Lia Cromwell (UpWest): What VCs Really Think After Your Pitch

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. 📌 Subscribe for more founder and investor stories 📌 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 outperformHow self-awareness directly impacts company performanceWhat great boards and investors actually look likeWhy success breeds danger if it leads to complacencyThe future of autonomous software engineeringHow to stay humble while building something massiveThis 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 youngThe emotional moment he finally felt financially secureWhy are many serial entrepreneurs driven by unresolved childhood scarcityWhy the venture industry has lost its disciplineWhat “original venture capital” actually looks likeWhy founders must choose their customersThe 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 StrategyA 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 creationWhat it takes to win deals against top-tier firmsHow personal growth makes better investorsWhy Vine leads every deal, and what that means for foundersThe role of spirituality, authenticity, and community in venture capitalLessons 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 independenceHow personal pain became the fuel for purposeWhat it took to survive multiple failed product launchesThe breakthrough moment that changed everythingHealth, fatherhood, legacy—and why he tracks everythingThe truth about billion-dollar startups and staying groundedThis 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