What you should actually take away from the Wiz acquisition

The sun rises. The sun sets. And everyone in Israel is still obsessed with the VC-backed startup path.

I get it - $32bn is no joke.

The formula seems simple enough:

1. Fundraise

2. Build

3. Exit

Easy, right?

But here's the problem:

More than 90% of startups fail - and never return cash to equity holders.

This is probably the most widely-known but underrated fact about the Israeli (and global) tech ecosystem. And why most smart ambitious people in Israel would make more money starting a business generating revenue from Day 1 than pursuing the VC-backed route.

Don't believe me?

I know tons of people making $250K+ annually in Israel who never raised a shekel. Including me (shhh - I’ve been pretty quiet recently about my earnings on LinkedIn recently - tried to keep that relatively quiet until I hit $1m/year).

The Wiz Exit is Incredible for Our Ecosystem. No Doubt.

The numbers alone tell a remarkable story:

• Founded just 4 years ago as the pandemic began

• Reached $100M ARR faster than almost any SaaS company in history

• Valued at $12B in May after raising $1B

• Now acquired for $32B, more than double Google's previous largest acquisition

Not to mention how much of this growth happened post-Oct. 7, under war and rocketfire and as 1,000s of tech employees were called to reserve duty while trying to keep business under control.

BUT! And there is always a but!

Too many talented young people see this and think, I should do this.

Wrong.

High risk. VERY low likelihood of success.

Wiz is the exception. Not the rule. That’s why it’s such a big deal.

And why spend years burning the midnight oil — chasing the startup lottery pipe dream — when you can build reliable six-figure businesses serving clients directly with zero funding and immediate revenue?

The $250K Path That Doesn't Require a VC's Permission

This path is not for the faint-hearted.

Mostly it requires 1 main goal: wealth, not status.

Think about that. If you want status — go for it, raise VC funding, raise your Series A, B, C…make it to the Forbes 40 Under 40…go speak on growth podcasts — go for it. That’s your prerogative.

But if you want wealth? If you want the joy and calm that comes from financial freedom?

There’s a much easier / strait-forward path.

Call it building a service business. Call it building an agency. Call it something else. Doesn’t matter. Here’s what it looks like:

• BUILD expertise in a niche area

• GIVE consistent value to customers

• GET PAID real cash (or equity in some cases)

• DO IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN until you are contributing massively to the Israeli ecosystem and your wallet (and soul!) are very happy and fulfilled.

That’s literally it.

No cap tables. No board meetings. No boss telling you when you can on vacation.

The Israeli Wealth Matrix: 3 Paths, 1 Clear Winner

The truth is wealth generation has many forms here.

This is why I'm always surprised whenever someone tells me there's only one path to financial success in Israel.

Many friends are pursuing the soloprenuer route $20-30K monthly serving Israeli companies directly. They hit $250K+ annual revenue within 12-18 months of starting.

Yes, celebrate the big exits. They push our ceiling higher.

But if financial freedom is your goal, recognize that chasing VC funding might be the WORST path to financial freedom for most people here.

Betting on yourself can take many forms...

And there's 1 non-VC-backed option that generates revenue IMMEDIATELY with a HELLUVA lot lower risk and HELLUVA higher chance of making an easy $200-300k annually.

My Solopreneur Journey: From Zero to $10K/Month in 90 Days

When I started ADJ Strategies, I had people tell me I should build a scalable product, raise money, get an office in Tel Aviv. You know the drill.

Instead, I opted to build a simple service business with low overhead and high margins, focused entirely on a specific niche: founder-led branding for B2B tech CEOs.

Within 90 days, I had built from 0 to $10K/month.

No investors. No pitch decks. No board meetings.

Just delivering incredible value, consistently, to people who were happy to pay for it.

The 5 Unfair Advantages of Israel-Based Solopreneurs

What I've found is that the solopreneur path offers some incredible advantages:

1. Immediate revenue: You get paid from Day 1, not years later

2. Complete control: Every decision is yours to make - no explaining to investors why your CAC is up 20%

3. Profit-first mentality: Keep 100% of what you make (minus taxes, of course - hi, mas hachnasa!)

4. Lifestyle flexibility: Want to work from Italy for a week? No board permission needed

5. Low overhead: A laptop and Mae’s Tel Aviv's wifi is all you need to bill $20K/month

Look, I'm not saying the VC path is wrong. For some businesses and some founders, it's absolutely the right move.Look, I'm not saying the VC path is wrong. For some businesses and some founders, it's absolutely the right move.

But for most talented, skilled professionals in Israel, there's a more direct path to financial freedom that doesn't involve convincing VCs to bet on you.

It involves getting clients to bet on you instead. And that's a much easier bet to win.

What do you think? Have you considered the solopreneur route instead of the traditional startup path? Reply and let me know - curious to hear your thoughts.

Until next time,

Andrew

PS: If you found this valuable, please share it with a friend who might be on the fence about which path to take in their entrepreneurial journey. And if you're not already subscribed, join 300+ solopreneurs and founders who are learning to build a profitable service business to $1m in Israel.