It’s easy to typecast what a successful entrepreneur should be like: someone growing up awash in technology, attending a prestigious university to study in that area, and then building a unicorn. But that’s not how it always works. In fact, it may not be how it often works. There’s a different sort of entrepreneurial narrative. In this story, it’s about a person who has had a winding path to business success. But along that journey, this character saw a problem, came up with a solution, and then had the ideal balance of perseverance and business sense to create a successful company over a period of time. Tom Livne, the CEO and Founder of Verbit, started his career in the Special Forces, which he credits for teaching him resiliency. He then became an attorney and came to the conclusion that the transcription industry needed disruption. At the time, the technologies necessary to disrupt the industry, A.I. and the cloud, were not quite ready. He continued on his journey earning an MBA and even founding a security company. Then when the business-stars aligned, alongside the right technology, he created Verbit to focus on the transcription issue he was passionate about. His spirit of resilience helped him to develop Verbit from a bootstrap company to one with major investment and lots of room to grow. On this episode of Future of Tech, Tom shares his unique entrepreneurial story and the values that have led to his success. Enjoy this episode!   Main Takeaways: The Importance of Resiliency and Passion: According to Livne, resilience is an essential quality for an entrepreneur. Though he first learned this value in the military, it has served him well throughout his entrepreneurial career. Additionally, he points to passion as another key ingredient for an entrepreneur and believes having it helps to see a person through when difficulties arise. A.I. and the Human Touch: In part due to regulations that require 100% accuracy, Livne believes that the human touch will always be required to supplement A.I. Verbit utilizes A.I. along with freelancers to transcribe efficiently and accurately. Livne shares how hiring freelancers, and learning how their experience working with Verbit has empowered their lives, is very satisfying.  Customization is Key: Though there are large tech companies with speech recognition tools, Livne contends that Verbit has a particular corner of the market. He makes the point that these companies use A.I. but do not have the human component to help them achieve the high level of accuracy required by regulations. Furthermore, he explains how Verbit is able to customize transcriptions as required by each of its customers given the unique needs in their different industries. Customer Consolidation: Verbit has undertaken a strategy to take over other more traditional transcription companies to bring in their customers. He describes the communication between Verbit and these companies in an effort to bring them on board. He also shares that this strategy has enabled investors to have a clear sense of Verbit’s path for growth.   Key Quotes:   [00:31] “So, I've been in the Special Forces of the paratrooper. [and am] still doing the reserve. And I think as an entrepreneur, one of the most important thing is resilience. So I really think that the army service help with that.”    [14:54] “Instead of doing everything manually, we said, ‘Okay, let's do most of it by technology.’ And then the last mile editing the technology, we know that it's not able to get it, we will put the human [in] and kind of give them the tools to make their job more efficient.”    [25:02] “So as long as our customer base is growing, it means we'll need to have more freelancer. It means we're creating more jobs from people to work from home. And we have a lot of our freelancers from third world countries, and we are getting emails, ‘because of Verbit we have the ability to feed our family [and] take care [of] our kids.’ Once you see that you say, ‘Wow, because of my hard work, I'm creating a lot of jobs for more people around the globe.’ So, it's another great mission to be part of.”    [35:03] Today, in the venture world, there's what they call magic numbers. So, how much you invest in sales and marketing, [and] how much new revenue it's bringing. They want to see [a] ratio of one-to-one. And then we really saw that those manual transcription companies they're flat. They're not growing. And they have much lower gross margin because they do it all manually. So we come [up] with this thesis that we can acquire their book of business and then migrate their customers to our platform and to make the whole process much more efficient and literally to grow this way.”    [37:50] “So first of all, and foremost, you need to do something you're passionate about, right? So, for me, the founder-market fit was as a frustrated customer. This is how I actually thought about this problem…When I'm trying to be more generic, I would say, look for problem that have high friction and low efficiency where you think that the technology come and shift it around.” 

To really solve a new problem, it’s essential to look at the reality of the current issue itself. Though it can be helpful to use past context, sometimes that can be a trap because the “solutions” are old ones and don’t really apply to the current situation. With technology developing so quickly, there are entire foundational systems today that did not exist a decade ago. Ami Luttwak, the Co-Founder and CTO of Wiz, a company disrupting cloud security by providing a single platform that reveals all exposures, expresses how it’s important to look at the cloud as an entirely new technology with different security needs. According to him, on-prem security mentalities combined with fragmented scanning systems are not able to address the complexity of the cloud. On this episode of Future of Tech, Ami shares his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way that are now earning great results at Wiz. He reveals that he had an interest in computer science when he was growing up, but that it was his time in the army that sculpted him into becoming a technology leader, eager to create new solutions. Enjoy this episode!  Main Takeaways: Looking at the Cloud With Fresh Eyes: The cloud is a different type of technology than what previously existed, and, therefore, the old methods of on-prem security do not necessarily apply. Ami makes the case that the cloud must be considered as an entirely new entity that security be developed around and applied to directly. Three Cloud Security Considerations: Since the cloud is unique, Ami contends that “people, process, and technology” are three areas that must adapt in order to promote security. According to him, those in security must learn new skills. In addition, he points out that the development process is now different because of the volume of developers. He also suggests that the technology must evolve to reveal all aspects of a complex cloud and potential vulnerabilities. FInding Exposures in Totality: One issue with cloud security is that typically it’s been a challenge to scan all databases for exposure. Ami suggests a single tool, without relying on agents, is essential to scan for all possible issues. Wiz’s platform, for instance, has the ability to scan VMs, containers, and servers. Creating With Scale and a Great Team: Ami explains that he and his fellow co-founders of Wiz learned two helpful lessons during their experience developing the company Adallom, and then working at Microsoft after Microsoft acquired it. The first was to build with scale in mind from the very beginning of the creative process. The second aspect was to build a product that can be used across multiple platforms. Ami expresses that these lessons were then applied to creating Wiz. Whether making a security platform, or any other sort of product, this mentality will serve developers well. Additionally, Ami offers that the foundational component in any startup is a great team.

Mickey Boodaei, the CEO and Co-Founder of Transmit Security discusses how the world can move on from passwords. Mickey also explains what he’s learned about attracting and retaining talent, and he offers some guidance to the next generation of entrepreneurs. One of the great identity security concerns for consumers and businesses is the vulnerability of passwords. The security solution to password breaches by bad actors so far has been to increase the amount and complexity of passwords. At this rate, the future of identity security could be a world where people are totally overwhelmed by the passwords in their lives. Perhaps the world is already at that place? Alternatively, Mickey Boodaei, the CEO and Co-Founder of Transmit Security, has a different vision — a future without passwords that is more secure but with better useability that benefits consumers and businesses. On this episode of Future of Tech, Mickey chats about how biometric data held securely on a personal device combined with the implementation of corresponding cryptographic keys can be used to verify identity rather than using passwords. He also passes on information he’s learned about finding and retaining top talent, and offers advice to the next generation of entrepreneurs. Enjoy this episode!    Main Takeaways: Getting Rid of Passwords: Until this point, the lack of security regarding passwords has mostly resulted in more complex passwords. Now, however, advances in biometric data have proved game changing. Mickey suggested that technology involving biometric data secured on individual devices and then connected to verifiable cryptographic keys has the ability to make passwords a thing of the past. Competing for Talent: Mickey explained how the competition for engineering talent has become more fierce all over the world. He revealed how this latest huge amount of funding Transmit Security received has helped tell the story of Transmit more broadly, and how this has been an asset in attracting talent. Advice for the Next Generation: Mickey suggested that those just starting out in their careers have lots of opportunity to either work for established companies or begin a more entrepreneurial journey. He made the point that having a passion for entrepreneurship is of utmost importance for those choosing to walk down that path. In reflecting on lessons he’s learned in his tech security career, which spans two decades, Mickey advised that honoring family time is highly valuable.

So you want to build a unicorn. Learn from tech leaders and investors that have accomplished this feat, this upcoming season on Future of Tech.

Host of The Future of Tech, Avishai Sharlin recaps previous episodes and shares his lessons learned as he chats with guest host, Albert Chou. In this episode, it’s Avishai’s turn to answer questions about his own career journey and interesting areas of focus that he’s gleaned from hosting The Future of Tech shows. Avishai also teases upcoming episodes that focus on entrepreneurship and unicorns. 

Jim Jackson, a passionate marketing leader, unveils many of his strategies behind effective marketing powered by data and told through story. On this episode, he discusses his journey in the field, what is exciting about marketing today, and gives advice to aspiring young marketers based on his 23 years of experience. Excelling in the competitive world of marketing requires advanced data and analytics. The evolution of marketing data, tools, and channels has increased the ability for marketers to connect more personally with their audiences.  Jim Jackson has been in the game for more than two decades, and he is now the EVP and CMO at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. His passion for the industry comes from a love for creative storytelling. He’s excited about the work he and his team get to do with everything from demand gen, product marketing, and ABM. On this episode of Future of Tech, Jim explains how he has reworked the digital advertising strategy at HPE, and why he is focused on engagement and partnerships. Plus, Jim talks about how marketing can be a catalyst for change inside of your organization and he encourages aspiring marketers to find what it is that they love about marketing and chase that. Enjoy this episode.     Main Takeaways: Translating Data into Insight and Insight into Action: Having the numbers, aka the data, on what your customer is doing is great, but not helpful unless you have the context or story behind those numbers. A good marketer brings insight to those graphs and tables that you need to then make an informed decision about what to do to take action.   Story is everything: A good story does more than draw you in, at least according to Jackson. There’s also an emotional connection that helps people relate. That level of connection is powerful. Pair that ability to communicate, with a product or service that is solving problems and you’ve got an ideal situation as a marketer.  Goal-Setting Strategies: An important piece to finding the right path is setting clear goals for yourself and setting a timeline for those goals. Without these two key pieces, you might just be talking or dreaming about your goals. Jackson recommends setting benchmarks at the one, three, and five-year marks to check-in and see how you’re moving toward those goals or not. --- Future of Tech is brought to you by Amdocs Tech. Amdocs Tech is Amdocs’s R&D and technology center, paving the way to a better-connected future by creating open, innovative, best-in-class products and continuously evolving the way we work, learn and live. To learn more about Amdocs Tech, visit the Amdocs Technology page on LinkedIn.

Lots of kids look to the stars and think to themselves that someday they’d like to be among them. When asked about their dream career, many enthusiastically offer up, “I want to be an astronaut.” But few actually pursue this path and even less get close to achieving it. Then for those that nearly reach that goal as adults but don’t end up as astronauts, it’s more rare for those few to take that passion and find another way to channel it toward working in the space industry. At five years old, Luca Rossettini began pursuing his passion and he’s never stopped. Today, he is CEO and Founder of D-Orbit, and his company provides space logistics and orbital transportation. On this episode of Future of Tech, Luca shares how his childhood passion has led to his current career and offers encouragement to the next generation. He discusses why the conditions are right for a rapid increase in the amount of space satellites, and he reveals that the future involves building logistical infrastructure in space. Enjoy this episode! Main Takeaways: Going up To Bring Data Back: There’s a tremendous amount of data in space that can help life on Earth. All this data is a lurer for organizations to want to have satellites in space. As satellites have become more affordable and cloud technology has allowed for much greater data storage, businesses now have the ability to receive that data and bring it back to Earth Space Scalability: In an obvious way, space has a great deal of untapped potential. It’s vast and ripe for exploration and opportunity. But another way to look at it is about how  a satellite presence in space can assist companies scale on Earth. For instance, satellites can help companies broaden their reach from a localized region to the entire world.  A Constellation of Satellites: Traditional satellites were huge, expensive, and only governments had the capacity to develop them, launch them, and then transport them exactly where they needed to be. Now, satellites are much smaller, relatively less expensive, and companies are able to get them to space. In terms of development, deployment, and maintenance, it’s more accurate to consider the current state of satellites as constellations made up of many smallers stars rather than just a few supergiants. Space Infrastructure: Currently, space logistics occur mostly in the space to Earth arena. This makes sense because a majority of the infrastructure is on Earth. Eventually, logistics will evolve to be more of a space to space operation. When space infrastructure is further developed, manufacturing and recycling can then happen in space. --- Future of Tech is brought to you by Amdocs Tech. Amdocs Tech is Amdocs’s R&D and technology center, paving the way to a better-connected future by creating open, innovative, best-in-class products and continuously evolving the way we work, learn and live. To learn more about Amdocs Tech, visit the Amdocs Technology page on LinkedIn.

Many of us have probably caught ourselves talking to the computer; perhaps, sometimes, even yelling at it. Now the computer can talk back. At first, that may seem daunting or even worrisome. But overall, it’s a good thing because it’s going to make our lives easier. Conversational A.I. has made great strides over the last ten years. As proof, look no further than the applications in commerce where many companies are already using chatbots. Despite these advancements, though, there’s still a long way to go to really get computers and people communicating effectively.     On this episode of Future of Tech, Joe Bradley, Chief Scientist at LivePerson, discusses the current state of conversational A.I., where the technology is heading, and the steps that need to be taken to get there. Joe explains how advances are being made in A.I. understanding language as well as in dialogue management. He also shares how there’s a lot of work to be done on the goal-oriented dialogue side of the technology and making sure bias is checked as systems are built. So what’s the future of computers and people communicating? Find out on this episode!  Main Takeaways: Conversational A.I. Right Now: Conversational A.I. involves both understanding natural language and dialogue management. In terms of A.I., or machine learning, understanding language has come very far. Developing dialogue that supports effective communication between computers and people still has a ways to go. The Future of Conversational A.I.: Conversational A.I. has to improve between computers and people. The computer, of course, needs to get better at understanding complex aspects of human language. It also needs to be able to learn if its dialogue is achieving the desired goal. The other component to good communication is that people need to be educated on how to speak to computers. Language at Play: In our digital world, language is still very important. Perhaps it’s more important than ever to communicate effectively because of all available information at our fingertips. We don’t need to fear emojis taking over language. They are shorthand symbols that can augment language. Language evolves, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. Being Well-Rounded Pays Off: Being someone who is very specific and focused comes with creating technology. But having diverse interests is only an asset. Passion in areas outside a person’s primary work demonstrates a mental fluidity and a posture of openness. --- Future of Tech is brought to you by Amdocs Tech. Amdocs Tech is Amdocs’s R&D and technology center, paving the way to a better-connected future by creating open, innovative, best-in-class products and continuously evolving the way we work, learn and live. To learn more about Amdocs Tech, visit the Amdocs Technology page on LinkedIn.

Establishing trust between people and institutions is extremely important. But there are pitfalls to the current methods we all use to establish trust. Many people lack trust in huge centralized systems given their size, subsequent power, and lack of transparency. On the other hand, decentralized systems with democratizing ideas intended to build trust are often difficult to execute at scale, especially at the pace required to keep up with technological acceleration. On this episode of Future of Tech, Eli Ben Sasson (@elibensasson), Co-Founder, President & Chairman of the Board at StarkWare (@starkwareltd), discusses his alternative approach, which involves using math in order to build trust. A math proof, he explains, can offer broad verification across a great amount of data between parties by checking the computation at specific points. In layman’s terms, that means the issue of scalability is solved while also reducing cost. And these zero-knowledge proofs also provide the added benefit of privacy since there is no information shared about any of the parties involved beyond the computation. Most importantly, since the math is objective, correct, and verifiable trust among all parties increases. So what does this all mean for the future of trust in business and tech? Find out on this episode!  Main Takeaways: Magical Math: Math proofs are magical because a computation checked only in certain places can verify that an overall relationship, potentially including many parties, is working as intended. This allows for a tremendous amount of transactions at great speed while also providing verifiable certainty that everything is functioning according to plan.   Zero-Knowledge is Good: Zero-Knowledge may sound bad to the layperson but it’s really an under-valued solution to major problems. The zero-knowledge proof gives certainty in the computation by only analyzing particular points in a system. As an added benefit, It offers no additional information about any entity involved in the computation. This ensures certainty and privacy. Theoretical Beauty Meets Practicality: The theoretical world can be intellectually stimulating. Doing work that has tangible real-world results is also meaningful. In one’s work, connecting the theoretical with practical applications can provide deep satisfaction. Making Meaning via Passion and Optimism: Passion is when someone does what is most meaningful to them. Optimism allows a person to stretch and try something new despite the potential for failure. In fact, optimism increases one’s chances of finding a solution to a problem. Both passion and optimism play vital roles in creating new meaning for the individual and, potentially, for the world. --- Future of Tech is brought to you by Amdocs Tech. Amdocs Tech is Amdocs’s R&D and technology center, paving the way to a better-connected future by creating open, innovative, best-in-class products and continuously evolving the way we work, learn and live. To learn more about Amdocs Tech, visit the Amdocs Technology page on LinkedIn.

Alex Howland is not a software developer, he’s not particularly interested in gaming, and his background in tech is, well, nonexistent. So how then did Alex find himself co-founding Virbela and working on the cutting edge of virtual reality? On this episode of Future of Tech we’ll find out as Alex takes us through his journey from organizational psychologist into the tech world, and he’ll let us in on the secrets of how experiential learning is playing a role in what the future of virtual reality will look like. So what will it look like? Will we all be wearing VR headsets in the years to come? Alex has the answers and the explanations. He talks about the rise of gamified VR and how it’s being used in military settings to train soldiers, and he dives into how virtual worlds and experiences are now being used across enterprise companies and in the education system to bring a sense of togetherness to an increasingly work-from-home focused world. Enjoy this episode!  Main Takeaways:   Virtual Water Cooler: With the rise of remote work, people are still craving some of the old features of the in-person office experience. Virtual workspaces are being created to simulate those water-cooler-type moments and give people a way to connect in meaningful ways even without being together in person. Beyond The Hype: A few years ago, the hype around VR was at a fever pitch, and the anticipation surrounding the technology becoming ubiquitous was palpable. That didn’t happen as quickly as everyone expected, but the VR industry has been making steady steps forward. Rather than get hopped up on the hype cycle, companies that have taken a slow and steady approach to developing their VR technology have been more successful than those that turned out to just be flashes in the pan. Physical Things, Virtual World: The future of VR will be built on how companies can sell or recreate physical things in a virtual world. Certain companies are already doing this, particularly in real estate, where VR walk-throughs are being used to sell real, physical properties all over the world.   --- Future of Tech is brought to you by Amdocs Tech. Amdocs Tech is Amdocs’s R&D and technology center, paving the way to a better-connected future by creating open, innovative, best-in-class products and continuously evolving the way we work, learn and live. To learn more about Amdocs Tech, visit the Amdocs Technology page on LinkedIn.