When Real Life Superpowers hosts Noa Eshed and Ronen Menipaz sat down with cybersecurity entrepreneur Yossi Barishev, the conversation quickly turned from technology to psychology. The former Signia and Fireblocks leader, now co-founder and CEO of a stealth startup reimagining identity and trust in the AI era, spoke candidly about self-doubt, courage, and the art of “controlled chaos.”
Recognized by Business Insider and NewsBlaze as one of cybersecurity’s rising stars, Barishev has built a reputation for blending elite technical acumen with grounded leadership. His career, however, didn’t follow Israel’s typical startup playbook. “I didn’t serve in the right unit or study in the right school,” he said. “I spent most of my career running security teams: on the buyer’s end.”
That nontraditional path became his edge. “Whenever I took a leap of faith and threw myself into deep water,” Barishev reflected, “those were the moments I grew the most.”
From Outsider to Industry Insider
Barishev’s defining moment came during his tenure at Signia, the cybersecurity powerhouse known for spawning dozens of startups. Surrounded by alumni of Unit 8200 (the Israeli Defense Forces’ famed cyber unit), he initially felt like an outsider. “I thought I didn’t belong,” he admitted. “But eventually I became one of the top consultants at the firm. That was when I realized, maybe I do have what it takes.”
That realization didn’t come easily. He credits “imposter syndrome” as a driving force that pushed him to outperform expectations. His takeaway: mastery grows from discomfort. “Every meaningful growth spurt in my life came when my back was against the wall.”
Embracing Controlled Chaos
Barishev’s philosophy centers on a counterintuitive principle he calls “controlled chaos.” By intentionally introducing challenges, he believes people unlock resilience and creativity. “If you can create chaos in a controlled manner,” he explained, “it teaches you far more than comfort ever will.”
That mindset resonates deeply in the cybersecurity world, where uncertainty is the norm. According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024, the average breach costs $4.88 million, up 10% year over year. For founders like Barishev, thriving amid volatility is a matter of survival.
He likens startup life to a boxing ring. “Mike Tyson once said everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face,” he laughed. “When you run a startup, you get punched hourly. The only way through is to believe you’ll find your way no matter what happens.”
Building With Heart and Precision
Barishev’s stealth venture, co-founded with longtime colleague Yonatan Rosenberg, is focused on redefining digital identity and trust frameworks for enterprise systems in an AI-driven landscape. While details remain under wraps, Barishev describes the mission as deeply personal. “I’m solving a problem I faced my entire career,” he said. “It’s something I care about at a visceral level.”
His partnership with Rosenberg is built on complementarity, not similarity. “You don’t want a co-founder who’s a replica of yourself,” Barishev said. “You want someone who balances you out.” Their relationship, he adds, mirrors a marriage: “It’s about communication, patience, and investing in the personal bond, not just the business.”
That founder chemistry is critical. Research by Noam Wasserman reveals that 65% of high-potential firms fail due to disputes among co-founders, underscoring the pivotal role of alignment and shared vision at the very top of a startup.
The Duality of Strength and Focus
Asked about his “real life superpower,” Barishev didn’t hesitate. “Adaptability,” he said. “I’m like a gecko; I can thrive in any environment.” Yet that same adaptability, he admits, can be a double-edged sword. “My kryptonite is focus. I get pulled in many directions because I see so many opportunities.”
It’s a paradox familiar to many entrepreneurs: the same traits that drive innovation can undermine stability. But Barishev embraces the tension. “The ability to pivot fast is what keeps you alive,” he said. “The challenge is knowing when to stop pivoting and build.”
Courage Without a Safety Net
Throughout the conversation, one theme kept resurfacing: the importance of courage. “When you have a fallback, you fall back,” Barishev said. “It’s easier to be forced to be brave than to be brave by choice.” His approach of leaping before certainty has defined both his career and his new company’s DNA.
As the episode closed, Barishev hinted that his startup’s public launch is on the horizon. “Hopefully, soon you’ll hear some amazing news,” he said. If his journey is any indication, it won’
