Every spring, Jewish families around the world sit down for their Passover seders. A highlight of the event is the reading of the Four Questions. Amid recent challenges, including the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas massacre and economic uncertainty marked by rising inflation and interest rates, there are signs of optimism in Israel’s high-tech sector. We reached out to leaders in this industry, asking them our own four questions, allowing them to reflect on their challenges, solutions, successes and dreams. Here are their answers:
Challenges
In the past year, what recent challenge have you faced in your industry and how did you overcome them?
Of course, 2023 was a difficult year for many Israelis. For the founders—the personal front, the company front, the employee front—there was so much to manage as the country rocked through such a painful, unprecedented time. Although I now live in the Bay Area, my heart (family, friends and founders) is forever in Israel.
Beyond that, and on a macro level, we’ve seen a lot of ups and downs in the market over the past year. More than ever, startups today need to operate efficiently and at the same time continue to grow rapidly. As an investor, a recent challenge has been balancing the “gold rush” with artificial intelligence (AI) or security that makes everything look amazing, and then being able to invest in the right companies that can build for the long term.
Notable Capital invests in founders who pursue large markets in a differentiated way. Companies may start slow or hit a rough patch, but strong founders are able to adapt and iterate quickly. Our job as investors is to use our experience and understanding of the macro landscape to work with founders so they can navigate the inevitable changes and take advantage of the key moments for growth.
Solutions
Looking back, which decision do you think was the best for your career or business and why?
Earlier in my career as a security professional and then as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) in Israel, I was focused on technology and not necessarily how different parts of a company work together. With each professional and academic stop, I learned to appreciate the business results of technology, not just the beauty of the machine itself. This is very similar to how we support companies at Notable. The best technology does not always win; nothing is guaranteed or trivial. This training contributes to my decision making in a venture. Instead of looking at just one piece, I now think about how things fit together and how they affect the bottom line and overall success of the business. An example of this is the creation of SVCI (Silicon Valley CISO Investments), a group of CISO angel investors, which represents a different kind of VC model that promotes technology adoption, comprehensive understanding of business and technology, and faster growth – win – win for all .
Good luck
What achievement or success are you most proud of and what lessons did you learn from it?
I am most proud of my consistent ability to take a leap of faith. Investing in early-stage startups has more unknowns than knowns. In the early innings, there are multiple reasons for a business to fail, and even companies like Amazon could fail multiple times. It’s easy to dismiss an idea in its early stages, but identifying what can make it special and successful takes courage. I am proud to have been on the side of the founders of “my” portfolio from the early days and to see their bold ideas develop.
Dreams
As you look ahead, what are your aspirations or goals for yourself or your organization in the coming year?
As the newest Managing Partner at Notable Capital, I look forward to the team continuing to live up to our two-decade legacy and exceed the expectations our investors have for us. Personally, Passover is a time of spring and renewal, but for me, every day is always “day one.” I want to continue to be a trusted partner for our portfolio, acting as a reference board and someone they know to have their back. More generally, I hope to be the first call from founders, whether it’s from previous engagements with me or my reputation in the industry.
Enterprise is a long-term game, and founders are often in the trenches for many years. When choosing a venture partner, it’s a huge vote of confidence that someone is making with their idea, livelihood and dreams. Every time it happens – I take this vote of confidence extremely seriously.
