Business · TechCrunch AI
From growing to 75 employees to scaling back and rebuilding, Yogev learned firsthand that the hardest part of leadership isn’t
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In this episode, Isabelle Johannessen and Yogev unpack what it means to lead through layoffs with compassion and how founders can support their teams even in the most challenging moments.
Key facts
- TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: They're back for TechCrunch Disrupt on October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage
- Be sure to say you heard about Startup Battlefield from the Build Mode podcast
- Apply to Startup Battlefield: The team are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP
- From growing to 75 employees to scaling back and rebuilding, Yogev learned firsthand that the hardest part of leadership isn’t hiring fast, it’s making tough decisions with care, transparency
Summary
This week’s guest is Ayal Yogev, co-founder and CEO of Anjuna Security, who has experienced both sides of the startup journey: scaling quickly during the boom years and then making the incredibly difficult decision to lay off a significant portion of his team when the market shifted. From growing to 75 employees to scaling back and rebuilding, Yogev learned firsthand that the hardest part of leadership isn’t hiring fast, it’s making tough decisions with care, transparency, and integrity. Apply to Startup Battlefield: The team are looking for early-stage companies that have an MVP. TechCrunch Disrupt 2026: They're back for TechCrunch Disrupt on October 13 to 15 in San Francisco, where the Startup Battlefield 200 takes the stage.