Founder Storiez

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

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🔗 CONNECT WITH  Edward Kholodenko

💻 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. 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!

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: 

1. Balance: Balancing professional ambitions with personal growth is crucial for long-term success and happiness. 

2. Transition: Aaron's journey from venture capital to becoming a startup founder offers valuable insights into career transitions. 

3. Spirituality: The role of spirituality and personal values can help maintain balance and focus in both personal and professional life. 

4. Loneliness: Strategies for overcoming loneliness and maintaining mental health are vital for entrepreneurs. 

5. Leadership: Aaron's unique approach to leadership and team building can inspire others to lead with empathy and authenticity.

 6. Persistence: Overcoming challenges and staying true to one's values can lead to personal and professional growth.

Watch this interview on You Tube 

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🔗 CONNECT WITH Aaron Rosenson 

👥 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. 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 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 

👥 LinkedIn

💻 Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM

👥 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. 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!

Conversation with Roy Rubin, VC @ R-Squared Ventures. Founder @ Magento acquired by Ebay. 

🔗 CONNECT WITH Roy Rubin 

👥 LinkedIn

🐦 Twitter

💻 Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM

👥 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. 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!

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 

👥 LinkedIn

🐦 Twitter

💻 Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM

👥 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. 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!

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 

👥 Linkedin

💻 Website: 

🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM

👥 Linkedin

🐦  Twitter

🎥 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 [email protected]. Thank you for considering!

Conversation with Amiram Shachar CEO Upwind Security. 

🎥 Video of the conversation 

🔗 CONNECT WITH Amiram 

👥 LinkedIn

💻 Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM

👥 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. 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!

Conversation with Ami Daniel CEO Windward

🔗 CONNECT WITH DANIEL

👥 LinkedIn

💻 Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM

👥 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. 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!

Conversation with Daniel Frankenstein GP Joule Ventures 

🔗 CONNECT WITH DANIEL

👥 LinkedIn

💻 Website

🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM

👥 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. 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!

This conversation is with Steve Kaufer,  Founder TripAdvisor and Give Freely. 

🔗 CONNECT WITH STEVE 

LinkedIn

GIVEFREELY 

🔗 CONNECT WITH EPHRAIM

👥 Linkedin

🐦  Twitter

🎥 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 [email protected]. Thank you for considering!