Exit Paradox 5,000+ Post-Exit Founders: What Actually Works with Barak Kaufman
Sep 26, 2025
Barak Kaufman, founder of Post-Exit Founders and partner at Vine Ventures, builds networks for entrepreneurs after liquidity. He recounts growing a 5,000+ member community by word of mouth. Topics include crafting a give-first, in-person culture; intentional serendipity and chapter-based scaling; navigating the rest-and-vest identity shift; and pathways from messy middle to a new mission.
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Group Chat Turned Global Network
- Barak started PEF by inviting 10–12 exited-founder mentors into one group chat to ask questions quickly.
- That small Signal group grew by referral into ~4,800 members and chapters worldwide in four years.
From Community To Curated Network
- Barak reframed PEF from a single deep community to a large network of curated local communities.
- He focuses on building smaller, trustable communities inside the bigger referral network for better vulnerability and support.
Join With A Give-First Mindset
- Join and behave with a give-first mentality to amplify value and relationships within PEF.
- Avoid joining merely to raise money or promote yourself; prioritize helping others first.