Aviad Harell

Cofounder, Sisense

Search every verified Aviad Harell interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Aviad Harell, co-founder of Sisense and Managing Partner at Team8, discussed his entrepreneurial journey and investment philosophy in an August 2024 podcast appearance. He recounted early struggles at Sisense, including a period when the company sought additional funding and investors suggested bringing in a professional CEO, a move he said he initially disliked but later credited as important to the company's growth. He also described a humbling board meeting in New York where a board member cautioned him against overconfidence, which he said reinforced the importance of resilience and persistence in startup leadership. In his current role at Team8, he emphasized that he values market validation over personal conviction in a thesis and looks for founders with agility, chemistry, and an "X Factor." In an earlier 2019 appearance at the "Make It In China" semi-final contest in Tel Aviv, Harell spoke about Sisense's business intelligence products and the company's growth, noting customers such as Merck, GE, Airbus, Unilever, Rolls-Royce, Nasdaq, Motorola, and Phillips. He described the company's early years as marked by a "pursuit for perfection" that he later viewed as a mistake, and he highlighted the importance of curiosity, co-founder relationships, and the "joy of creation" in building a business. He also discussed the value of investors who provide guidance and open doors beyond their financial contributions.