Why It's So Important to Build a Company with a Mission You Believe In
TL;DR - Because it’s f***ing hard.
As a founder, the only way to keep going is to love what you do so much that it fuels you through the lows, giving you the energy to survive until the next peak. Last week at Optech, we hit our highest point yet—and it was worth every moment.
This is what entrepreneurship is about: enduring the struggle and celebrating those moments that make you feel truly alive. Here’s why we started Venn, and why it’s so much more than digital transformation.
In 2017, Chen Avni and I set out with a simple but ambitious dream: to build a community where neighbors truly know each other—where familiar faces greet you, and the barista knows your name. Back then, we handled everything manually, and it worked—most of the time.
In 2018, we asked, "What if we could scale this? Productize it?" We thought it would take 12 months (classic Israeli optimism). Instead, it took five years and over $70M in investment.
As a startup CEO, I’ve faced frustration, growing pains, self-doubt, and setbacks. But the past ten days have shown me just how worth it this journey has been.
Are we at the finish line? Not even close. But Venn’s momentum is real, and we’re just getting started. We announced our biggest partnership yet—right before Optech. Expectations were sky-high, and my team delivered as always.
Fourteen of us came together from across the globe to show who we are and what we’ve built. Oz Ganon and the team threw an epic party with the brightest minds, where conversations lasted long after the bar closed. The next morning, Jessica Acosta-Rubio led a wellness walk for 50+ multifamily pros.
Thanks to Sydney Webber, I had the honor of participating in NMHC's opening pitches along platforms like Faireez inc. and Repli, introducing myBozzuto, our new partnership, in just 4 minutes. It was challenging, humbling, and inspiring.
Later, Daniel Paulino—my partner at Bozzuto—and I shared the grit it took to launch our partnership. Somehow, Ben Steward and I found 30 minutes to record a podcast for Revyse.
Our booth, designed by Eric Adolfsen Yoray Raban + Jess, embodied Venn's DNA: energy, good vibes, and deep connections. We welcomed hundreds of attendees, making meaningful connections that I’m still processing.
We capped our Optech journey with a visit to Bozzuto’s HQ in Greenbelt, MD, presenting to senior leadership on where we are and where we’re heading together. Julie Smith Stephanie Williams (she/her/hers) Toby Bozzuto Shawaun Alexander Kelley Shannon (she/her/hers) Daniel Paulino Heather Wallace Chintimini Meadow Keith Annie Wildasin Sewell Alison Punsalan Kal Kozycki—thank you for your trust. We are incredibly optimistic about what’s ahead.
Thank you to everyone who supported us. You affirmed our vision for the future.
Now, LFG!
