Fundraising Fox

Dean Sysman

Investor

Venture Advisor at AI Fund

New York, New York

Writes $5K – $50K checks Β· typically $25K

About

Dean Sysman is Executive Chair and Co-Founder of Axonius, a cybersecurity company that reached $2.6 billion valuation and $100 million ARR within five years of its founding, which he led as CEO for nine years. He conducts research at Columbia University at the intersection of systems and artificial intelligence, and serves on the boards of Olakai, Lasso Security, and SecurityScorecard, with an investment portfolio spanning over 20 early-stage companies including three unicorns. Sysman is a graduate of computer science from the Israeli special "Etgar" program and a former captain in the Israeli Intelligence Corps.

Experience

  1. AxoniusExec Chair and Co-Foundercurrent2026 β€” presentNew York, NY
  2. AxoniusCEO and Co-Founder2017 β€” 2026New York City Metropolitan Area
  3. Columbia UniversityPhD Researchcurrent2026 β€” presentNew York, NY
  4. SecurityScorecardBoard Membercurrent2026 β€” present
  5. LassoBoard Membercurrent2026 β€” present
  6. Bessemer Venture PartnersVenture Advisercurrent2026 β€” present
  7. OlakaiBoard Membercurrent2024 β€” present
  8. StartupsInvestorcurrent2016 β€” present
  9. CymmetriaCTO and Co-Founder2014 β€” 2017Tel Aviv/San Francisco
  10. Israeli Military Intelligence - Unit 8200Research Team Leader2012 β€” 2014
  11. Israeli Military Intelligence - Unit 8200Technological Researcher2009 β€” 2012
  12. Integrity Project (acquired by Mellanox Technologies)Software Developer2012Ramat Gan, Israel

Education

  1. Columbia UniversityDoctor of Philosophy, Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  2. University of HaifaBachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Computer Science2005 β€” 2009
  3. The Hebrew Reali SchoolHigh School, Computer Science2003 β€” 2008

Skills & more

Programming99x86 Assembly31ARM20Windows kernel programming21Linux Kernel20Android Development12OOP28Multithreading16Algorithms41Software Development16Software Design9Software Engineering7
+12 moreObject Oriented DesignReverse EngineeringObject-Oriented Programming (OOP)Start-upsEntrepreneurshipNetwork SecuritySecurity ResearchVulnerability ResearchCandorC++CHTML

From Dean's professional profile.

Colleagues at AI Fund

Network4

Investors connected to Dean in public investor directories β€” a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Dean Sysman work?
Dean Sysman is Venture Advisor at AI Fund.
What check size does Dean Sysman write?
Dean Sysman typically writes checks of $5K – $50K.

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,730

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

+ 8,723 more

Columbia University mafia194

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

+ 187 more

Bessemer Venture Partners mafia17

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

+ 10 more

AI Fund mafia8

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

+ 1 more

University of Haifa mafia7

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Same school

Shared employers