Founder Storiez

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: - What VCs really look for in founders - Closing a major deal as a brand-new mom - Why "trust your gut" is the hardest lesson in investing - Balancing startup life and family - Hiring for EQ over IQ Guest: Erica Brescia (Redpoint Ventures, ex-GitHub, Bitnami) Follow the show and subscribe for new episodes every week.

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/

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.

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 Notes00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:35 Morgan's Career Challenges: Overcoming rowing setbacks that shaped his approach to failure01:52 Jordan's Career Pivot: Transitioning from engineering to business consulting02:52 James' Childhood Influences: Early lessons in communication and resilience05:01 Friendship in Competition: Balancing relationships while competing for the same deals08:23 Founder Evaluation: What makes a great founder? Grit, market fit, and relentless drive13:46 Dealing with Failure: Staying motivated in a high-rejection industry16:59 Deal Hunt Stories: The lengths they've gone to win competitive deals21:11 Market Trends: Current investment climate and future predictions22:18 Israel's Startup Scene: Future exits and opportunities23:11 VC Challenges: The hardest aspects of the job24:53 Fund Creation: Insights on starting a new venture fund27:26 Work-Life Balance: Managing personal and professional boundaries31:10 Mentor Relationships: The importance of non-transactional connections39:34 Advice for Aspirants: How to break into venture capital43:36 Closing Thoughts: Final reflections on the VC journeyLinks: • Morgan Gerlak• Jordan Segall• James Green

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.

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 approachThe evolution of Blumberg Capital and key investment strategiesWisdom gained from mentors like Sir Jacob RothschildBuilding meaningful relationships with entrepreneursBalancing business success with family values and philanthropyEpisode 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 ThoughtsListen 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 LinkedInConnect with Ephraim LinkedIn

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 LinkedInShine Capital Connect with Ephraim: TwitterLinkedIn 📢 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:- 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 LinkedInTwitter Work_benchBlogTwitter 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 ey@bria.fund Thank you for considering!