Every spring, Jewish families around the world sit down for the Passover Seder. A highlight of the event will be reading “Four Questions.” Against the backdrop of 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 industry. We reached out to leaders in our industry and asked them our unique Four Questions to get them thinking about their challenges, decisions, successes, and dreams. Here are their reactions:
assignment
What recent challenges have you faced in your industry over the last year and how did you overcome them?
Needless to say, 2023 was a difficult year for many Israelis. For our founders, there was a lot to manage — personally, corporately, and with our employees — while the country was going through these unprecedented times. I currently live in the Bay Area, but my heart (family, friends, founders) will forever be in Israel.
Beyond that, on a macro level, we have seen many ups and downs in the market in recent years. Today's startups need to operate more efficiently than ever before while continuing to grow rapidly. The challenge these days as an investor is balancing the “gold rush” with the artificial intelligence (AI) or security that makes everything seem incredible, so you can invest in the right companies that you can build for the long term. That's it.
Notable Capital invests in founders targeting large-scale markets in a differentiated way. Companies may get off to a slow start or face difficult times, but strong founders are able to quickly adjust and iterate. Our job as investors is to leverage our experience and understanding of the macro environment to work with founders to help them navigate inevitable change and capitalize on pivotal moments of growth.
decision
Looking back, what decision do you think was best for your career or business and why?
When I first started my career as a security professional and then chief information security officer (CISO) in Israel, I was focused on technology and not necessarily how different parts of a company work together. It wasn't a focus. With each professional and academic stop, I learned to appreciate not just the beauty of the machine itself, but the results the technology brings to business. This is very similar to how we help businesses at Notable. The best technology doesn't always win. Nothing is guaranteed and nothing is trivial. This learning will contribute to my decision-making in the venture. Instead of just looking at one part, I started thinking about how things fit together and how that impacts the bottom line and the overall success of the business. One example is his group of CISO angel investors who represent different types of VC models that drive technology adoption, holistic understanding of business and technology, and faster scale-up. CISO Investments). -Let's all win.
success
What accomplishment or success are you most proud of and what lessons did you learn from it?
What I am most proud of is my ability to take leaps of faith again and again. When investing in early-stage startups, there are more unknowns than knowns. In the early stages, there are multiple reasons for a business to fail, and even a company like Amazon can fail many times. It's easy to kill an idea in its early stages, but it takes courage to identify what makes it special and what can make it successful. I'm proud to have been by the side of 'my' portfolio founders from the beginning and watched their bold ideas develop.
dream
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for yourself or your organization in the coming year?
As Notable Capital's newest managing partner, I want the team to continue to uphold our 20-year tradition and exceed the expectations our investors have for us. On a personal note, Passover is a time of spring and renewal, but for me, every day is always the “first day.” I want to continue to be a sounding board for our portfolio and a trusted partner where they know someone who has their back. More broadly, I want founders to call me first, regardless of my previous involvement with them or my reputation in the industry.
Ventures are long-term endeavors, and founders are often in the field for years. When choosing a venture partner, it's a huge vote of confidence someone makes in their idea, livelihood, and dream. I take this vote of confidence very seriously every time it happens.
Oren Yunger is a managing partner at Notable Capital.
