He Wrote the First Check in Cursor ft. Michael Fertik of Verdict Capital
Israeltech31 Aug

He Wrote the First Check in Cursor ft. Michael Fertik of Verdict Capital

Most venture investors wait for traction. Michael Fertik invests before the company is incorporated, before there is a product, and sometimes before the category has a name.

Michael, Managing Director and Founder of Verdict Capital, joins Yoel Israel to explain what “first check” means in practice and why he believes the earliest investor can have a distinct advantage. He shares the story of backing Anysphere before its merger with Cursor, how he evaluates founders with almost no conventional signal, and why most venture firms are reluctant to invest that early.

The conversation also turns to Israel. Michael discusses the risks of using Israeli pilot customers as proof of demand, why he encourages Israeli founders to think about their US company structure from day one, and what he has learned from building his first team in Israel through Model Code AI.

They also discuss legacy code, AI’s effect on work, purpose, capitalism, the cultural changes taking place in America, and why Michael remains bullish on Israeli founders during wartime.

Hosted by Yoel Israel for IsraelTech.

---

00:00 Opening highlights

00:56 Michael Fertik and the Reputation Economy

04:15 Why retirement did not last

07:00 AI, work, and economic disruption

09:10 Culture, education, and capitalism in America

24:35 Model Code AI and legacy technical debt

36:40 The mistakes Israeli startups keep making

45:40 What first-check investing really means

50:00 The early Anysphere and Cursor story

55:00 Israel, wartime pressure, and founder resilience

---

Thank you to our incredible partners for making this all possible!

IsraelTech is proud to partner with Rhydlwood. Rhydlwood is an exclusive online business hub designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and CEOs, focused on providing clarity, decision-making support, and sustainable growth.

Check them out at Rhydlwood.com

IsraelTech is also proud to partner with Deel, the global all-in-one HR and payroll platform for teams in 150+ countries.

To support the show, please go check out our partner Deel at: https://www.deel.com/israeltech

Finally, we’re proud to partner with Wadi Digital, Israel’s leading tech marketing agency.

Learn more at WadiDigital.com

---

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 👉🏼 https://magic.beehiiv.com/v1/26afeab9... variable

Follow IsraelTech on your fav social media feed

X (Twitter): https://x.com/IsraelTech

LinkedIn: / israel-tech

Facebook: / israeltechHQ

Instagram: / israeltechHQ

TikTok: / israeltechHQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7fkZX1R...

Follow Yoel on your fav social media:

Instagram: / yoeltisrael

LinkedIn: / yoeltisrael

X [Twitter]: / yoeltisrael

Facebook: / yoeltisrael

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(105)

Why Israel Recognized Somaliland, and What Comes Next ft Ahmed Abdlahi

Why Israel Recognized Somaliland, and What Comes Next ft Ahmed Abdlahi

In December 2025, Israel recognized Somaliland, a Muslim democracy in the Horn of Africa that has governed itself since 1991. For many Israelis, it was the first time they had heard of the country.Ahm...

3 Nov 43min

The Jewish Mother Effect Driving Israeli Tech ft Tom Granot

The Jewish Mother Effect Driving Israeli Tech ft Tom Granot

Tom Granot started writing code when he was 12. Today he barely writes it at all. He spends his time helping deep tech founders figure out how to sell what their engineers built, and making YouTube vi...

22 Okt 52min

How Israel Became a Mobile Gaming Powerhouse ft. Dan Bouzaglo of Snooze

How Israel Became a Mobile Gaming Powerhouse ft. Dan Bouzaglo of Snooze

Some of the most profitable mobile games in the world were built in Israel, but the industry behind them is rarely mentioned when people talk about Israeli tech.Dan Bouzaglo, Founder & CEO of Snooze, ...

13 Okt 41min

Don't Be a Nebach: How to Actually Network in Tech ft. Helena Baker of English Speaking Networking

Don't Be a Nebach: How to Actually Network in Tech ft. Helena Baker of English Speaking Networking

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Eat before you go. Leave the backpack at home. Keep conversations to about seven minutes.Helena Baker, Founder of the English Speaking Network, has spent years running n...

28 Sep 44min

Israeli Work Culture Looks Like Chaos. It Works. ft. Paul Gladstone

Israeli Work Culture Looks Like Chaos. It Works. ft. Paul Gladstone

What happens to your team when the manager disappears for a week?Paul Gladstone believes the answer reveals a great deal about the manager, the systems they have built, and the culture they have creat...

16 Sep 49min

Israel Uses AI To Predict Terrorists ft. Kira Radinsky

Israel Uses AI To Predict Terrorists ft. Kira Radinsky

AI can identify a patient at risk or even predict a terrorist attack, but a prediction only matters if someone acts on it.Kira Radinsky, Co-Founder and CTO of Diagnostic Robotics, joins Yoel Israel to...

8 Sep 31min

Is Israeli Directness Killing Your Startup? ft. Helen Gottstein of Loud and Clear

Is Israeli Directness Killing Your Startup? ft. Helen Gottstein of Loud and Clear

Helen Gottstein of Loud and Clear Training helps founders, CEOs, and executives communicate more effectively in meetings, interviews, and presentations.In this episode of IsraelTech, Helen joins Yoel ...

24 Aug 41min

Populärt inom Business & ekonomi

framgangspodden
rss-hemlispodden
varvet
rss-jossan-nina
bathina-en-podcast
rss-svart-marknad
rss-borsens-finest
uppgang-och-fall
avanzapodden
badfluence
rss-hos-psykologen
rss-inga-dumma-fragor-om-pengar
rss-dr-bjorklund
24fragor
fill-or-kill
rss-kort-lang-analyspodden-fran-di
lastbilspodden
borsmorgon
rss-en-rik-historia
tabberaset