"One of the most critical factors for a successful venture is building a strong and stable founding team"
As part of the Growth+ project of Calcalist and Poalim Tech, Minute Media founder Asaf Peled spoke about the importance of a stable founding partnership. BonData CEO Caroline Meidan: "The biggest challenge this year was managing significant growth - in the team, the product, and our customer base - and scaling all of it effectively."
What happens when a seasoned media-tech founder meets a data-driven entrepreneur navigating rapid growth? As part of the Growth+ project by Calcalist and Poalim Tech, Minute Media CEO Asaf Peled sat down with BonData CEO Caroline Meidan for a candid conversation about scaling challenges, early-stage pitfalls, and the discipline required to turn technological success into business traction.
The Growth+ project, now in its second year, aims to strengthen the resilience of Israel’s high-tech sector through a series of one-on-one meetings between experienced entrepreneurs and early-stage startups, designed to provide guidance, support, and insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, startup management, and sustainable growth.
Asaf, tell us about a crisis you experienced early on and what you learned from it.
“We launched Minute Media with three co-founders, but due to a combination of circumstances, I ended up continuing alone. The breakup between founders in the early years created a real crisis. While I maintain a good relationship with them, we haven’t worked together in years. One of the most critical factors for a successful venture, in my view, is building a strong and stable founding team that can last over time.”
Caroline, what was your biggest challenge this year?
“The biggest challenge was managing significant growth - in the team, the product, and our customer base - and scaling all of it effectively. We had to support sales while also ensuring the product could handle the increased demand. Synchronizing all of these moving parts simultaneously was extremely demanding.”
Asaf, what advice did you give Caroline?
“I advised her to avoid overinvesting in marketing at the early stages. It’s more important to focus on refining the product and perfecting the sales process. The CEO should be directly involved in the first sales, and your first salesperson needs to be exactly the right fit, this can be the tipping point between failure and success. We initially hired salespeople who didn’t deliver. The moment we brought in someone who could truly sell, the impact was immediate and transformative.”
What did you learn from each other?
Caroline: “Asaf brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial and investment experience. He knows how to assess situations from both perspectives, and he offers tailored, precise advice rather than generic feedback. In startups, you hear a lot of advice, what matters is filtering it and applying only what fits your unique journey.”
Asaf: “Caroline reminded me of the technological depth that still defines Israeli startups. I’ve been immersed in the content and sports worlds lately, so reconnecting with that tech mindset was refreshing. I was especially impressed by her clarity, focus, and her ability to turn complex technology into a clear, compelling solution.”
What’s something surprising you learned about each other?
Caroline: “I thought Asaf was still in London, but it turns out he returned to Israel with his family during the war. It’s inspiring, he left a successful investment career to follow his passion for sports.”
Asaf: “I found out Caroline and I actually grew up near each other. She’s raising two teenagers and somehow still manages to lead a startup while being a present and involved mother. That’s no small feat.”
