A few years ago, when I finished my service as a combat soldier in the IDF, I had one goal: to find my place in the startup world.
My first real glimpse into this ecosystem came years earlier, during an internship at Microsoft for Startups. That experience left a lasting impression – I saw firsthand how founders take an idea and turn it into something real. It was a world I knew I wanted to be part of, but unlike many Israeli entrepreneurs, I hadn’t come from an elite intelligence unit. I didn’t have an engineering background or a built-in network.
What I did have was a deep curiosity about startups and my drive to break in on my own terms.
So, I put together my first resume and started reaching out to every early-stage startup I could find. Hundreds of cold emails. Until I found the ideal opportunity at Visitt, an AI-Driven Building Operations Platform.
At Visitt, I wasn’t just given a job – I was given trust. As the company grew, so did my role. I relocated to the U.S., as we opened our offices there, and led our U.S. customer-facing efforts from scratch. It was the best education I could have hoped for: a hands-on crash course in the realities of building and scaling a startup.
And then, October 7th.
That morning, I was abroad when I received my Tsav 8 (emergency call-up notice) and immediately made my way back home. Shortly after, I got the devastating news that my brother had fallen in battle, protecting the civilians of Kerem Shalom. In the days of Shiva, while grieving, my family and I founded Next October – a nonprofit dedicated to commemorating every individual lost in this painful war through the power of early-stage startups.
What started as a small initiative in Tel Aviv quickly grew into something much bigger – expanding to London, New York, Berlin, and beyond. Within a year, Next October had over 70 volunteers, 350 startups, hundreds of mentors, and countless partnerships. The impact exceeded anything I could have imagined.
Along the way, I found myself viewing the startup world from a completely new perspective. I am no longer just an aspiring entrepreneur following the plan I had for most of my career, but someone fully immersed in supporting the ecosystem in ways I never anticipated (and who could?).
Through my work with Next October, I realized that my passion wasn’t just in building my own startup but in helping others build theirs.
A few months ago, after organizing a massive Next October event at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, I had a moment of clarity: my journey was ready to take a different direction. Shortly afterward, I caught up with a friend I had met through Next October. He mentioned that TLV Partners had just opened a position on their investment team. Immediately, something clicked.
To be honest, as a startup employee, VC often seemed like a whole different world. But through my experiences at Visitt and the journey of founding Next October, I learned to love working with entrepreneurs – not just as colleagues but as builders, creating something out of nothing. Meeting great VCs along the way helped me understand that my next chapter would involve supporting startups in a different way.
Throughout my journey, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the challenges and mindset of early-stage founders. Here are some of the lessons I’m bringing with me:
- The Startup Mentality Is a Role of Its Own
At an early-stage startup, your title doesn’t define you – your ability to wear multiple hats, adapt, and execute does. Whether you’re a developer, salesperson, or product manager, you are first and foremost a Startup Employee. It’s a mindset of ownership, resilience, and taking initiative beyond your job description.
- The Value of Doing the Unscalable
Startups often focus on efficiency too early. But some of the most defining moments come from scrappy, unscalable efforts: customizing a solution for a single customer, flying across the globe for one meeting (don’t ask me how I know), or answering support calls at 3 AM. These moments build loyalty and shape the foundation for growth.
- Your Early Customers Define Your Future
Your first customers are more than revenue; they set the tone for your company’s DNA. If you listen to their feedback, understand their pain points, and treat them like gold, they’ll become your biggest advocates – and often, your most valuable long-term partners.
- Israeli Entrepreneurs Are Brilliant—But the Cultural Gap Is Real
Israeli founders are bold, determined, and relentless. They challenge industries and redefine how things should work. But many struggle with one of the biggest hurdles to scaling: bridging the cultural gap with global markets. It’s not just about speaking English – it’s about understanding how customers think, how decisions are made, and how to communicate in a way that resonates. Mastering this is often the difference between a great product and a category-defining company.
These lessons prepared me for crossing what always seemed like an impossible border: joining the other side of the table. Joining TLV Partners is an opportunity to apply what I’ve learned and support startups in their own journeys. As I worked with countless entrepreneurs at Next October and Visitt, I had the chance to meet incredible VCs who showed me how meaningful this work can and SHOULD be. This role feels like a natural next step: a chance to work with and learn from exceptional founders. On a personal level, I’m excited to learn from the incredible Partners at the firm. They’ve rightfully earned their reputation as the best in the field.
While I’m stepping into this exciting new chapter, I want to emphasize that I’m not leaving Next October behind. The commemoration mission of Next October remains deeply personal to me, and I will continue supporting its vision as a volunteer.
If you are working on the next Google, or even just heard about the best person you know launching their new startup – I’d love to hear from you. Reach out at [email protected].
