Founder Storiez

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.

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 

LinkedIn

Connect with Ephraim 

LinkedIn
 

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:

- Immigrant journey and early challenges in America

- The genesis and growth of Security Scorecard

- Leadership lessons and building company culture

- Innovation strategies in cybersecurity

- Balancing personal growth with business success

- 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 [email protected] 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: 

Twitter 

LinkedIn

Shine Capital

Connect with Ephraim: 

Twitter

LinkedIn

📢 SPONSORSHIP Interested in sponsoring the show? Email Ephraim at [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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:

- How Workbench recognized NYC's unique position as an enterprise tech hub

- The power of diverse industries in shaping innovation

- Why gratitude and kindness are competitive advantages in VC

- Building a firm that reflects personal values while delivering returns

- How NYC's diverse industry landscape creates unique opportunities for enterprise tech

- The role of personal values in shaping institutional success

- Why relationship-building trumps transactional networking

- 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 

LinkedIn

Twitter 

Work_bench

Blog

Twitter 

Connect with Ephraim 

LinkedIn 

🙏 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 [email protected] 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

- 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 [email protected] 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: 

1. Alon's Journey: Learn how Alon sold his first company, Insight, for $350 million and why he started PointFive. 

2. Making an Impact: Why it's important to do more than just make money in business. 

3. Family Life: How Alon balances work with family and teaches his kids about money and helping others. 

4. Business Lessons: Tips on hiring good people, working with investors, and building a successful company. 

5. Moving to America: Alon's experience moving to the U.S. for his business. 

6. Overcoming Challenges: Dealing with doubts and difficulties in his work. 

7. 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 [email protected] 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

👥 LinkedIn

💻 Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH Ephraim Yarmak 

👥 LinkedIn

🐦 Twitter

💻 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 [email protected] Thank you for considering!