heavy lifting and we do that for them.
[00:21:40] Arik: We leverage technology to do that for them, and now they can be, again, better at what they should be doing, marketing, finance, energy, whatever
[00:21:49] Ephraim: When did you actually go ahead and hire your first, um, salesperson or you know, or c r o or at what point in the launch? You've been around since 2020, you have dozen of customers. At what point do you feel that it was necessary to bring on someone else [00:22:00] beyond yourself to do the actual selling?
[00:22:02] Ephraim: Uh,
[00:22:04] Arik: it was the very early on, I must say, and that was, thanks to the fact that we came out with an M v MVP or a, let's say, an initial general available, version very early in our journey. And once we did that and we immediately saw that we can already stall. A certain level of, pains, let's say in the market, we understood that we, we should and can, go out and sell it.
[00:22:27] Arik: So, uh, it happened roughly end of 21, uh, beginning of 2022, when we brought in our first, account executive that, just thought it out and talk with, with everybody that he could talk to. And, uh, it was, much more successful than we imagine. Because there's always this gap between what you think that you have and, uh, the problems that you think that you can solve, uh, and how the customer, sees it.
[00:22:49] Arik: And when you are able to bridge this gap and actually see that you solve a, problem, uh, I think that's the most satisfying, uh, feeling that you can have.
[00:22:57] Ephraim: So then going to the other [00:23:00] question, raising funds, you raised, 2020, it was right before, the whole world went crazy. Um, what was like the fundraising process like?
[00:23:09] Ephraim: And then once we get post that, I wanna know, first of all, how did you navigate Covid? Um, and then now in 2023, right? January, beginning of 2023, everyone's talking about the, another, you know, craziness, potential recession and downturn. How are you preparing your team, your company for that?
[00:23:29] Ephraim: And you know, specifically from I guest, you know, from a financial perspective, and just in general, Yeah.
[00:23:35] Arik: So, uh, fundraising is both fun and a nightmare. , and I'm sure that I know I, I hear it every day almost, from my, colleagues and friends. It's almost the same for everyone. It's fun because you get to, uh, meet a lot of interesting people, uh, to showcase and show off whenever you did and your accomplishments, which is great.
[00:23:53] Arik: And it's a nightmare because, uh, you need to sell. You need to sell yourself. Uh, and you need to, uh, [00:24:00] kind of advance to the other people's, uh, uh, tunes, uh, which not necessarily know. These, these, I mean, VCs and other investors don't necessarily understand and know the market as well as you do.
[00:24:11] Arik: So they ask many questions. Not all of these questions are to the point, but nevertheless, you need to. Go on with the script. So yes, it's, um, it's interesting to, uh, raise funds. It's an interesting process, but it, you know what, it's an ongoing process. It's not like you, uh, raised some funds, today, and then you can forget all about it, uh, for a year or two.
[00:24:31] Arik: That's a constant and ongoing process that you always need to maintain these relationships with potential investors, existing, of course investors and, and potential investors as well. And this is exactly, uh, I think the answer to your question about covid. And now we manage that and now we are going to making ourself ready for the recessional.
[00:24:48] Arik: Hopefully not, but this is how it looks like. I think that we, try to be as, uh, cost effective as we can from one. and to, uh, show growth on the other hand, which is [00:25:00] very difficult to manage these two hands together. But I think that we did a great job with that. And, uh, again, looking, looking ahead for 2023 and even 2024, we built a plan that will allow us to go through this expected period in a way that, uh, will keep this growth going on.
[00:25:18] Arik: Uh, not necessarily at all costs. This was, uh, 2020. Now, you wanna show growth, but you wanna show sustainability and your ability to go and reach out to the other end of 2022.
[00:25:29] Ephraim: Are, are there any, um, have you taken any steps, yet currently in order to prepare yourself for whatever's going to come, any type of downturn?
[00:25:38] Arik: Uh, luckily for us, we didn't have to, on the opposite, Contrary. We were, we are still expanding and growing. so we didn't have to do any of these, uh, unpleasant, moves. and, you know, uh, I do hope that, this trend, uh, will continue and I'm not just hoping, we are working very hard, to make sure that this will be the [00:26:00] trend for us at least in 2020.
[00:26:01] Ephraim: amen. From your mouth to God's ears. Hopefully, but absolutely. Tell me what, what are some of the beliefs regarding yourself that you had to change, as you stepped, stepped into this journey and everything?
[00:26:13] Arik: Yeah. I think that number one is that I know everything. And again, that's for me.
[00:26:17] Arik: Especially when I, again, got to this point after a very long career, twentysomething years, doing a lot of things with many achievements, uh, under my belt. but then you start a journey that you know almost zero about, and that's a thing, the first thing that you need to learn, that you need to learn.
[00:26:33] Arik: And, uh, that's not that easy. Uh, but it's, it's highly satisfying. I mean, when you realize that you've learned so. Now we are already two and a half years in this journey. And then when I look back at my first days, uh, in entrepreneurship, I know now that back then I knew nothing. And I think that's the first thing or the, the most important thing that, uh, that I've changed in my approach to life.
[00:26:58] Arik: What's
[00:26:59] Ephraim: the second thing?[00:27:00]
[00:27:00] Arik: Second thing, I think is the, is is being able to, um, two, two other things. One is I integrating. And it's like, 360. I mean, you need to be, need to keep on, maintain your integrity, internally with yourself, with your co-founder, with your, team members, with your investors, and with your customers.
[00:27:18] Arik: And of course, other partners as well. So that's a multifaceted, uh, way of keeping your integrity. And it's not that easy because let's say it's easier to come out to a customer and say, yes, we support everything. Just sign this, uh, po it's easy. And then you, uh, the, then you need to, uh, live up to that.
[00:27:36] Arik: And that's not the fun part. it's a lot more difficult to say, listen, uh, we do have a basic solution for you. And we can provide you a. That we will provide everything that you need. That's a more, the way I see it, it's a more mature approach, but a little bit more difficult. Uh, that's the second thing that I needed to change, I think the third and the last one, or the last major one we discussed goals [00:28:00] earlier, to set these goals and to execute on these.
[00:28:02] Arik: And to constantly yourself. Again, it's easier not to look at the mirror to do stuff and to wake up in a year and, uh, say, okay, we did that. Let's do this and let's do that, and whatever. But it's a lot more difficult to be able to measure, to see and how you've been acting, how your progress looks like and what should be the next step.
[00:28:23] Arik: So I this would be, uh, the three major, changes that I needed to add. I'm still
[00:28:27] Ephraim: doing. Yeah. change doesn't happen overnight, but I like the way you mentioned the last point. The, we had integrity. We had knowing that you don't know everything.
[00:28:35] Ephraim: Um, and third thing obviously was the measuring aspect of measuring your goals, creating goals, measuring, I think okay. When, when it comes to measuring goals specifically, we don't realize what it really takes to first, to measure honesty, and also to have the constant consistency within accomplishing your goals, because consistency is a word that's thrown around a lot.
[00:28:51] Ephraim: But in order to accomplish your goals, in order to measure properly, you have to be constantly consistent in your goals and trying to reach your goals. And consistency is such a powerful, [00:29:00] powerful thing. Um, so underestimated, or undervalued is the right, it's the right word.
[00:29:04] Ephraim: but wh when you talk about, these are the, the beliefs you had. But if you goals that are further with, into your own personal journey, what are the, the values and principles that you believe and have and how you integrate both of.
[00:29:19] Arik: confidence that you can do it. Of course not alone. Uh, with the team that you work with, again, shoulder to should, and making things happen together. You need to believe. You need to believe that you can do it. When you start off, uh, you have nothing, and then a year later you have a team, you have a product, you have some customers, and, and another year goes by and then you see that, uh, there's another, another story, another level.
[00:29:45] Arik: so you need to believe, you need to believe that you can do it. You need to have this, confidence that you can make things. It can actually change. I mean, changing the world, that that's a big, a big, uh, a big word. but we do change it. Uh, we do change it in [00:30:00] pieces. but, but you need to believe that you can do it.
[00:30:01] Arik: I think that's, uh, that's one, one thing. And working hard. I mean, for myself, I've. I think I can say that I've been working hard throughout my career, but, there's nothing like being an, an entrepreneur and starting your company. I mean, you are actually on it 24 7 and you need to accept it and you need to find out the right way to manage it.
[00:30:21] Arik: And if I may, being a, a religious Jew, I have Shabbat, uh, there is. Keeping me, insane and relaxed in a way that I I know that I have these 24, 25 hours every week that I can just shut down the, shut up the, uh, the computer, the, the laptop, the, the smartphone, whatever. And then I can recharge and start the week.
[00:30:44] Arik: But like two minutes after the ends, everything starts, uh, back on and it continues for almost seven or 24 6. I think that's, that's an experience that you don't get. And I was, I've been working for the government, the inte. Division, uh, which part of my role [00:31:00] was, operational.
[00:31:00] Arik: Many exciting things that we, we, we've been doing in, different parts of the world. And even that wasn't as demanding as, as being a, a startup founder. Wow.
[00:31:11] Ephraim: You, you mentioned quite a few things to unpack over here,
[00:31:14] Ephraim: You mentioned the confidence and I really love the aspect you mentioned the confidence because such an important things cause. At the end of the day, I truly believe each one of us have the confidence to do whatever it is. But the problem is we fall into, you know, like we fall into our our own mind, our own thought process.
[00:31:33] Ephraim: Starts doing and creating all these stories and obstacles and blocks. And then we start telling ourselves all these stories like, oh, I can't do this, I can't accomplish it, or, , I don't want to take it because then I'm gonna failure, I'm gonna fail. And if I fail, this is what's gonna happen if, and if this is gonna happen and this is what's gonna happen.
[00:31:50] Ephraim: We start telling ourselves these whole entire stories and we fall all the way into this rabbit hole. And is it based upon anything? No, it's based upon just, you know, our [00:32:00] mind doing tricks of us our inner child, trying to protect us and multiple things. As someone that went through the army, as someone that went through, worked in government in multiple different divisions.
[00:32:08] Ephraim: As someone that's building a, a, you know, a startup right now, what are some of the suggestions or personal experiences that you have to go through to overcome these types of challenges and suggestions you have for other people in order to overcome these challenges or the mental blockage?
[00:32:23] Arik: Yeah. I have an experience that I experienced. Every day, uh, or at least every other day that you open up an email or a text message from a customer that, uh, has something to share with you. obviously when there are, these are good, good things, it's, it's great. But from time to time, uh, customers want things that you don't have or you cannot provide, or there's some, some inconsistency between what the way they see it and the way they, you see And that's, uh, immediately that create the spining of payer. Did we do it right? Did we do enough? Are we on the, on the right spot? Are [00:33:00] we delivering the right solution? And as you mentioned, it's a slippery slope In a minute, you start sa thinking, even more, uh, let's say. Severe thought on, uh, on the, why did I do it to begin with?
[00:33:12] Arik: should have I been staying with the government? I dunno, whatever. let's go into something else. I think that the best advice is just to open this email, read through the email and try to find out what can you fix. And focus on that. Focus on what you can do good and not what is bad, because the bad is always there.
[00:33:31] Arik: There's nothing perfect in life. Uh, there's a saying about Aristo, the famous tal, the famous, uh, Greek philosopher, that he was in a search for that perfect sphere. And he came to a conclusion that there is no such thing as a perfect sphere because reality is not perfect. It's I perfect by nature. So this is it.
[00:33:53] Arik: And we need to focus on how we make it better, how we improve it. And, and again, it's a, it's a, [00:34:00] a very, uh, uh, festive saying, but The day-to-day looks very mundane, but very effective. Look at read. Read through this email. Listen to what that customer has to say, and try to fix it. Meet with them.
[00:34:11] Arik: Provide that additional, service feature, change something and you will immediately feel better because you just did something to the good.
[00:34:19] Ephraim: all you could do is take NI next. Right. Action. That's all you could do. You can't do anything else. Take the next Right. Action. Do take those little steps. Exactly. Like you mentioned, open that email. I could talk to my own experience. You know how like a lot of times we think something, a big task is so big and you know, we're afraid to open that email, whatever.
[00:34:35] Ephraim: Maybe something, you just gotta do something, you just need to action. I wanna imagine a a that is 19 years. Just left the, I mean he left the army a little bit later, but let's say 19 years old facing the rule for the first time. You know, what advice would a current a tell his younger self?
[00:34:52] Ephraim: And at the same time, I wanted to imagine a that at a hundred years old surrounded by his. children, [00:35:00] grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the advice that the A would tell the current a right now how to live his life going forward.
[00:35:07] Arik: Yeah. That's easier Ask than answered. . . I, I think that I can say that, for the, for the 19, uh, years old Eric, I would've said, to listen. Listen more. I consider myself as, highly capable, intelligent, kind of a knowing all, a person. But there's so much to learn and although again, I learned a lot since being 19 till today, I think that for several, let's say episodes in my career, many things could have been even better I would've, uh, listened more.
[00:35:38] Arik: I think that's, that's the, let's say the big words, angle of your question, but looking, looking ahead, I think that's the big question. Uh, looking back is easier. Uh, what would I learn or what, what can I tell myself in, let's say 30 years from today that I can do better? I wish I.
[00:35:57] Ephraim: well, in 30 years we'll have another, [00:36:00] you we're have a conversation regarding this aspect.
[00:36:02] Arik: Uh, I'm going, I'm going to already schedule that on, uh, in Google Calendar. So expect the invite
[00:36:08] Ephraim: done. I'm looking forward. . Wow. Eric, I mean, I wanna thank you. You know, this conversation has been absolutely amazing.
[00:36:16] Ephraim: You know, I know we were all over the place and we spoke about multiple different types of topics and. , I know this is the first of many conversations, the first of many. there's no doubt in my mind that multiple, multiple people are going to benefit from listening to this conversation on many different levels, wherever they're holding.
[00:36:32] Ephraim: Either as a founder in the startup journey or as someone else navigating life, you know, just general life on how to overcome certain challenges or know, how to create goals and measure. I believe there's something that we can learn from every single each. Each individual person has something that we can learn from, and you shared so many insights that hopefully when someone's listening to this, They're going to be able, it's going to impact their own life to make change and inspire them to take action.
[00:36:59] Ephraim: So I want to thank [00:37:00] you and you obviously good luck on the journey of sa Pago. And it goes without saying, I'm here to be of help any way I possibly can to your family, sa pago. And, um, I'm looking forward to many, many, many more conversations and many, many more good times together.
[00:37:14] Arik: Likewise, ifra, it was, uh, I mean, it wasn't just a pleasure.
[00:37:18] Arik: I think I'm gonna take. Conversation, with me, when I continue my journey, because I learned a lot in this passing hour, uh, meeting you, uh, the way that you ask your questions the points that you highlight really truly helps me to, uh, realize what I've been doing, right, what I've been doing, not that.
[00:37:38] Arik: And what to expect in the future. So thank you for that. Uh, it was an experience, a super important experience for me. I truly, truly hope that we will have these additional, uh, conversations and discussions and we'll have many more opportunities to celebrate. I don't know if it's, uh, it's going to be a shaming for you on air, but I would like to congratulate you for your engagement.
[00:37:59] Arik: [00:38:00] That's, uh, talking about achievements and milestones. I think that's an amazing milestone. So, uh, Mato, I do hope, and wish you a lot of, uh, happiness and success and help and, uh, may God help us all be as successful as we can and want to be.
[00:38:15] Ephraim: Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you for that. I really, really appreciate it.
[00:38:19] Ephraim: Thank you. It means a lot. Thank you.
Conversation with Pranav Pai co-founder & managing partner 3one4 Venture.
Have a great listen, and if you do benefit please suggest it to a friend who can benefit from it too.
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You can also reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
Thanks!
Part 2 of conversation with Eze Vidra CoFounder & managing partner Remagine Venutres.
Have a great listen, and if you do benefit please suggest it to a friend who can benefit from it too.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Eze:
💻 Website - https://www.vccafe.com/ 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezevidra/ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ediggs
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimya...
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :)
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
You can also reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
Thanks!
Part 1 of conversation with Eze Vidra CoFounder & managing partner Remagine Venutres.
Have a great listen, and if you do benefit please suggest it to a friend who can benefit from it too.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Eze:
💻 Website - https://www.vccafe.com/ 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ezevidra/ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ediggs
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimya...
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :)
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
You can also reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
Thanks!
Part 1 of conversation with Dror Berman, CoFounder & managing partner Innovation Endeavors.
Have a great listen, and if you do benefit please suggest it to a friend who can benefit from it too.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Dror
💻 Website - https://www.innovationendeavors.com/ 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drorberman/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimya...
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :)
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
You can also reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
Thanks!
Part 1 of conversation with Dror Berman, CoFounder & managing partner Innovation Endeavors.
Have a great listen, and if you do benefit please suggest it to a friend who can benefit from it too.
🔗 CONNECT WITH Dror
💻 Website - https://www.innovationendeavors.com/ 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drorberman/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimya...
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :)
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
You can also reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
Thanks!
Part 2 of conversation with Ben Rabinowitz, Founder & managing partner Amiti Ventues.
Have a great listen, and if you do benefit please suggest it to a friend who can benefit from it too.
🔗 CONNECT WITH BEN
💻 Website - https://www.amiti.vc/ 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-rabinowitz-0157584/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimya...
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :)
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
You can also reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
Thanks!
Part 1 of conversation with Ben Rabinowitz, Founder & managing partner Amiti Ventues.
Have a great listen, and if you do benefit please suggest it to a friend who can benefit from it too.
🔗 CONNECT WITH BEN
💻 Website - https://www.amiti.vc/ 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-rabinowitz-0157584/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimya...
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :)
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
You can also reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
Thanks!
Conversation with Redekar CEO & Cofounder Sprinto HQ. Hey everyone welcome back to another episode on founder storiez. I am very excited about this conversation.
This was such an amazing honest conversation with Grish, co-Founder & CEO of Sprinto_HQ - If I had to bet on a company that I think is going to become HUGE this one is top 5.
The founder's mindset and how they approach building and problems is the caliber of top founders.
Sprinto has raised $ 12 million from our good friends at Blume, ACCEL, and elevation Capital.
This is Grish's second startup, which he's building together with his cofounder Raghu. His first startup RecruiterBox they bootstrapped it & sold.
In this conversation with speak about the difference between building a bootstrapped vs venture-funded company. How he handles setbacks, and how he needed to change his mindset.
Have a great listen, and if you do benefit please suggest it to a friend who can benefit from it too.
🔗 CONNECT WITH GRISH
🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/sprintoHQ 💻 Website - https://sprinto.com/ 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishredekar/
🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM
🎥 YouTube Channel - https://youtube.com/FOUNDERSTORIEZ 🐦 Twitter - https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak 👥 Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimya...
🙏 LEAVE A REVIEW
If you enjoyed listening to the podcast, we'd love for you to leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the show :)
👋🏼 GET IN TOUCH
You can also reach out to Ephraim Yarmak on LinkedIn with any feedback, ideas, or thoughts about the lessons you've learned from the episodes and we can thank you personally for tuning in 🙏
Thanks!
Conversation with Lotan Lefkowitz, Co-founder & GP Grove Ventures.
Lotan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lotanlevkowitz/
Grove: https://www.grovevc.com/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
For any inquiries or sponsorship opportunities, please reach out ephraim@1000hires.com
Enjoy!
Conversation with:
Kobi Samboursky, Glilot Capital Partners. https://www.linkedin.com/in/kobisamboursky/ Glilot: https://glilotcapital.com/
Shai Morag, CEO Ermetic. https://www.linkedin.com/in/moragshai/ https://ermetic.com/
Ephraim Yarmak https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Enjoy!
Conversation with Asaf Horesh, General Partner Vintage Investment Partners.
Asaf Horesh. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asaf-horesh-4221a14/
Vintage IP. https://www.vintage-ip.com/
Ephraim Yarmak. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
Enjoy!
Conversation with Shahar Erez CEO & Cofounder of Stoke Talent. Acquired by Fiverr for $110Million.
Shahar: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaharer/ Website: https://www.stoketalent.com/
Ephraim. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
Please subscribe & leave a review. Thanks!
Conversation with Adam Gavish CEO & Cofounder DoControl
Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamgavish/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/ https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
Enjoy!
Conversation with Bar Mor CEO & Cofounder Agora
Bar Mor https://www.linkedin.com/in/bar-mor-955056111/ https://www.agorareal.com/
Ephraim Yarmak https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Enjoy!
Conversation with Ran Ribenzaft Cofounder Epsagon.
Epsagon was sold for $500Million to Cisco.
Ran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ran-ribenzaft/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please subscribe and leave a review.
Thank You
Conversation with Jonathan Friedman Co-founder & CEO Demostack
Jonathan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-friedman/ https://www.demostack.com/
Ephraim https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Enjoy!
Conversation with Yotam Segev Co-founder & CEO Cyera
Yotam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yotam-segev-096156113/ https://www.cyera.io/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Enjoy!
Conversation with Guy Benjamin CEO Healthee
Guy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-benjamin-9904b844/ https://www.healthee.co/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please enjoy & subscribe.
Conversation with Alon Arvatz CTO & Cofounder IntSights. Sold to Rapid7 for $335 Million.
Alon Arvatz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alon-arvatz/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please subscribe & leave a review.
Enjoy!
Conversation with Roey Dor, CEO & Cofounder Obligo
Roey Dor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roey-dor-bab523142/ https://myobligo.com/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please subscribe and leave a review. Thanks, Ephraim
Conversation with Lee Kappon founder & CEO Suridata.
Lee Kappon https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-kappon-9a9a7676/ https://www.suridata.ai/
Ephraim Yarmak https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please subscribe and leave a review.
Thank you!
Conversation with Maxim Melamedov CEO & Co-founder Zesty.
Maxim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximmelamedov/ https://zesty.co/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please subscribe and leave a review. Thank you.
Conversation with Eitan Reisel managing director Vgames.
Eitan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eitan-reisel-b1934318/ https://www.vgames.vc/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Conversation with Amir Orad CEO Sisense.
Amir Orad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amirorad/ https://www.sisense.com/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Conversation with Nadir Izrael Cofounder & CTO Armis.
Nadir Izrael https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiriz/
Ephraim Yarmak. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Conversation with Boaz Albaranes, Partner at Mindset Ventures. Mindset Ventures is an investor in Brex, Turing, and some of the guests we had on this show like Pecan, Hyro. They operate in the US, Brazil, and Israel.
Boaz Albaranes https://www.linkedin.com/in/boazalbaranes/
Mindset Ventures / https://mindset.ventures/
Ephraim Yarmak https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please subscribe and leave a review.
Thank you
Conversation with Ronni Zehavi COFOUNDER & CEO, HIbob
Ronni is a serial entrepreneur, his previous startup was acquired for $300Million, and has launched a very successful VC firm. His current startup Hibob has raised over $240Million, has over 400 team members, and over 2000 customers.
Ronni Zehavi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronnizehavi/ www.hibob.com
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please subscribe and leave a review.
Conversation with Vladi Sandler CEO & CoFounder Lightspin
Vladi Sandler. https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladi-cloud-security/ https://www.lightspin.io/
Ephraim Yarmak. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Conversation with Eran Shirazi, CTO & Co-founder Easysend. Founded in 2016, Raised $71.5 Million, 120 Employees.
Eran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eranshirazi/ https://www.easysend.io/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Yotam Cohen is a seasoned entrepreneur, and building his second startup Daisy. His first startup Wibbitz was acquired the day we recorded this episode. I really enjoyed this conversation with Yotam, so please enjoy.
If you have yet to subscribe and review please do:)
Yotam Cohen. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yotamcohen/ Daisy: https://www.joindaisy.com/
Ephraim Yarmak LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCybjpAry4gIeS0X3TLEpesA/featured
https://www.growthspace.com/
Omer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omerglass/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Youtube: https://youtu.be/EK8MDHLmFpc
This podcast is brought to you by the goodness & kindness foundation. Please do a good deed, smile at a stranger let's all try to do our part in making this world a better place.
Please subscribe and leave a review.
Hey! Everyone welcome back to another episode of founder storieZ. I'm your host Ephraim.
I'm super excited to bring you this episode with an incredible company and phenomenal person. Noam Schwartz CEO ActiveFence.
In our conversation, we cover so many incredible topics.
• how the idea for ActiveFense came while he was sitting in the ICU with his daughter. • Responding to opportunoites • What it means to show up each day • and how being a CEO is a big privilege and responsibility that needs to be earned.
If you listened to any of the previous episodes you know how our conversations work. It's a soul to soul experience.
These conversations are raw - emotional. - vulnerable. We go into depth, about our journeys, our journeys about the ups & downs of life, what drives us, and how we can make a bigger impact. So if you come across something that resonates with you. Don't wait for tomorrow to implement. Change your life today!
Thank you for your support I really appreciate it!
Noam Schwartz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noamsp/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please subscribe and leave a review.
Thanks, Ephraim
Ps. If you have any feedback, ideas send me a message on LinkedIn.
I'm super excited to bring you this episode with an incredible company and phenomenal person. Yalon Co-founder & CTO Lightricks
Lighttircks has raised over $300Million dollars and the chances are you are probably using one of their apps on your phones.
In our conversation, we speak about how a team of 5 co-founders built up to 450 employees, $100s of millions in revenue, and an evaluation over a BILLION DOLLARS.
Please subscribe and leave a review.
Yaron Inger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaroninger/
Lightricks: https://www.lightricks.com/
Ephraim yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
I'm super excited to bring you this episode with an incredible company and phenomenal person. Omer David Keilaf Cofounder & CEO Innoviz.
Innoviz is changing the game of autonomous vehicles. They have raised closed to HALF BILLION DOLLARS - and went public VIA SPAC this year - https://www.google.com/finance/quote/INVZ:NASDAQ.
In our conversation, I dont think we left anything uncovered - we spoke about everything. and there is so much you will learn.
So have a great listen! If you have any tips, suggestions, feedback please reach out and let us know:)
Omer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omer-david-keilaf-53714b1/ Innoviz: https://innoviz.tech/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please subscribe and leave a review.
Founder storieZ is starting to bring you StorieZ of Startups from Latam America.
You can't help but be inspired by what's happening in the startup ecosystem of Latin America and all the new startups. Just in 2021 alone over $15Billion has been invested in over 600 startups
So I'm super excited to bring you this conversation with one of the hottest companies and founders from Mexico - Gerry the founder of Clara - A fintech startup - Clara has raised over $50MILLION from multiple investors.
In this conversation, you will learn why Latam is blowing up right now, what has changed. His journey into startups and the founding story of Clara.
Gerry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerrygiacoman Clara: https://www.clara.cc/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Hey everyone welcome back to another episode of founder storiez. I'm your host Ephraim Yarmak.
I'm super excited to bring to you today Amichai Neiderman co-founder and CEO of NYM.
Nym has raised close to $50Million, from Tiger Global, Addition Capital, Lightspeed, GV, and multiple others.
In our conversation today we go over Amichai's early days, how he got into entrepreneurship, and what it takes to build a startup as a first-time founder.
If you listened to any of the previous episodes you know how our conversations work. It's a soul to soul experience.
These conversations are raw - emotional. - vulnerable. We go into depth, about our journeys, our journeys about the ups & downs of life, what drives us, and how we can make a bigger impact
Amichai, thank you for this incredible conversation, your honesty, vulnerability, and willingness to share! I know the impact our conversation has made on my life. and I know the impact it's going to make on others. So when you the listener, listen to this episode, once, twice, or 3 you will learn so many incredible things to implement in your life today!
So Have a great listen, and please share with your friends who you think can benefit too. Now, this is important so listen closely, to reach more listeners please subscribe and leave a review.
This recording is brought to you by the Goodness and Kindness Foundation. If you walking on the street smile at a stranger, do a good deed for someone, and let's all strive to make our impact and make this world a better place.
Amichai Neiderman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amihai-neiderman-20998788/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Please reach out to me on LinkedIn if you would like to suggest someone to interview or I can be of help to your startup.
Hey! Everyone welcome back to another episode of founder storiez. I'm your host Ephraim.
I'm super excited to bring you this conversation with one of my favorite people and entrepreneurs Zviki Ben-ishay CEO & COFOUNDER Lightico.
One of the most amazing things about Zviki, and you will hear it in our conversation is his humility & honesty about the true struggles of entrepreneurship.
In this conversation, you will learn about his early life, what it took to launch Lightico, how he balances family life, and how he led the company through COVID.
If you listened to any of the previous episodes you know how our conversations work. It's a soul to soul experience.
These conversations are raw - emotional. - vulnerable. We go into depth, about our journeys, our journeys about the ups & downs of life, what drives us, and how we can make a bigger impact
This conversation with Irad is amazing. So if you are someone that doesn't like to get vulnerable, or change their life for the better please don't listen to this, because it will make you wanna change.
Zviki thank you for this incredible conversation, your honesty, vulnerability, and the willingness to share! I know the impact our conversation has made on my life. and I know the impact it's going to make on others. So when you the listener, listen to this episode, once, twice, or 3 you will learn so many incredible things to implement in your life today!
So Have a great listen, and please share with your friends who you think can benefit too. Now, this is important so listen closely, to reach more listeners please subscribe and leave a review.
This recording is brought to you by the Goodness and Kindness Foundation. If your walking on the street smile at a stranger, do a good deed for someone and let's all strive to make our impact and make this world a better place.
Zviki: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zviki-ben-ishay-7406187/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
If you would like to suggest someone to interview or I can be of help with your startup please reach out.
Hey Everyone welcome back to another episode of Founder StorieZ.
As you know each week we try to bring you the best guest, so we can learn from their stories and apply those lessons to our own life.
This week's episode is a special one. We have serial entrepreneur Dvir, CEO & Co-founder of Spike. Spike has raised $15.3 Million from Insight Partners, NFX, Wix, and the CEO of Zoom.
Dvir, Is a lover of extreme sports - and you will hear all about it in our conversation - I think one of the biggest lessons I've learned from speaking with Dvir, is to just jump. Imagine you are going skydiving, and your standing at the edge of the plane, ready to jump, but fear holding you back. This is what it means to JUMP! and get right into it.
If you listened to any of the previous episodes you know how our conversations work. It's a soul to soul experience.
These conversations are raw - emotional. - vulnerable. We go into depth, about our journeys, our journeys about the ups & downs of life, what drives us, and how we can make a bigger impact
This conversation with Dvir is amazing. So if you are someone that doesn't like to get vulnerable, or change their life for the better please don't listen to this, because it will make you wanna change.
Dvir thank you for this incredible conversation, your honesty, vulnerability, and the willingness to share! I know the impact our conversation has made on my life. and I know the impact it's going to make on others. So when you the listener, listen to this episode, once, twice, or 3 you will learn so many incredible things to implement in your life today!
So Have a great listen, and please share with your friends who you think can benefit too. To reach more listeners and make a bigger impact please subscribe and leave a review.
Dvir: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dvir-ben-aroya https://www.spikenow.com/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
SPONSORED BY: This recording is brought to you by the Goodness and Kindness Foundation. If your walking on the street smile at a stranger, do a good deed for someone, and let's all strive to make our impact and make this world a better place.
On this week's episode, we have a very special guest. To give you an understanding, Our guest has a degree from Dartmouth, MIT, Harvard, and is a trained neuroscientist.
And only launched their company at the 2nd part of their career at 38 Years old.
Today's guest is an honor to introduce Dr. Frida Polli, CEO of An incredible company Pymetrics ( in the HR tech space) Raised $56million to date.
If you listened to any of the previous episodes you know how our conversations work. It's a soul to soul experience.
These conversations are raw - emotional. - vulnerable. We go into depth, about our journeys, our journeys about the ups & downs of life, what drives us, and how we can make a bigger impact
This conversation with Frida is truly exceptional, and we go deep. So if you are someone that doesn't like to get vulnerable, or change their life for the better please don't listen to this, because it will make you wanna change.
We speak about our upbringings, family life, raising children, mental health, what it means to go through hard times, what it takes to build a company.
Frida thank you for this incredible conversation, your honesty, vulnerability, and the willingness to share! I know the impact our conversation has made on my life. and I know the impact it's going to make on others. So when you the listener, listen to this episode, once, twice or 3 you will learn so many incredible things to implement in your life today!
So Have a great listen, and please share with your friends who you think can benefit too. Now, this is important so listen closely, to reach more listeners please subscribe and leave a review.
Frida Polli: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frida-polli-phd-03a1855/
Ephraim Yarmak https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Youtube: https://youtu.be/AKHONO10_60
The past year and a half have been difficult for everyone. But out of every fire rises hope & opportunity. One of the amazing things has been all the new companies that have launched.
Today's special guest is one of those companies.
Yoav is a serial entrepreneur having founded 3 previous companies. He currently building a great company called Walnut.io one of the hottest companies to come out of COVID 19. It was listed as a top 50 place to work and made it onto many prestigious lists.
Walnut has raised money from incredible Investors, the CEO of Wix, NFX, and others.
In our conversation, how he got into entrepreneurship by accident, what it takes to build a great company. and many tips on launching your product to the market.
Enjoy! Please subscribe and leave a review so we can inspire many more people.
Thank you for listening.
Yoav Vilner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoav-vilner/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCybjpAry4gIeS0X3TLEpesA/featured
WELCOME BACK to another episode of Founder Storiez, Now if this is your first time listening I want you to get ready for an incredible journey.
This podcast is raw - emotional. - vulnerable. We go into depth, with each entrepreneur what drives them to succeed.
Today we have a special guest.
Amit Rappaport is a wife and a mother of 3. She lives her life by this saying: "If the world doesn't make sense, take a hammer and break the world”
She's the founder of an incredible company called COMPETE which recently raised $2.5Million from Aleph Ventures, new from Vine Ventures, and others.
Compete was launched during the height pandemic and during this time was able to get 200 Customers!
In our conversation, we go into what drives her, why started a 2nd career as an entrepreneur and launch a company, also how she balances her family.
Amit thank you for this incredible conversation and your honesty. you are truly amazing! There's no doubt, when you the listener, listen to this episode, once, twice or 3 you will learn so many incredible things to implement in your life today!
So Have a great listen, and please share with your friends who you think can benefit too. Now, this is important so listen closely, to reach more listeners please subscribe and leave a review.
Amit Rapaport https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-rapaport-5a8b1142/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Ephraim Yarmak:
“A good day is a day when I’m closer to accomplishing my goals”
Zohar is the CEO of an amazing company Pecan.Ai, Raised $50Million to date, and has 50+ employees. He has a PhD in Computational Neuroscience and Philosophy. Zohar is such a humble incredible man, and you will hear it in our conversation
Zohar was going down a career in Academia and fell into entrepreneurship because he wanted to bring the joy of AI modeling to everyone.
What can you expect to walk out with from this episode:
• It's all about action • Mistakes to avoid • We go into his family life, and what his upbringing was like, and so many incredible insights you'll learn.
Zohar you are amazing and I want to thank you! There's no doubt, if you listen to this episode, once, twice or 3 you will learn so many incredible things to implement in your company today!
Have a great listen, and share with a friend you think can benefit too. Please subscribe and leave a review.
Zohar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zohar-bronfman/
Ephraim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
In this episode, we speak with Matthew Vega-Sanz Co-founder of LULA.
They recently raised $18million from founders fund, Kholsa ventures, bill Ackman, and multiple others.
I have recorded over 100 episodes, this one is def top 10!
Matthew story is about grit, and the power of being ruthless persistent
Matthew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-vega-sanz/ https://www.lula.is/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Have a great listen, and share with a friend you think can benefit too. Dont forget to subscribe:)
Ephraim,
I'm very excited about this next episode. so many incredible insights, and tips you will be able to apply right away, wherever you are holding in your journey. It's with COFOUNDER of an incredible company called, BrightHire.
And our guest today is the CEO Benjamin Sesser.
What's interesting about Brighthire and I believe they will be a huge company very soon, are a few things.
First, their roster of investors. Jeff Winer former CEO of LinkedIn, Has Adam Grant as an advisor, Index Venture, Flybridge Capital, GroundUp Venture - all class A investors.
Two, They are disrupting the HIRING space by providing real data to the interviewing and hiring process.
What can you expect to walk out with from this episode:
• The founding story of BrightHire • Tips to change up your hiring process. • What it takes to create a company • How they are going remote. Ben was amazing and I want to thank him! This was his first Podcast recording and he did a great job! There's no doubt, if you listen to this episode, once, twice or 3 you will learn so many incredible things to implement in your company today!
Have a great listen, and share with a friend you think can benefit too.
Ephraim Yarmak, Founder_Storiez
0:00 - 3:10 Conversation Brief
3:14 - 4:10 Intro
4:12 - 5:39 Humility
5:40 - 6:36 Dont measure yourself from your business success
6:37 - 7:42 Building up self-confidence / Do stuff you like
7:43 - 10:10 Upbringing / First computer / Geek from a young age
10:12 - 12:29 Entrepreneurial drive
12:40 - 14:50 Approach to failure / Experiment / Be disciplined
14:52 - 17:07 1st startup / made all the mistakes / pivot / selling
17:10 - 20:48 Founding of GONG / Meeting his cofounder / Raising money
20:50 - 21:58 Future of GONG
21:59 - 25:38 Company Culture
25:40 - 26:50 Hiring
26:51 - 30:50 Raving Fans / How to create a product roadmap
30:52 - 32:18 Pivotal moments in his career
32:20 - 34:06 Advice to new entrepreneurs
34:07 - 34:55 Outside interest
34:56 - 36:54 Mental Health / Productivity cheats
36:55 - 38:49 Being married, having kids
38:50 - 39:59 Motivation in life
40:02 - 41:39 Message to younger self
42:05 - 43:34 Feedback / Surround yourself with strong people
44:58 - Closing notes
0:00 - 0:49 Intro
0:50 - 8:13 Her upbringing / Launching business at 13 / Donating her hair to cancer patients / Her first experience with volunteering.
8:15 - 14:11 Developing empathy from a young age / Having empathy in the workforce / Leading with empathy.
14:13 - 19:14 Vee founding story / Finding co-founders.
19:15 - 21:31 Our self gets in the way / Investor mtg.
21:32 - 25:19 Early challenges / 21 years old raising $2.4 Million / Using age to your advatage.
25:31 - 29:55 Don't hide your potential / Ask why not / Almost closing Vee.
30:54 - 31:53 Biggest beliefs
33:05 - 37:05 Mental Health / Missing out in life.
37:06 - 37:56 Startup life.
37:58 - 42:10 Building trust as a young founder.
42:16 - 43:30 Surround yourself with teachers.
43:31 - 45:24 Her inspiration & motivation.
45:46 - 48:38 Her Ted talk to teenagers / Making an impact.
48:40 - 50:56 Closing notes.
0:00 - 5:25 Upbringing / First trip to the US / Early childhood memories.
5:26 - 8:10 is tech good or bad.
8:11 - 10:55 First computer / Entrepreneurial drive
10:56 - 14:48 First startup / Great algorithm bad business problem.
14:50 - 15:30 Timing for a startup
15:47 - 17:42 Shutting down a startup / Coral Reef
17:43 - 20:00 Second startup
20:03 - 21:21 Challenges in his 2nd startup
21:22 -23:22 Moving on after the DOT COM crash
23:24 - 25:37 What it takes to be a future thinker
25:38 - 27:41 Third startup
27:42 - 28:45 Motivation
28:50 - 30:00 Do problems get easier
30:01 - 31:33 How to stay focused
31:35 - 33:16 Startups are a long game
33:18 - 39:04 Fourth startup
39:05 - 42:03 Personal values & mission
42:04 - 44:07 Fundraising / Customer Focused
44:08 - 45:24 Speed bumps / Most work in unseen
45:30 - 47: 41 Hard times / Team
47:-43 - 49:35 Charachter of an entrepeneur
49:36 - 51:22 Mistakes to be avoided
51:58 - 53:00 Advice to the new entrepreneurs
53:05 - 56:40 Message to younger self / Lean In / Closing notes
Humans are a companies biggest asset.
Gareth Jones: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/garethmjones https://www.headstart.io/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/ https://1000hires.com/
In this interview, we speak with Omer Molad Founder & CEO of Vervoe.
Vervoe, an AI-powered platform that tests candidates on skills, helps remove unconscious biases from the hiring process.
In this conversation, we take a deep dive into moving to a new country at a young age. Going into the army, moving across the world to Australia, and his journey to becoming a startup founder.
After listening to Omer you can expect to walk away with:
Humility. Following your gut. What it means to be a leader. Staying humble.
and multiple more lessons.
So enjoy and please spread the wisdom so more people can benefit.
In this interview, we speak with Tony Jamous Founder & CEO of Oyster.
This Podcast is titled "Express your true self"
Tony, left his home in Beirut at the age of 17 and from there, his journey began.
He was the founder of Nexmo which he sold to Vonage for $230 Million.
After working at Vonage, and taking time off, he founded his new company Oyster, based on his values and personal life mission.
In this conversation, we take a deep dive into growing up in the Beruit, Personal Growth, Humility, how to express true vulnerability, and how to find a career that is aligned with your values.
After listening to Tony you can expect to walk away with:
Align your values together with your career. Take more risk. How to express vulnerability Staying humble. Building up your self-confidence and multiple more lessons.
So enjoy and please spread the wisdom so more people can benefit.
In this interview, we speak with Charlotte Melkert Co-founder & CEO of EQUALTURE.
This Podcast is titled "Embrace your naiveness and take the risk"
When Charlotte began her journey, she had no idea what she was doing. And through lots of trial and error, she has become the incredible person, startup founder, CEO she is today.
In this conversation, we take a deep dive into growing up in the Netherlands, launching her first company with her twin sister. Shutting one business down to start another.
After listening to her you can expect to walk away with:
• Embrace your naiveness. • Take more risk. • What it means to be a first-time CEO. • Staying humble. and multiple more lessons.
So enjoy and please spread the wisdom so more people can benefit.
In this episode of Founder StorieZ with Ian Ramzy.
Ian is the founder of ZipCall. A startup he founded out of his college dorm room.
He shares the story of how he was able to scale to 100K users, make it to the front of Reddit. Being offered VC money to drop out of college and why he turned them down.
So many incredible lessons in this interview.
Please enjoy and don't forget to subscribe.
Ephraim Yarmak https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Ian Ramzy https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianramzy/
In this episode of Founder StorieZ with Howard Behar, Howard is a renowned business leader, author, speaker.
For 21 years Howard led Starbuck’s business as President of North America, and he became the founding President of Starbucks International opening the very first store outside of North America in Japan. During his tenure, he participated in the growth of the company from only 28 stores to over 15,000 stores spanning five continents. He served on the Starbucks Board of Directors for twelve years before retiring.
He is the author of 2 books; It’s Not About the Coffee: Lessons on Leadership from a Life at Starbucks and The Magic Cup.
In this episode, We go into his life story, how he landed at Starbucks, his time at Starbucks, and all the lessons he's learned along the way.
Please enjoy and don't forget to subscribe.
VIDEO EPISODE: https://youtu.be/oeGXNNTcncc
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Howard Behar: http://www.howardbehar.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-behar-24ba274/
In this interview, we speak with Dennis Mortensen Co-founder & CEO X.ai
Dennis has an incredible story and an entrepreneurship career. He has started, failed, and sold multiple startups.
In this conversation, we go into detail about how he got his start. How he views entrepreneurship, and practical lessons to building a company.
Enjoy!
Dennis Mortensen. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennismor...
Ephraim Yarmak. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimya...
In the interview, we speak with Barend Raaff Founder & CEO Harver.
Barend has a fascinating humble story.
In this interview, we speak about is humble beginnings, his entrepreneurial failures, and success.
What it takes to build a world-class company and what it takes to lead in times of crisis.
On This episode, we have Marty Burger CEO of Silverstein Properties, one of the largest family-held real estate portfolios in the world.
Marty has very humble beginnings, and in our conversation, we discuss his upbringing, how he got started in Real estate, being fired from his job, and his path to CEO.
There are so many great lessons we can learn in this interview I hope you enjoy it.
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/DdodcsoZE7I
How do you navigate in a time of crisis?
Vinay Bhagat has lead his companies through 9/11, 2008 recessions and managed to make it out successful.
In this very honest and candid interview, we speak about his upbringing, parenting tips, and what it takes to build a successful company.
Vinay was previously the founder of Convio. A company he founded in 1999, took public in 2010 and eventually sold it for $325Miliion in 2012.
I do apologize in advance for all the noise, but this is the blessings of being together with family in one home during COVID-19:)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCybjpAry4gIeS0X3TLEpesA/featured
Gordon Smith:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordonksmith/
https://www.biproxi.com/
Ephraim Yarmak
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
In the interview, we speak with Michael Mandel Cofounder & CEO CompStak.
Michael has a fascinating humble story.
In this interview, nothing was left off the table and we discuss how he built his startup, the emotional pains and what it means to build a successful organization.
It was a real treat to interview him I hope you enjoy! Dont forget to subscribe!
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNtwzg64yj8
Michael: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmandel/
Compstak: https://compstak.com/
Ephraim Yarmak: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
In the interview, we speak with L.D Salmanson Cofounder & CEO Cherre.
LD is a serial entrepreneur. He has founded multiple startups, failed and sold a startup to Oppenheimer.
In this candid and honest discussion. We speak about his upbringing, his first business while in Middle school joining the army, the other startups he founded, success and failures, and lessons he would provide to others.
It was a real treat to interview him I hope you enjoy!
Dont forget to subscribe!
LD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ldsalmanson https://twitter.com/SYSTEP
Cherre: https://cherre.com/
Ephraim Yarmak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimya... https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
In the interview, we speak with KP Reddy Founder of Shadow Ventures
https://shadow.vc/
We speak about his humble beginnings. Moving to India at a young age, his first job, startups, investing, and what it takes to build a world-class startup.
Enjoy!
Kp Reddy. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpreddy Twitter: https://twitter.com/reddy_kp
Ephraim Yarmak. LinkedIn: ttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak Twitter: https://twitter.com/ephraimyarmak
In the interview, we speak with Jonathan Wasserstrum Cofounder & CEO SqaureFoot.
SqaureFoot was founded in 2011, 60+ Employees and raised $29M. They are changing the way how companies find and rent office space.
In our conversation, we learn about his journey as a child growing up in Houston, moving to NYC, working at JLL, and starting SquareFoot with his friend and the many lessons he has learned along the way growing his company.
0:00 - 2:00 Welcoming notes
2:01 - 5:12 How does someone become the best hostage negotiator in the world / Volunteered on a suicide hotline / How he began his journey into hostage negotiation / Following through on the advice
5:13 - 7:12 How anyone can learn to become a better negotiator in their daily life / It’s all about building your EQ / Negotiation serves two purposes: 1. information gathering 2. behavioral influencing
7:13 - 8:50 His first hostage negotiator call Sep 30th, 1993 bank robbery
8:51 - 13:20 Tools: Late night DJ FM voice, use it to establish authority & comfort / Mirroring, Repeating the last 3 words that the person said ( Thoughts connector ) / Tactical empathy, Use a label to call out a negative to diminish and establish a trust
13:21 - 15:20 How the FBI created these tools / It was based on the science of results
15:21 - 17:03 How did you stay cool when you had someone's life in your hands / You need to learn the process / Your best chance of success is hearing the other side out
17:04 - 20:05 Begging a negotiation with NO oriented question / Why going for a NO is the answer you want / No makes people feel protected
20:06 - 21:57 Bending someone reality / Prospect Theory / Distorting reality
21:58 - 24:09 In the heat of the negotiation how do we stay present and calm / The negative emotions are what hurts us / By labeling the negatives we can calm ourselves
24:10 - 26:46 Gratitude is a path to success / Life Hacks / Habits and Patterns
26:47 - 28:49 One non-obvious habit that changed his life / 3 new things your grateful each day /
28:50 - 31:31 You want the best deal from both sides / Learning the underlying conversation
31:32 - 35:22 The best answer you can get from someone in a negotiation is to say “ That's Right” / Try to move away from “You’re Right”
35:23 - 39:05 3 Different types of Yes’s 1. Confirmation. 2. Commitment. 3. Counterfeit. / Ask 3 calibrated questions to get the Yes
39:06 - 42:00 How to constantly improve your skills / Practice
42:01 - 45:56 How he got Jack Welch to give a lecture at his class / Always go that NO oriented question
45:57 - 48:29 Why you should not be using the word “WHY” / Why makes someone feel defensive
48:30 - 51:07 The criminal he learned the most from / The person who makes himself less important is most times the most important / Not using pronouns
51:08 - 52:25 How to spot a liar / The Pinocchio effect
52:26 - 54:45 Project 120
54:57 - 56:13 What he is currently reading: Joe Dezpenza: Becoming supernatural, You're the placebo
56:14 - 57:36 Books he recommends to read: 1. The rise of superhuman, 2. The talent code. 3. Barking up the wrong tree
57:37 - 1:00.8 Tuesday morning Blogspot sign up TEXT: 22828 “fbiempathy”
1:00.9 - 1:01.20 What message would he tell his younger self
1:01.23 - 1:02.10 Message for everyone to implement
1:.02:11 - 1:03.12 Closing notes
Fabrice Grinda has been rated #1 angel investor in the world by Forbes.
He has invested in more than 400 startups and 150+ exits. He has invested in the likes of Alibaba, Airbnb, Uber, Palantir & many more.
Before starting FJ Labs, he started and sold multiple companies including Zingy, OLX.
There are so many great takeaways from this interview and lessons we can learn. We get into his beginning days, the companies he founded, his failures, successes and much more, Enjoy!
Arvind is a lamplighter. A Lamplighter is someone that goes around and ignites the spark in others. He has a phenomenal story. We learn about him and his journey. There so many gems in this discussion. Enjoy
In this interview, we speak with Suresh Shanmugham Managing partner @ Saama Capital
Prashanth has a great story. He has been in the VC business since 1994 and has seen a lot.
In this interview, you will learn about the venture business and how far it has come since 1994. Suresh, shares incredible lessons on entrepreneurship, what he looks for in a startup and what he's learned from 1994.
Enjoy
0:00 - 1:45 Welcoming notes.
1:46 - 6:50 Where he's from / What his upbringing like / Lived in 15 different cities /the First job at Microsoft / MBA at Stanford / Traveling creates open-mindedness.
6:51 - 10:34 Where did he passion for entrepreneurship come from / How he made it to Silicon Valley / He found himself taking classes on entrepreneurship / Being an apprentice to Marc Andreessen / Went to FaceBook ski cabin in Tahoe in the 2nd year of existence.
10:35 - 16:46 The final push that got him to start his startup / First startup he worked for / Leaving to start his own company / Company Failure / Second venture / Sold to Paypal.
16:47 - 22:30 Emotional resilience / How to build up your self-confidence and personal arsenal / Always push the boundaries / Startups are very unpredictable.
22:31 - 23:41 Falling down.
23:42 - 28:20 The lessons he learned from his first failure / Have a clear mission and rally people towards the mission.
28:22 - 31:17 Hard times / Overcoming hard times.
31:18 - 34:51 How can you become a better leader / Learning mindset / Humility and put your ego aside / You need to become an enabler.
34:55 - 40:10 Culture.
40:13 - 42:18 His mentors.
42:19 - 44:29 What message would you tell your younger self.
44:30 - 47:11 Mistakes entrepreneurs should avoid making.
47:12 - 48:07 Closing notes.