Invested by Aleph

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Mati Gill, CEO of AION Labs, on Funding Life-Saving Startups, Lessons From Working at Teva Pharmaceuticals in Crisis & Life After Getting Shot

2025-09-1001:03:33

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Mati Gill, CEO of AION Labs, Israel’s first global biotech venture studio. Backed by Pfizer, Merck KGaA, AstraZeneca, Teva, and AWS, AION Labs pioneers a new model for company creation: uniting pharma giants, tech leaders, and investors to collaboratively build AI-first startups in drug discovery and development. Instead of the typical biotech trajectory—where most startups fail—AION ensures founders start with the right problem, data, talent, guidance, and backing from day one. Mati brings a rare blend of experiences across pharma, government, and security. Before AION, he was a senior executive at Teva Pharmaceuticals, leading global public policy and advising the CEO during major restructuring. Earlier, he served as Chief of Staff at Israel’s Ministry of Public Security, and as an IDF reserve officer he coordinated international operations with UN peacekeepers. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS 01:13 Early Life in Ohio and Moving to Israel 04:55 Military Service and Law School: Path to Public Service 06:43 Teva’s Origins and Growth into a Global Leader 11:24 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Teva’s Challenges 13:59 Leaving Teva and Founding AION Labs 14:12 What AION Labs is and Why the Name Matters 18:10 Merck, Teva, AWS, and VC Partners Joining AION 20:22 DenovAI and Antibody Discovery 23:08 Accelerating Drug Development with AI and Pharma Partners 24:43 AI in Gene Editing and the Baby KJ Case 27:39 Why Biology Expertise Must Balance AI 34:01 From Doubt to Investment: DenovAI’s Validation 36:59 Government Support and the Israel Innovation Authority 39:33 Which Startup Could Be AION’s First Mega Hit? 40:17 Core Values: Israel, Family, and Mission 44:21 Why Most Drugs Fail and How AI Can Help 45:59 Enhancement vs. Health: The Ethics of Gene Editing 48:18 Theranos, Transparency, and Governance Lessons 51:25 The One Disease to Cure: Alzheimer’s 55:41 What Teva Taught Mati About Scale and Missed Opportunities 57:01 Being Shot Near Gaza and Lessons from Survival 01:02:05 Public Service: Always on Loan to Israel 01:02:45 Will AI Cure Cancer? RESOURCES Follow Mati on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matigill Follow Mati on X - https://x.com/matigill Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Myron Shneider Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Nir Zohar on His Evolution from Wix Coffee Maker to COO, Why the Wix Management Team Has Offsites in the Water, the Super Bowl Ad that Changed Everything and Why Wix Bought Base44–”One Guy”–for $80 Million

2025-08-2701:26:49

On this episode of Invested, Michael sits down with Nir Zohar, President and former COO of Wix.com, who helped transform the company from a scrappy Tel Aviv startup into a global platform serving hundreds of millions. A former naval officer and Chief Engineer on a missile boat, Nir reflects on how military discipline and his years leading the Israeli Scouts shaped his philosophy that management is service, not status. He recounts pivotal moments in Wix’s journey—from the risky Super Bowl campaign to the bet-the-company decision to rebuild on HTML5—and the creation of Wix’s “companies and guilds” structure to empower teams at scale. Nir also discusses leading through crises, from evacuating hundreds of Ukrainian employees during the war to navigating Israel’s upheavals, and why he believes resilience, empowerment, and values-driven leadership are the keys to building enduring companies. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS 00:00 – Intro 02:17 – Wix’s $10M Super Bowl Gamble 08:52 – Reinventing Retired NFL Legends 13:28 – Being in the Navy Taught Nir to Run a Startup 16:02 – Business Lessons from the Scouts 18:55 – Why Management Should be Service, Not Status 21:43 – Wix Strategy Offsites in the Water 27:25 – Why Wix Employees Bought Their Own Chairs 30:38 – Betting Wix on HTML5 39:41 – The Breakfast That Sparked Wix's IPO 46:18 – How Wix's Leadership Team Stayed Together for 18 Years 50:24 – Why Going Public Gave Wix More Control, Not Less 53:08 – Hiring a Chief Politeness Officer to Say "No" 55:57 – The $80M Bet on Base44 and Vibe Coding 01:02:31 – Cutting Off Russia While Protecting Small Businesses 01:03:33 – Chartering Planes and Building a Kibbutz in Krakow 01:12:22 – How to Lead a Company Through War 01:18:47 – Why Wix Runs on "Companies and Guilds" 01:25:10 – AI Inside Wix: Productivity, Process, and Team Flow 01:26:14 – Why Nir Is Bullish on Small Business in the AI Era RESOURCES Follow Nir on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nirzo Follow Nir on X - https://x.com/nirzo Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Myron Shneider Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Gigi Levy-Weiss on How the Israeli Air Force is the Best Model for Running a Company, How Playtika Exploded Overnight by Accident, the Uncomfortable Truths About Working in Gambling, and the Coolest Companies in the NFX Portfolio

2025-08-1301:22:12

On this episode of Invested, Michael sits down with Gigi Levy-Weiss, a former Israeli attack helicopter pilot turned entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of the seed fund NFX. Gigi reflects on his journey from combat missions to leading companies like 888 and Playtika, highlighting lessons in leadership, military-style debrief culture, and the value of “good failures.” He shares his founder-first philosophy as a VC, his cautious stance on replacing CEOs, and his thoughts on the ethical complexities of tech - from online gambling to AI. Amid Israel’s political and security upheavals, Gigi also discusses civic responsibility and the vital role of grassroots leadership. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS 00:00 – Intro 02:00 – Why My Name is Gigi: A Personal and National Story 03:10 – From Helicopter Pilot to CEO: Gigi’s Unconventional Career Path 05:05 – The Israeli Air Force Method of Failure 09:30 – Teaching Civilian Teams to Debrief Like Fighter Pilots 11:45 – How to Build a Culture That Embraces (Good) Failure 14:25 – Celebrating Failure at Playtika 16:50 – Experience vs. Fresh Eyes: Who Should Lead After Failure? 20:10 – Why Gigi Rarely Replaces Founders, Even When They Fail 23:59 – Gigi Selling His First Company and Learning What Not to Do 26:45 – 888 and the Crash: From Private Jet Dreams to Crisis Mode 35:30 – Gigi’s Biggest Lessons from Running 888 38:55 – Hire for Talent Over Experience 40:00 – Building Playtika and Accidentally Creating Slotomania 46:50 – Wrestling with the Ethics of Online Gambling 52:20 – Facebook, Games, and Losing Faith in Tech’s “Goodness” 54:10 – If Gigi Were the AI Ethics Czar, He Would… 56:00 – The AGI Arms Race and the Collapse of Trust in Truth 59:20 – Are the Ultra-Orthodox Ahead or Behind? 01:01:00 – Founding NFX: From Angel Investor to Seed VC 01:06:00 – The Startups Gigi is Most Proud of 01:08:50 – Building Line Five: A Response to October 7th 01:10:55 – Why Gigi Took a Public Role in the Judicial Reform Protests 01:13:30 – Israel’s Founders Agreement Problem 01:16:30 – October 7th and the Rise of Civilian Emergency Networks 01:19:25 – Feature or Bug? When Citizens Replace Government 01:20:10 – The Next Generation of VCs That Give Gigi Hope 01:21:53 – Reflections on Responsibility, Legacy, and Leadership RESOURCES Follow Gigi on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gigilevy/ Follow Gigi on X - https://x.com/gigilevy Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Myron Shneider Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Fiverr CEO Micha Kaufman on How a Story in CNBC Beat Fiverr’s $8M Super Bowl Ad, the Right Way to Go Public, How Your Boss isn’t Responsible for Your Career, Why Freelancers Move Faster Than Employees, and How AI is Raising the Floor–not the Ceiling

2025-07-3001:25:40

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Micha Kaufman, the founder and CEO of Fiverr - the global freelance marketplace that helped define the gig economy. Since launching the platform in 2010, Micha has led Fiverr from a scrappy, bootstrapped startup into a publicly traded company offering millions of services across hundreds of categories. Before that, he built three other companies and began his career as an intellectual property lawyer, where he was involved in drafting what he describes as Google’s first patent in Israel. A vocal advocate for self-reliance in the age of AI, Micha believes freelancers are better equipped than corporate employees to adapt, automate, and thrive. He recently led Israel’s high-tech delegation to Auschwitz, a personal and national mission to preserve memory and meaning for the next generation. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS 00:05:40 Why Fiverr Launched With a $5 Price Tag00:09:28 The Things You Can Do for Five Bucks00:17:42 The Infamous Four Seasons Debacle00:24:20 AI and the End of Low-Skill Tasks00:27:54 Freelancers Upskill Faster Than Employees00:33:30 You’re Responsible for Your Career Growth, Not Your Boss00:49:14 Automate Yourself, Then Create More Value00:58:00 Fiverr’s Mission in an AI-Driven Future01:04:32 Going Public: Lessons and Regrets01:16:17 Why Micha led a High-Tech Delegation to Auschwitz RESOURCES Follow Micha on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michakaufman/ Follow Micha on X - https://x.com/michakaufman Subscribe to Invested here: ⁠https://content.aleph.vc/invested⁠ Learn more about Aleph:⁠ aleph.vc⁠ Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter:⁠ ⁠⁠https://newsletter.aleph.vc/⁠ Subscribe to our YouTube channel:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/⁠ Follow Michael on Twitter:⁠ twitter.com/mikeeisenberg⁠ Follow Michael on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/⁠ Follow Aleph on Twitter:⁠ https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg⁠ ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/⁠ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/⁠ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Myron Shneider Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

From DNA to Star Trek: Samuel Arbesman on Reconciling Science with Tradition, Building Personalized “Sims” for Your Body, and What it Means to be a Scientist in VC

2025-07-1601:12:54

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Samuel Arbesman, the Scientist in Residence at Lux Capital. In addition, he is an xLab senior fellow at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and a research fellow at the Long Now Foundation. He is the author of The Magic of Code, Overcomplicated, and The Half-Life of Facts, and his writing has appeared in such places as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and Wired, where he was previously a contributing writer. He lives in Cleveland with his family. The first computer he used was a Commodore VIC-20. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS 00:00:00 The Intersection of AI and Creativity 00:03:11 What it Means to Be a Scientist in VC 00:05:55 The Frontier of Computation and Biology 00:08:51 Biology as a New Computing Paradigm 00:11:45 The Future of Personalized Simulations 00:15:10 Applying Complexity Science 00:17:49 Sci-Fi Ideas in Biotechnology 00:21:07 Ethics of Biohacking and Human Enhancement 00:24:14 Humility and Personal Values in Science 00:36:57 Embracing Uncertainty in Knowledge 00:39:20 The Power of Incremental Progress 00:40:38 Learning from History and Tradition 00:43:59 Reconciling Science with Tradition 00:46:01 The Role of Community in Modern Life 00:48:41 Individualism vs. Community in Tech 00:50:06 Cultural Foundations in Tech Development 00:57:09 AI: Evolution or Revolution? 01:03:06 Finding Meaning in a Post-Scarcity World RESOURCES Follow Samuel on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arbesman/ Follow Samuel on X - https://x.com/arbesman Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Myron Shneider, Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Dream Founders Shalev Hulio and Sebastian Kurz on How Dream Became the World’s Fastest-Growing Cyber Startup Within 18 Months, Building the First AI Native Cybersecurity Company, and Whether it’s Possible to Ethically Use Offensive Cyber

2025-07-0201:26:28

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts two of the co-founders of Dream, Shalev Hulio and Sebastian Kurz. Sebastian Kurz is a former Austrian politician who served as Chancellor of Austria from 2017 to 2019, and again from 2020 to 2021. A member of the Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), he began his political career in the party's youth wing, rising to prominence as State Secretary for Integration (2011–2013) and Foreign Minister (2013–2017). Kurz led the ÖVP to victory in the 2017 election, becoming one of the world's youngest heads of government at age 31. Since leaving politics, Kurz has worked as a global strategist and entrepreneur. Shalev Hulio is a serial entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert. He co-founded NSO Group in 2010, serving as CEO until August 2022, where he oversaw the development of Pegasus, a controversial spyware used by governments to track criminal and terrorist activity. Prior to NSO, Hulio co-founded several tech ventures, including CommuniTake and Kaymera Technologies. Together with Gil Dolev, Sebastian and Shalev founded Dream Security in January 2023, which specializes in AI-powered cyber defense. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS 00:00:00 The Unexpected Birth Story of Dream 00:05:50 From Politics to Tech Entrepreneurship 00:11:48 Cybersecurity: From Offense to Defense 00:14:35 Why AI Matters in Cybersecurity 00:17:32 Cyber Attacks and National Security 00:20:55 NSO & Building Trust in High-Stakes Environments 00:23:54 The Future of Cybersecurity and Ethics 00:26:53 Investing in Times of Crisis 00:29:34 Cybersecurity and Geopolitical Tensions 00:32:59 Dream’s Vision and Market Strategy 00:35:42 Cybersecurity: Challenges and Opportunities 00:44:48 The Importance of Leadership 00:56:29 The Birth of Dream 01:02:01 Cybersecurity as a National Threat 01:06:23 The Changing Landscape of Defense Spending 01:10:32 The Growth of Dream 01:12:01 Navigating Ethical Boundaries in Cybersecurity RESOURCES Follow Sebastian on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-kurz/ Follow Shalev on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalevholy/ Follow Sebastian on X - https://x.com/sebastiankurz Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer, Myron Shneider Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Israel Vs. Iran War: Special Episode of Invested

2025-06-1812:32

In this deeply personal episode, Michael Eisenberg pauses the usual cadence of Invested to deliver a powerful message about the unfolding war between Israel and Iran. Five days into a conflict triggered by Iran’s escalating aggression, Michael shares an unfiltered account of the situation on the ground, from nightly missile attacks targeting civilians to Israel’s unprecedented precision response across 2,000 kilometers. He explains the motivations behind Israel’s military strategy, the human toll on Israeli families, and the indomitable resilience of a nation innovating under fire–including the story of Shalev Hulio, the CEO of Dream and IDF reservist, who is currently saving lives by day and taking customer calls at night. This episode is more than a wartime update. It’s a call to understand the moral clarity of the moment, the sacrifices being made, and the profound implications for the future of Israel, Iran, and the broader Middle East. Listen for a rare, intimate window into a pivotal moment in history–and what it means for the world. Listen and subscribe to Invested: https://content.aleph.vc/invested RESOURCES Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Ex-Fiverr Chief Business Officer Gali Arnon on the Strategy That Turned Fiverr From the Cheap Services Brand into the World’s Top Talent Marketplace, How the Role of the CMO Has Changed, and Making Your Mother-in-Law Proud

2025-06-0456:541

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Gali Arnon, former Chief Business Officer at Fiverr, the global freelance marketplace that connects businesses with independent talent. Gali joined Fiverr in 2017 as Chief Marketing Officer, helping lead the company’s transformation into a globally recognized brand and guiding its growth through a successful IPO. She later served as Chief Business Officer, overseeing Fiverr’s core marketplace operations and strategic business initiatives. Prior to Fiverr, Gali held executive roles at Brightcom, an ad tech company, where she served as CEO, and at 888 Holdings, where she led multiple departments and business units and served as VP of Professional Services. She began her career at Wall Street Institute Israel, eventually becoming its CEO. Gali holds a BA in Communication and Psychology and an MBA, both from Tel Aviv University, and is a longtime advocate for women in tech and leadership. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] The Evolving Role of the CMO [00:03:05] Core Values and Personal Journey [00:05:58] Gali’s Competitive Drive and Leadership Style [00:09:03] Fiverr Rebranding from $5 Services [00:12:02] How AI Is Shaping Freelancing and Work [00:15:08] Women in Tech and AI Adoption [00:17:58] The Future of Work: Humans vs. AI [00:21:08] Embracing Change in the Age of AI [00:25:50] AI FOMO and Information Overload [00:28:00] Choosing Between AI and Human Services [00:35:07] Branding as a CMO in a Changing World [00:38:59] Emotional Branding in the AI Era [00:46:55] Brand Lessons from Fiverr’s Journey [00:51:02] Personal Values and Branding Responsibility RESOURCES Follow Gali on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gali-arnon/ Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer, Myron Shneider Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

StarkWare Co-Founder Eli Ben-Sasson on the Future of Blockchain, Zero Knowledge (ZK) Proofs and How They “Solve Integrity” and Why We No Longer Have to Trust the Banks or Government

2025-05-2101:08:20

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Eli Ben-Sasson, a co-founder and CEO of StarkWare, and Chairman of its Board of Directors. StarkWare is a Sequoia-backed startup whose latest fundraise was at a $8b valuation. StarkWare specializes in the productization of zero knowledge proofs via Starknet, a permissionless blockchain that scales both Ethereum and Bitcoin. Eli has been researching cryptographic and zero knowledge proofs of computational integrity ever since he received his Phd in Theoretical Computer Science from the Hebrew University in 2001. Eli is a co-inventor of the STARK, FRI and Zerocash protocols and a Founding Scientist of the Zcash Company. Over the years he held research positions at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, Harvard and MIT, and, most recently, was a Professor of CS at Technion, which he left to co-found StarkWare. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] The Core Innovation of Blockchain [00:02:59] What Starkware Is and Why It Matters [00:05:59] Zero-Knowledge Proofs Made Simple [00:09:09] Building Trust and Integrity in Blockchain [00:11:51] Foundational Principles of Blockchain [00:15:02] Why Decentralization Matters [00:17:52] From Academia to Blockchain [00:21:09] Blockchain and the Future of Finance [00:23:50] Barriers to Blockchain Adoption [00:26:56] Israel’s Contribution to Cryptography [00:30:08] Blockchain and the Future of Governance [00:36:33] Rethinking Banking with Blockchain [00:40:05] What’s Broken in Financial Systems [00:42:13] Trust and Integrity in Transactions [00:47:51] Making Sense of the Crypto Cycle [00:51:05] Trust, Integrity, and What’s Next [00:54:36] Why Math Will Always Matter [01:01:27] Personal Reflections and Takeaways RESOURCES Follow Eli on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-ben-sasson Follow Eli on X - https://x.com/EliBenSasson Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer + Myron Shneider Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Katie Stanton on What You Never Heard About Obama, Operating Vs. Investing, Behind the Scenes at Twitter, Yahoo! and Google, and Using Your Network to Get Ahead

2025-05-0701:18:46

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Katie Stanton, the Founder and General Partner of Moxxie Ventures, which is an early-stage venture fund. Prior to Moxxie, Katie served in numerous executive operating roles at Twitter, Google, Yahoo, and Color. In addition to working in Silicon Valley, Katie served in the (Obama) White House and State Department and began her career as a banker at JP Morgan Chase. Katie sits on the Board of Vivendi, a French multinational media company headquartered in Paris, and previously served on the Board of Time Inc. Katie started her venture career as a Founding Partner of #Angels and has invested in over 100 early-stage companies including Airtable, Calm, Cameo, Carta, Coinbase, Literati, Modern Fertility, and Shape Security. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:02:57] The Value of Service [00:06:01] Moving from Private to Public Sector [00:09:06] Getting into Tech and Innovation [00:11:52] Inside the Obama White House [00:14:59] Challenges of Government Work [00:18:09] Twitter and Social Media Dynamics [00:20:54] Trust and Safety on Social Platforms [00:23:59] Future of Social Media and Community [00:40:48] Today’s Role of Media Companies [00:45:33] Trust and Mistrust in the Media [00:49:07] How Media Shapes Society’s Future [00:50:23] From Operator to Investor [00:54:00] Why Katie Started Moxxie [00:57:06] Facing Challenges in Venture Capital [01:01:21] How AI Will Change Healthcare [01:06:32] Health Tech and Regulatory Hurdles [01:11:08] Reflections on Life and Loss RESOURCES Follow Katie on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestanton/ Follow Katie on X - https://x.com/katies Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Benchmark GP Sarah Tavel on What She Learned at Bessemer, Greylock, Pinterest and Benchmark, Being an Operator vs. an Investor, and How to Create an AI Moat

2025-04-2301:13:12

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Sarah Tavel. Sarah is a General Partner at Benchmark, where she invests in network effect businesses and applications leveraging AI. Sarah currently sits on the boards of Agentio, Chainalysis, Hipcamp, Rekki, Glide, Cambly, Medely, and 11x. She is also a founding member of All Raise, the nonprofit organization working to accelerate the success of women in the venture capital and VC-backed startup ecosystem. Prior to Benchmark, Sarah was a General Partner at Greylock Partners, where she led their investment in Sonder ($SOND) and Gixo (acquired by Openfit), and represented Greylock on the board of both companies. Sarah joined Pinterest in 2012 after co-leading the Series A investment while at Bessemer Venture Partners. There she was the product lead for search, recommendations, machine vision, and pin quality at Pinterest. As one of the first 35 employees, her first order of business was to launch Pinterest internationally and close the Series C financing. She also led three acquisitions as she helped the company scale through a period of hyper-growth. Sarah graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Philosophy. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:04:45] Differences Between Bessemer and Benchmark [00:09:11] Silicon Valley: Upside Mentality vs. Downside Protection [00:11:55] Underestimating Market Potential [00:14:53] Using AI to Reduce Friction and Unlock Market Size [00:18:02] Operator vs. Investor Mindset [00:21:05] Lessons from Building Pinterest [00:24:04] Transitioning from Operator to Investor [00:26:50] Female Partners and Their Perspective in VC [00:29:58] Equal Partnership Culture at Benchmark [00:37:00] Every Company is an AI Company [00:41:59] AI’s Economic Value and Market Shifts [00:51:00] What Sarah Wants to See an AI Company Build [00:55:04] Competing and Winning in Crowded Markets [01:01:12] Branding’s Role in Venture Capital [01:09:10] Identity, Growth, and Personal Reflections RESOURCES Follow Sarah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahtavel/ Follow Sarah on X - https://x.com/sarahtavel Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Omri Casspi on Life After the NBA as a Venture Capitalist, Bringing Elon Musk to Israel, Sports Philosophy in Investing, Getting Founders to Trust Him, and the Story He Never Told Anyone | Invested

2025-04-0201:05:49

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Omri Casspi. Omri was a trailblazing Israeli professional basketball player, becoming the first Israeli-born athlete to play in the NBA. He enjoyed a 11-year career in the league, playing for teams including the Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors—where he won an NBA championship in 2018—and Memphis Grizzlies, among others. After retiring Omri immediately transitioned into venture capital, co-founding Sheva in 2022 with $36 million to invest in early-stage startups, followed by Swish Ventures in 2024, raising $60 million to focus on cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and AI. Managing $200 million in assets, he backs standout companies like Upwind, Eon, and many others. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:01:10] On Being the First Israeli NBA Player [00:03:30] Why Trailblazers Inspire Other People [00:09:02] Sports Experience Helps Omri Support Founders [00:11:15] Omri’s Pursuit of Excellence [00:14:51] Investing in Ohio Real Estate [00:19:10] Preparing for the Future [00:20:38] The Team Omri Wanted to Play For [00:22:20] Dealing With Setbacks [00:26:27] Omri’s Venture Fund & Understanding Investing [00:31:24] Founder Hesitations to Omri as an Investor [00:36:13] Different Investing Styles in VC [00:38:50] Why Do Israeli Startups Fail? [00:43:14] Omri’s Favorite Investors and Funds [00:45:02] Growing Jewish Identity in the U.S. [00:48:50] Omri’s Parenting Style [00:50:15] Admiring This Generation of Israelis [00:52:27] Bringing Elon Musk to Israel [00:54:46] Antisemitism in the NBA [00:55:27] Living in the Public Eye and Starting a Podcast [00:59:00] Parenting Children as a High-Achiever [01:01:35] Closing Questions RESOURCES Follow Omri on LinkedIn Follow Omri on X Subscribe to Invested Learn more about Aleph Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on LinkedIn Follow Aleph on Twitter ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Amir Shevat on Growing Developer Relations at Google, Microsoft, Slack, Twitch and Twitter; the Future of Engineering; Getting Fired Overnight by Elon Musk & Publicly Calling Him Out

2025-03-1901:01:39

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Amir Shevat. Amir is a General Partner at Darkmode Ventures, investing in early stage startups. Before joining the dark side, Amir held executive roles at Microsoft, Google, Slack, Amazon, and Twitter. Amir is the author of Designing Bot, and Building Web API both published with O'Reilly media. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:04:30] What MSFT Didn’t Get About Developers [00:07:40] Building Good Products & Dev Communities [00:12:00] Which DevRel Job Do You Wish You Had? [00:14:45] How is AI Changing the Game for Developers? [00:25:20] Personal Values Vs. Innovation [00:27:30] Twitch Controversy [00:31:20] Elon Musk’s X Takeover [00:36:40] Pivoting to Seed Investor [00:40:45] Investing Philosophy & Mentorship [00:48:45] Core Difference Between Israeli & U.S. Founders [00:53:45] What Did Oct. 7 Change for You? [00:54:40] Writing a Fantasy Book & Closing Questions RESOURCES Follow Amir on LinkedIn Follow Amir on X Subscribe to Invested Learn more about Aleph Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on LinkedIn Follow Aleph on Twitter ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Creative Direction: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Ex-Amazon Dan Davidi on Replacing Fuel with His Company Ohr, Literally Reinventing Rocket Science, and Whether Synthetic Biology is Playing God

2025-03-0559:33

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Dan Davidi, a distinguished scientist and entrepreneur known for his groundbreaking work in computational and synthetic biology. Davidi earned his Ph.D. from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, where he developed expertise in systems biology and metabolism. Following his doctoral studies, he served as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School and then joined as faculty to establish the Synthetic Biology Center, advancing research at the intersection of biology and technology. After Harvard, Dan worked as a strategy and design lead at the Amazon Moonshot Factory, where he applied his scientific insights to real-world challenges. Dan currently serves on the steering committee of the National Israeli Synthetic Biology program. In 2023, he joined Aleph, a venture capital fund, as an Entrepreneur in Residence, focusing on the convergence of artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and physical sciences to address pressing global issues like climate change and manufacturing security. Dan is currently the Founder and CEO of OHR, a company which uses primordial chemistry and synthetic biology to fashion rocket fuel and other strategic chemicals. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:02:10] - How Dan became the EIR at Aleph [00:05:10] - Harvard vs. Weizmann [00:09:20] - What is Synthetic Biology? [00:13:25] - Core Values [00:14:20] - Returning to Israel and the Experience of an EIR [00:18:30] - Dan’s Company: OHR [00:25:00] - Reverse Engineering Chemistry, or Anti-Darwinism? [00:28:30] - Israel Needs to Learn How to Scale [00:34:30] - Research Happens Outside of Academia Nowadays [00:38:50] - Making Israel the Silicon Valley of Biotech [00:40:23] - What’s the Next Big Area For Scientific Development? [00:43:47] - How is Science Improved by AI? [00:46:00] - Trusting Data to Accelerate Life Science Development [00:50:45] - Why Do Some Ideas Fail as an Entrepreneur? [00:54:00] - What Should Students Study? [00:58:30] - Closing Questions RESOURCES Follow Dan on LinkedIn Follow Dan on X Subscribe to Invested Learn more about Aleph Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on LinkedIn Follow Aleph on Twitter ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Art: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Ex-CEO of Waze Noam Bardin on What Really Happens at Google, Life After a Billion-Dollar Acquisition, Building the Ultimate Community-Based Business, and What No One Gets About OKRs

2025-02-1901:22:17

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Noam Bardin, an Israeli entrepreneur and high-tech executive. He is best known as the CEO of Waze, leading the company from its early days in Israel in 2009, through its acquisition by Google for $1.15 billion, and later serving as a Vice President at Google until 2021. Under his leadership, Waze grew to 150 million monthly users and became a globally beloved brand. Since leaving Waze, Bardin has returned to Israel, and is active in technology entrepreneurship, mentoring young entrepreneurs and startup investments. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:02:50] Founding Waze [00:08:00] Reacting to Google Maps: Waze Mistakes [00:10:45] Competition in the Startup World [00:12:15] Fitting in to Google’s Culture [00:14:30] Building Community-Based Business Models [00:24:40] UX/UI Of Waze [00:28:45] Waze Vs. Google Maps [00:31:50] Do You Regret Selling to Google? [00:34:50] What Could Have Been Improved in the Beginning of Waze? [00:38:15] Founding in a Small Country [00:40:00] Noam’s Controversial Letter About Google Culture [00:45:00] Should Companies Have OKRs and KPIs? [00:49:20] An Insider’s Critique of Google [00:58:25] Impact of Oct. 7th [01:05:22] Reimagining Government Structures [01:11:45] Tension Between Transparency and Security in Government [01:14:00] Israel Needs to Double Down on Tech [01:16:00] How to Bring Talent to Israel [01:17:45] Closing Questions RESOURCES Follow Noam on LinkedIn Follow Noam on X Subscribe to Invested Learn more about Aleph Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on LinkedIn Follow Aleph on Twitter ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Art: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Investor Sender Cohen on Learnings From Working With Stan Druckenmiller and George Soros, TLV vs. Dubai, and Why He Pays Someone to Keep Him Off the Internet

2025-02-0501:12:25

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Sender Cohen. Sender was previously the Chief Investment Officer at Schusterman Family Investments where he managed a multi-billion dollar portfolio including the assets of the Charles & Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. Sender's prior roles include President of Soros Capital, Director of Research and Head of External Allocations at Soros Fund Management where he also co-headed SFM’s Venture portfolio, and Managing Director at Duquesne Capital Management. Sender currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Fulbright Israel, and as a trustee of the Harlem Children's Zone and the Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America (LEDA). He is a trustee emeritus of Yeshiva University, a founding board member of the Birthright Israel Foundation, and the founder of the Natan Fund. Sender is also the Co-Managing Partner of ExB Group, KH2's strategic affiliate in New York. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:04:15] Core Personal Value [00:05:05] Learnings from Stan Druckenmiller [00:09:20] Learnings from George Soros [00:11:45] Personal Investing Style [00:12:18] Investing in 2nd Waves of Tech Innovation [00:20:20] Motivating Investors to Fund Tech Underpinnings [00:23:20] Bubble Bursts Can be Great for Innovation [00:28:44] Nevo Labs and the Future of Israel [00:35:18] Investing for Longer Durations [00:37:15] Bell Labs and the Investing Mindset [00:40:30] Why Researchers Should Move to Israel [00:44:00] Why Leave Schusterman and Focus on Israel [00:48:20] Advancements in Saudi Arabia [00:52:15] Tel Aviv Needs an Asset Management Industry [01:00:00] Increasing Israel’s Tax Base [01:02:12] Sender’s Sliding Door Moment [01:04:35] International Reactions to Oct. 7 [01:07:35] College Campuses [01:09:10] Business Professionals in Trump’s Administration RESOURCES Follow Sender on LinkedIn Subscribe to Invested Learn more about Aleph Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on LinkedIn Follow Aleph on Twitter ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Art: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Andreessen GP Katherine Boyle on the Battle for America’s Future, Why She Left Silicon Valley for Florida & Why it’s Good to be Bored in Church | Invested

2025-01-2201:28:32

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Katherine Boyle, a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. She is the co-founder of the firm’s American Dynamism practice, which invests in companies supporting the national interest across aerospace, defense, manufacturing, energy, logistics, and critical infrastructure. She sits on the boards of Apex Space and Hadrian Automation and is a board observer for Saronic Technologies and Castelion. Katherine was previously a partner at General Catalyst, where she co-led the firm’s seed practice and invested in the inception rounds of defense technology companies including Anduril Industries and Vannevar Labs. Prior to General Catalyst, she was a general assignment reporter at The Washington Post. Katherine holds a BA in Government from Georgetown University, an MBA from Stanford and a Masters of Public Advocacy from the National University of Ireland, Galway. Katherine believes that free speech is essential to promoting American Dynamism. She is a proud champion of new media companies and academic centers that promote free speech and free thought. She serves on the boards of The Free Press and the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:04:20] Reaction to Zuckerberg’s Announcement [00:08:40] Global Shift in Free Speech [00:11:46] Why Move to Florida? [00:14:05] How are Florida’s Values Different Than Silicon Valley? [00:19:33] Importance of Family Over “Transhumanism” [00:25:05] Future of the Relationship Between Man and Machine [00:31:53] Importance of Family in Facing Criticism [00:35:50] The Importance of Children for Building Societies [00:40:58] Why it’s Good to be Bored in Church [00:46:17] TikTok Needs to be Banned [00:49:12] Do Your Values Need to Align With Your Work? [00:53:05] Katherine’s Core Value [00:54:39] Belief vs. Data in Investing [01:01:12] Investing in Hallow, the Catholic Prayer App [01:04:45] Leaving Silicon Valley is Better for Investing [01:10:15] Relationship Between Defense and Tech [01:13:52] Google Employees Against Working With Defense [01:15:20] The Future of Media [01:23:50] Most Surprising Tech Innovation of 2024 [01:27:40] Closing Questions RESOURCES Follow Katherine on X Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Art: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Special Episode: Why TikTok Should be Banned in the U.S.

2025-01-1518:46

On this episode of Invested, Michael argues that TikTok needs to be banned, looking back at pivotal discussions from the Invested podcast over the past year with key business leaders, security experts and former TikTok employees. The guests featured, in order of appearance: Sam Lessin, General Partner at Slow Ventures Jacob Helberg, Commissioner of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Jon Pelson, Author of “Wireless Wars” Stefan Tompson, Founder of Visegrad 24 Barak Herscowitz, Former employee of TikTok & Political Advisor Izhar Shay, Venture Partner with Disruptive AI Bradley Tusk, Co-founder of Tusk Venture Partners Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:02:18] Sam Lessin on TikTok as National Security Threat [00:02:57] Jacob Helberg on Leading the TikTok Ban Legislation [00:05:48] Jon Pelson on Danger of TikTok Content [00:07:45] Stefan Tompson on TikTok Vulgarity [00:10:32] Barak Herscowitz on TikTok Moderation Problems [00:14:17] Izhar Shay on How TikTok Must be Regulated [00:16:32] Bradley Tusk on TikTok’s Influence on Young Minds [00:18:18] Closing RESOURCES Follow Sam on X Follow Jacob Helberg on X Follow Jon on X Follow Stefan Tompson on X Follow Visegrad24 on X Follow Barak on X Follow Izhar Shay on LinkedIn Follow Bradley Tusk on Linkedin Subscribe to Invested Learn more about Aleph Subscribe to our YouTube channel Follow Michael on Twitter Follow Michael on LinkedIn Follow Aleph on Twitter ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Art: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

The Information Founder Jessica Lessin on Building the World’s Top Tech Media Outlet, Why Citizen Journalism Won’t Replace Traditional Media, and the Future of Journalism | Jessica Lessin on Invested

2025-01-0601:06:04

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Jessica Lessin. Jessica is the founder and CEO of The Information, the publication known for original, in-depth reporting about technology and business. In eight years, Lessin has grown The Information into one of the largest subscription journalism communities in the world, attracting an influential audience of business leaders globally. Lessin has covered Silicon Valley and the technology industry for almost two decades and was previously a reporter and editor at the Wall Street Journal. She lives in the Bay Area, with her husband and three boys. When not trying to keep up with her children, she enjoys surfing and skiing. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:01:50] Motivation for Founding The Information [00:04:25] Why Leave the Mainstream Media Model [00:07:55] What Causes Legacy News to Become “Clickbaiters” [00:12:50] “Selling Your Soul to the Devil” [00:15:52] Will News Organizations Go Out of Business? [00:21:10] Business Models vs. Journalism Quality [00:23:56] The Free Press vs. The Information [00:26:35] Modern Media and Community Building [00:31:30] How Tech Reporting has Evolved [00:34:25] Does Modern Journalism Need Specialized Experts? [00:36:55] Is The Information Mainstream Media? [00:38:00] Why “Citizen Journalism” Won’t Replace Traditional Media [00:44:23] How to Regain Trust in the Media [00:51:40] The Information’s Media Startup Accelerator [00:53:30] What’s Next for The Information [00:57:08] Mistakes in Running The Information [00:58:10] Message to Younger Self [00:59:25] What is Your Core Value? RESOURCES Follow Jessica on X: https://twitter.com/Jessicalessin Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ For the transcript of this episode, go to: www.aleph.vc/content/jessica-lessin Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Art: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

Vee Founder May Piamenta on Selling Her First Company at 16, Smuggling a Computer Onto an Army Base, Laying Off Her Entire Company and Knowing When to Pivot | Invested

2024-12-1855:30

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts May Piamenta, the co-founder and CEO of Vee. May started her first business, Pineapple, at 14 years old and sold it right before she turned 17. She was a community services manager at RoboActive, followed by a role as an international project lead at First, a global robotics community. May then joined the IDF, where she was an electronics warfare commander and started working on her current company, Vee. After her military service, May mentored at Google Activate and took Vee full time. Following a sharp pivot in 2021, Vee now enables nonprofit teams and founders to grow their teams efficiently without hiring people, by giving them AI agents that can do everything from hiring to grant writing, social media management, bookkeeping and admin work, etc. Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts! KEY TOPICS [00:00:00] Intro [00:03:25] Impact of Losing a Best Friend to Cancer [00:06:20] May’s Role Models [00:09:05] The High School Robotics Team [00:11:54] May’s First Business [00:15:14] Israeli Military Experience [00:16:28] May’s Core Value [00:17:45] The Story Behind May’s Company, Vee [00:25:00] Finding Co-Founders and Investors [00:27:00] Pivoting Vee and Layoffs [00:37:25] Is Non-Profit a Lucrative Sector? [00:40:55] How the Tech Industry Has Evolved for Female CEOs [00:44:10] Does Age in Leadership Matter? [00:45:40] What Changed in May after Oct. 7 [00:48:28] What Changed in Michael After Oct. 7 [00:50:17] On Speaking Out About Anxiety [00:53:45] Her Belief That Changed in the Last Year [00:54:20] Closing RESOURCES Follow May on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maypiamenta/ Subscribe to Invested here: https://content.aleph.vc/invested Learn more about Aleph: aleph.vc Sign up for Aleph’s monthly email newsletter: https://newsletter.aleph.vc/ For the transcript of this episode, go to: content.aleph.vc/podcast-episodes/may-piamenta---episode-36 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aleph-vc/ Follow Michael on Twitter: twitter.com/mikeeisenberg Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mieisenberg/ Follow Aleph on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikeeisenberg ‍Follow Aleph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aleph-vc/ ‍Follow Aleph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleph.vc/ CREDITS Executive Producer: Erica Marom Producer: Yoni Mayer Video and Editing: Ron Baranov Music and Art: Uri Ar Content and Editorial: Kira Goldring Design: Rony Karadi

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