From helping build a $4 billion public company to creating a new way to preserve memories!

This episode of The Startup Vagabond features Grant Watkins in conversation with Oleg Golynker, founder of Trueli and former founding CTO of Global-e, about entrepreneurship, venture capital, AI-powered photo sharing, and Israel's thriving startup ecosystem.

With over 30 years of experience in technology, Oleg shares his journey from moving to Israel to helping build Global-e, a cross-border e-commerce company that went public in 2021 with a reported $4 billion market capitalization. He also discusses his transition into startup investing and the lessons he's learned from venture capital.

We explore how Oleg's latest venture, Trueli, is transforming the way people collect, organize, and share memories. By integrating with WhatsApp and using AI-powered features such as facial recognition, photo organization, and duplicate detection, Trueli aims to bring scattered event photos together into one seamless experience.

Oleg also shares the challenges of building a consumer-focused startup, attracting early adopters, developing a sustainable business model, and his long-term vision of taking Trueli public.

The conversation dives into Israel's transformation into a global technology hub, the realities of startup investing, and why building a successful company requires years of commitment, resilience, and genuine passion.

The key takeaway: Great startups begin with problems founders deeply care about. Long-term success requires persistence, conviction, and the willingness to build something meaningful, even when the journey takes years.