Dean Sysman
InvestorVenture Advisor at AI Fund
New York, New York
Writes $5K β $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
- AxoniusExec Chair and Co-Foundercurrent2026 β presentNew York, NY
- AxoniusCEO and Co-Founder2017 β 2026New York City Metropolitan Area
- Columbia UniversityPhD Researchcurrent2026 β presentNew York, NY
- SecurityScorecardBoard Membercurrent2026 β present
- LassoBoard Membercurrent2026 β present
- Bessemer Venture PartnersVenture Advisercurrent2026 β present
- OlakaiBoard Membercurrent2024 β present
- StartupsInvestorcurrent2016 β present
- CymmetriaCTO and Co-Founder2014 β 2017Tel Aviv/San Francisco
- Israeli Military Intelligence - Unit 8200Research Team Leader2012 β 2014
- Israeli Military Intelligence - Unit 8200Technological Researcher2009 β 2012
- Integrity Project (acquired by Mellanox Technologies)Software Developer2012Ramat Gan, Israel
Education
- Columbia UniversityDoctor of Philosophy, Electrical and Electronics Engineering
- University of HaifaBachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Computer Science2005 β 2009
- The Hebrew Reali SchoolHigh School, Computer Science2003 β 2008
Skills & more
+12 more
Object Oriented DesignReverse EngineeringObject-Oriented Programming (OOP)Start-upsEntrepreneurshipNetwork SecuritySecurity ResearchVulnerability ResearchCandorC++CHTMLFrom 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 β $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
Also attended Columbia University687
+ 681 more
Also attended University of Haifa39
+ 33 more
Also attended The Hebrew Reali School10
+ 4 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Axonius15
+ 9 more
Also worked at Columbia University163
+ 157 more
Also worked at Startups14
+ 8 more
Also worked at Israeli Military Intelligence - Unit 820042
+ 36 more



















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