Learning Hub

Is the SaaS era truly coming to an end? And how is AI enabling founders to reach technological and business validation faster than ever?

Mastering investors’ appeal is to orchestrators, carefully sculpting how the ecosystem perceives you, even long before the first meeting.

This article will guide you through: Choosing the right design partners, Setting clear expectations for the POC and Measuring success effectively. By following these principles, you can accelerate your startup’s progress, avoid costly pivots, and increase your likelihood of securing early adopters and investors.

Beyond having a game-changing concept, your startup’s health and potential are determined where innovation meets the market. Unit economics is essential for navigating towards positive ROI and ensuring financial sustainability.

If you’re raising your first pre-seed, there’s a good chance you’ll use a SAFE – “Simple Agreement for Future Equity.” A post-money SAFE isn’t “free delay.” It’s a lightweight way to sell equity. Track your SAFE stack like a priced round, and you’ll protect founder ownership, keep hiring flexibility, and walk into Seed with fewer nasty surprises.

In 2025’s AI-driven startup landscape, defensibility doesn’t come from algorithmic exclusivity. It emerges from execution and data. Speed in iteration and access to unique, compounding data have become the most resilient moats.

As the Jewish year comes to an end, we decided to pass the mic to the exceptional founders in our portfolio, voices that capture the strength and creativity of Israeli tech today.

Curious leads aren’t enough.
If you’re a founder trying to turn interest into actual deals, this guide is for you.
You’ll learn how to run better discovery calls, customize demos that close, and avoid the biggest mistakes early-stage startups make in the sales process.

When we founded Horizon Capital, we didn’t say, “Let’s build a VC fund.” We were simply looking for a better way to support early-stage founders in Israel. Back in 2012, there were almost no funds truly focused on the early days, and we wanted to be the kind of partner we wish we had.

For early-stage founders, time is a non-renewable resource. This is how we do the Due Diligence Process at Horizon Capital

The global music production and distribution market is already substantial, valued at $41.46B in 2024, and projected to more than double to $96.02B by 2034. Within this broader space, AI is becoming a dominant growth engine, reshaping the core of music creation and infrastructure.

Over the past year, Horizon Capital executed seven follow-on investments aimed at ensuring the resilience and growth of Israeli innovation.
Lior Segal, Founding Partner at Horizon Capital: “Our focus on strengthening our existing portfolio gave our companies a stable anchor during a turbulent time.”

Ever wondered what it’s like to build a VC like a startup?
In this episode, Horizon Capital’s co-founders, Lior Segal and Yaniv Jacobi, sit down with Ram Amadi for a real talk on startups, AI, and the future of tech. From the VC playbook to parenting advice for the next generation, it’s all in there.
🎧 Hit play and listen now.

Learn how to create a Buyer Persona that will transform your marketing and sales strategy with insights from our Strategy and GTM expert – Revital Kremer. By understanding the individual behind the decision-making process, you can craft personalized messaging, content, and campaigns that truly resonate. Ready to get started? Read why you need it and download our free Buyer Persona template today!

Over the years, we’ve celebrated exits, raised follow-on rounds, and supported dozens of visionary founders. But what fills us with the most pride is how we’ve channeled part of our success back into the community.

Do startups still need millions to scale?
AI is flipping the VC game on its head – Startups are reaching real traction with leaner teams, faster execution, and half the funding it once took. So what does that mean for founders, and for venture capital itself?
Opinion piece by Yaniv Jacobi, Horizon Capital’s General Partner, on how AI is reshaping startup funding.

As a VC associate who’s reviewed over 1,000 pitch decks, Bar Maaravi learned what makes a SaaS B2B pitch stand out. In this post, he shares the key sections every deck should include, from introducing your founding team and mission to detailing market validation, your solution, competitive landscape, and go-to-market strategy. Plus, we’re offering a free, ready-to-use pitch deck template for you to customize and get started!

Close Deals Faster with a Mutual Action Plan (MAP)

A Mutual Action Plan (MAP) helps sales teams and buyers stay aligned, build trust, and create a clear path to closing deals. By defining key milestones, stakeholders, and timelines together, a MAP reduces surprises and speeds up the sales process.

Learn why MAPs work, how to use them effectively, and download a free ready-to-use template.

Maximize Sales Performance with the Right AE Commission Plan

Building a high-performing sales team starts with the right incentives. For early-stage startups, a well-structured Enterprise Account Executive (AE) commission plan can make the difference between chaotic, unpredictable revenue and a scalable, motivated sales engine.

2024 was a transformative year for the global venture capital (VC) landscape. Explore Horizon Capital’s 2025 fresh insights about what will shape 2025 and beyond.

“We recognized the potential of the social media security market, which is why we chose to lead Spikerz’s Pre-Seed round back in 2023. With the current funding, we believe that by 2025, SPIKERZ will be able to make a significant breakthrough in the international market.”

Your first investor pitch can make or break your startup’s future. To help you maximize this crucial opportunity, here are 3 essential dos and don’ts that will set you up for success.

This article analyzes the ‘capability cannibalization’ phenomenon in the field and explains why founders need to focus less on technical capabilities and more on strategy, context, and clear purpose.

As investors, we see 2024 as a year of recovery, bringing a renewed focus on quality investments and steady growth. Although startups need to navigate a tough environment with a strong focus on the basics and sustainability.

What causes most startups to fail between Seed to Series A and how can you avoid it?

Salesforce (Nasdaq: CRM) has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Own (formerly OwnBackup) at a $2.1 billion valuation.

Horizon Capital (formerly Oryzn Capital) was the first investor in Own in 2015, leading the Seed round from our second fund. We continued to support the company through follow-on investments.

“Rep AI brings a refreshing new approach to online sales, and it has already begun to realize its great potential,” added Lior Segal, managing partner at Horizon Capital, who led Rep’s Seed round.

We are on the verge of another leap in the global software industry, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and broader economic shifts. These forces are accelerating the growth of three trends

2024 has proven to be an exceptionally challenging year for startups aiming to progress from Seed to Series A funding. The landscape for early-stage capital has become increasingly tough, with economic uncertainties and stringent investor scrutiny heightening the difficulty.

More than 90% of early-stage startups fail.

Did you know that 50%-60% of CEOs fail within their first one to two years? CEOs often feel lonely due to the immense pressure of their roles, which sets them apart from their colleagues.

What do investors want to hear at your initial meeting with them?

Securing a distinct position with defensible technology is not just a strategic advantage in the startup ecosystem, but a crucial factor for survival and attracting investment.

Making a Profit and Loss (P&L) statement that appeals to investors is essential for early-stage companies preparing for a seed funding round.