Founder Storiez

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 independence How personal pain became the fuel for purpose What it took to survive multiple failed product launches The breakthrough moment that changed everything Health, fatherhood, legacy—and why he tracks everything The truth about billion-dollar startups and staying grounded This 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/deansysman/] | Ephraim [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraimyarmak/]

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dheeraj, who arrived in the U.S. with just $900 and went on to found tech giants Nutanix and DevRev. From growing up in one of India’s poorest states to building multi-billion dollar companies, Dheeraj shares deeply personal stories of sacrifice, resilience, and ambition. In this episode, discover how education became his gateway, how he balanced family and entrepreneurship, and why staying grounded and humble has been key to his success. Raj opens up about leadership lessons, embracing vulnerability, investing in people, and using philanthropy—especially in computational biology and education—to make a lasting impact. What You’ll Learn: Overcoming adversity and the immigrant experience The role of hunger, perseverance, and innovation Building and leading billion-dollar tech ventures Balancing personal values with professional success The power of philanthropy and legacy Timestamps: 00:00 Starting from Scratch: A Humble Beginning 00:28 The Power of Education and Perseverance 01:22 Building a Life in the US 02:35 Overcoming Hardships and Family Support 04:23 Lessons in Adversity and Entrepreneurship 07:11 Balancing Wealth and Humility 15:24 The Journey of Nutanix 17:54 Founding DevRev and Future Ambitions 19:09 The Importance of Hunger and Innovation 29:19 The Role of Investors and Early Customers 31:54 Authenticity and Integrity in Leadership 33:34 Embracing Systems and Design 35:01 Mentorship and Personal Growth 40:06 Balancing Dualities in Leadership 51:09 Philanthropy and Purpose 55:39 Reflections on Life and Legacy About Dheeraj: Dheeraj is the founder of Nutanix and DevRev. His story is a testament to perseverance, humility, and visionary leadership. He is passionate about innovation, education, and giving back through philanthropy. About the Host – Ephraim Yarmak: Ephraim runs TGVG Fund, a micro VC backing early-stage cyber founders. He’s all about real conversations with builders who lead with purpose. Enjoyed this episode? Follow the podcast, leave a review, and share with someone who needs a dose of inspiration.

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 NOTES * 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome * 00:35 Morgan's Career Challenges: Overcoming rowing setbacks that shaped his approach to failure * 01:52 Jordan's Career Pivot: Transitioning from engineering to business consulting * 02:52 James' Childhood Influences: Early lessons in communication and resilience * 05:01 Friendship in Competition: Balancing relationships while competing for the same deals * 08:23 Founder Evaluation: What makes a great founder? Grit, market fit, and relentless drive * 13:46 Dealing with Failure: Staying motivated in a high-rejection industry * 16:59 Deal Hunt Stories: The lengths they've gone to win competitive deals * 21:11 Market Trends: Current investment climate and future predictions * 22:18 Israel's Startup Scene: Future exits and opportunities * 23:11 VC Challenges: The hardest aspects of the job * 24:53 Fund Creation: Insights on starting a new venture fund * 27:26 Work-Life Balance: Managing personal and professional boundaries * 31:10 Mentor Relationships: The importance of non-transactional connections * 39:34 Advice for Aspirants: How to break into venture capital * 43:36 Closing Thoughts: Final reflections on the VC journey Links:  • Morgan Gerlak [https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgangerlak/] • Jordan Segall [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-segall-7b938632/] • James Green [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-green-201a4274/]

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 decisions * Disrupting the GRC market with innovative solutions * Transitioning from technical expert to CEO * Building trust and learning from competition * Managing stakeholder expectations * Personal growth and maintaining resilience * Balancing 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.

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.