When Real Life Superpowers hosts Noa Eshed and Ronen Menipaz invited Yossi Barishev to their podcast, they expected a discussion about cybersecurity. What they got instead was a masterclass in courage, adaptability, and the psychology of entrepreneurship. The former Signia and Fireblocks executive, now co-founder and CEO of a stealth-mode venture, shared how “controlled chaos” has become his secret weapon for building trust in an uncertain world.
Barishev, recently named one of the rising figures shaping the future of cybersecurity by leading publications, has led security operations for enterprises and advised Fortune 500 firms. Today, he’s channeling that experience into reimagining how digital identity and trust function in an AI-driven ecosystem. While his company remains in stealth, his philosophy of leadership and innovation is anything but hidden.
From the Outside In
Unlike many Israeli tech founders who emerge from elite military cyber units, Barishev’s path began far from the traditional pipeline. “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 side.”
That outsider status became an asset. When he joined Signia, a firm that has produced more than 20 cybersecurity startups, Barishev found himself surrounded by Unit 8200 veterans. “I felt like an imposter,” he recalled. “But eventually, I became one of the company’s top consultants. That was when I realized I could stand with the best.”
That revelation, he says, didn’t come from credentials but conviction. “Every meaningful growth spurt in my life came when my back was against the wall,” he said. “When I had no choice but to swim.”
Controlled Chaos and Courage
Barishev’s career and personal philosophy center on what he calls “controlled chaos,” the deliberate act of stepping into discomfort to force growth. “If you can create chaos in a controlled manner,” he said, “you’ll learn far more than you ever could in comfort.”
It’s a fitting mindset for a founder building in one of the world’s fastest-moving industries. Cyberattacks are becoming more frequent and more expensive: the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024 found that the average global breach costs $4.88 million, a 10% increase from the previous year. At the same time, attacks are accelerating. According to SlashNext’s 2024 Phishing Intelligence Report, credential-phishing attempts surged by 703 % in the second half of the year.
For Barishev, such volatility is where courage matters most. “Running a startup means getting punched in the face hourly,” he joked, quoting Mike Tyson. “You can’t plan your way out. You just have to trust yourself to adapt.”
Redefining Trust in an AI World
Barishev’s stealth venture, co-founded with longtime colleague Yonatan Rosenberg, aims to rebuild digital trust architectures for enterprises navigating the new AI frontier. While he remains tight-lipped about the technology, he describes the mission as “solving a problem that defined my entire career.”
As identity, access, and trust mechanisms face increasing automation, Barishev sees a widening gap between what’s secure and what’s merely convenient. “AI has amplified both opportunity and risk,” he explained. “The real challenge is restoring confidence in digital interactions when algorithms make the decisions.”
That emphasis on trust couldn’t be timelier. According to McKinsey & Company’s 2022 research on digital trust, only a minority of companies are properly mitigating digital and AI risks despite consumers placing a high premium on data protection and transparency.
Meanwhile, a blog from Actian Corporation highlights that around 60% of AI initiatives are predicted to miss their value targets by 2027 due to fragmented governance and weak alignment between technology, data, and business strategy.
For Barishev, that’s the gap his company intends to close.
Building With Balance
Behind the technical ambition is a distinctly human approach. Barishev and Rosenberg’s partnership is grounded in complementary strengths and emotional intelligence. “You don’t want a co-founder who’s your clone,” he said. “You want someone who balances you out.”
Their dynamic reflects growing evidence that team harmony drives startup success. Still, Barishev admits his greatest strength, adaptability, can also be his biggest weakness. “I’m like a gecko,” he said. “I can adjust to any environment. But my kryptonite is focus. When everything feels urgent, focus is the first thing to go.”
The Courage to Build Without a Net
That self-awareness defines Barishev’s leadership. “When you have a fallback, you fall back,” he said. “It’s easier to be forced to be brave than to choose bravery.” It’s a statement that captures both the vulnerability and conviction of a founder operating without guarantees.
As he looks toward launching his company, Barishev remains grounded in the same mindset that fueled his rise: resilience through uncertainty. “I’ve learned that when you leap before you’re ready, that’s where the real growth begins,” he said.
Listen to the full Real Life Superpowers episode featuring Yossi Barishev on Calcalist Tech.
