Inside the VC Game: Conversations with Rising Stars Morgan Gerlak TCV, Jordan Segall Redpoint Ventures, James Green CRV
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
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Funding Announcement: Anecdotes on Series B Funding, Leadership & Growth | Yair Kuznitsov
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 decisionsDisrupting the GRC market with innovative solutionsTransitioning from technical expert to CEOBuilding trust and learning from competitionManaging stakeholder expectationsPersonal growth and maintaining resilienceBalancing 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.
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I Was on the Verge of Death Twice - Tomer Tagrin Cancer Battle & Yotpo Success
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.
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How Orca Security became a $1B+ Cloud Security Company | Gil Geron CEO Orca
"The biggest risk isn't failing—it's not pushing yourself far enough." — Gil, CEO of Orca SecurityIn 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 fundingHow he evaluates which boundaries to push (and which to respect)Practical strategies for making high-stakes decisions under pressureThe reality of balancing intense CEO responsibilities with family commitmentsImplementing AI solutions that deliver genuine customer valueWhether 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.
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Building with Heart: Life Lessons from Venture Capitalist Bruce Taragin Blumberg Capital
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
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.
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