Overview
Assaf Rappaport is co-founder and CEO of cloud security company Wiz and an angel investor in early-stage startups [1]. Rappaport holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (2001–2005) [13] and a Master of Science in Computer Science from Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (2005–2012) [12]. Prior to founding Wiz in February 2020 [4], Rappaport served as General Manager of the Cloud Security Group at Microsoft beginning in September 2015 [8] and as General Manager of Microsoft Israel R&D from January 2018 to January 2020 [7]. Rappaport previously co-founded Adallom, serving as co-founder and CEO from December 2012 to September 2015 [9], and worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company from 2010 to 2012 [10]. Rappaport is a founding LP and IC member at Mensch Capital Partners [5] and a member of Cyberstarts [6].
Career history
- Co-Founder & CEOFeb 2020 to PresentWiz
- Founding LP and IC MemberAug 2021 to PresentMensch Capital Partners
- MemberMar 2020 to PresentCyberstarts
- General Manager, Microsoft Israel R&DJan 2018 to Jan 2020Microsoft
- General Manager, Cloud Security GroupSep 2015 to Jan 2020Microsoft
- Co-Founder & CEODec 2012 to Sep 2015Adallom
- Consultant2010 to 2012McKinsey & Company
- Software Engineer & Project ManagerOct 2004 to May 2010IDF
Education
Master of Science (M.Sc.), Computer Science2005 - 2012Technion, Israel Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Computer Science2001 - 2005The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Insights & ideas
The through-line
The material available on Assaf Rappaport centers on a small number of moments rather than a sustained public philosophy: a rejected acquisition offer that became a defining moment of leadership conviction, an attempted deepfake attack on his own company that turned into a lesson in operational vigilance, and glimpses of the personal texture behind a record-setting deal. Across these, a consistent thread is a willingness to hold a firm line under pressure, whether that pressure comes from a suitor's money or from an attacker impersonating his own voice.
On walking away from a deal
When Alphabet's roughly $23 billion offer for Wiz collapsed amid antitrust and investor concerns, Rappaport chose to end the negotiations and pursue an IPO instead, framing the decision publicly in a memo to his team as a hard but confident call: "Decir que no a ofertas tan humillantes es difícil, pero con nuestro excepcional equipo, me siento seguro de tomar esa decisión" [6]. The phrasing is notable for what it reveals about his decision-making: the difficulty of saying no is acknowledged directly, but the confidence is placed not in the number on the table but in the team around him [6].
On security vigilance inside his own company
Wiz itself became a target of a high-stakes deepfake attack, and the episode that foiled it turned on something simple: employees' familiarity with Rappaport's own speaking style was enough to expose the audio deception before it could succeed [5]. The incident is discussed as a case study in how organizational familiarity, not just technical detection, can be a frontline defense against synthetic impersonation attacks targeting leadership [5].
On the personal side of a landmark deal
Alongside the scale of the Google-Wiz transaction, Rappaport's dog Mika became an unexpected part of the story's public life, and he discussed both the technology and the human side of the deal, including how a personal detail like a beloved pet found its way into a $32 billion moment [4].
Takeaways
- Rappaport turned down a roughly $23 billion Alphabet offer for Wiz, choosing an IPO path and telling his team that saying no to a "humillante" offer was hard but a decision he felt secure making because of his team [6].
- A deepfake attack aimed at Wiz was foiled in part because employees recognized that the audio didn't match Rappaport's actual speaking style [5].
- He has spoken about the personal side of the Wiz-Google deal, including the unexpected virality of his dog Mika amid the negotiations [4].
Media & appearances
- Gameful Intelligence™ with Dr GApple Podcasts8. Being Assaf Rappaport: A Parents’ Guide to the Era of AI.In this audio summary of my new book chapter, my AI co-hosts and I dive into Google’s $32 billion acquisition of Wiz Inc., co-founded by CEO Assaf Rappaport, to show how today's kids are the founders of tomorrow. You'll learn how to help your childre
- TechDaily.aiApple PodcastsGoogle’s $32B Wiz Deal: The Future of AI Cloud Security🎙️ Google just made the biggest acquisition in its history — a staggering $32 billion cash deal for cloud security startup Wiz. But this isn’t just another tech acquisition. It signals a major shift in how the entire digital infrastructure of
- PerspectivesApple PodcastsThe $32 Billion Bet. Alphabet's Acquisition of Wiz and the High Cost of the Winner's Curse in M&AIn March 2025, Alphabet (CEO Sundar Pichai) completed its $32 billion acquisition of cloud security unicorn Wiz (CEO Assaf Rappaport), the largest cybersecurity deal in history. The move is designed to transform Google Cloud into the security dashboard
- Israeli PuzzleApple PodcastsCharity Turned Terror Army: How Hamas HappenedIt began as a network of Islamic charities: Schools, clinics, and food drives serving Gaza’s poorest families. But within a few years, that network evolved into Hamas: a militant organisation waging jihad against Israel, the absolute ruler of Gaza, an
- Israeli PuzzleApple PodcastsPartition: A Nation DecidedIn 1947, the United Nations voted for two states living side by side in Palestine: One Jewish, one Arab. Within hours, violence erupted, and the plan collapsed. From British missteps to global lobbying, from celebration to war, we unravel the story of R
- Israeli PuzzleApple PodcastsUNRWA: From Relief to ControversyIt began as a stopgap measure after the 1948 war — a temporary agency to care for displaced Palestinians until a solution was reached. But a solution never came. Instead, UNRWA grew into a sprawling institution, redefining what it means to be a refuge
- Dog with BlogApple PodcastsThe Dog Who Helped Close a $32 Billion Business Deal!How did a dog become a viral sensation in a $32 billion tech deal? Explore Google's acquisition of Wiz, the industry's largest ever, and the remarkable story of Mika, CEO Assaf Rappaport's beloved dog. We discuss the tech, the virality, and the human side of a landmark moment, proving that even in billion-dollar deals, personal connection matters.
- GREY Journal Daily News PodcastApple PodcastsHow a Simple Detail Foiled a High Stakes Deepfake AttackEmployees' familiarity with their CEO's speaking style exposed audio deception in a high-stakes security breach attempt.
- WALL STREET COLADAApple PodcastsJulio 23: Nvidia está trabajando en un nuevo chip de inteligencia artificial para China. Verizon cae debido a que las ganancias mixtas generan preocupaciones sobre el crecimiento. WBD ecurre a los derechos de igualación en un intento de permanecer enNoticias Económicas y Financieras El universo de las criptomonedas alcanzará nuevos horizontes hoy con el lanzamiento de los ETF de ether al contado tras su aprobación por parte de la SEC. Ethereum (ETH-USD) cotiza al alza antes de que los fondos lleguen al mercado, subiendo un 1.3% hasta los 3.520 dólares en las primeras operaciones. Hace tan solo seis meses que se lanzaron los primeros ETF de bitcoin al contado y la demanda de esos fondos registró entradas netas acumuladas de más de $15.1B desde que empezaron a cotizar el 11 de enero. Ante las crecientes preocupaciones antimonopolio y de los inversores, la startup de ciberseguridad Wiz ha puesto fin a las negociaciones con Alphabet $GOOG $GOOGL para un acuerdo de $23B que habría sido la mayor adquisición del gigante tecnológico hasta el momento. Wiz, en cambio, buscará una oferta pública inicial, como estaba previsto anteriormente, mientras que la decisión supone otro golpe para Alphabet en el ámbito de las fusiones y adquisiciones después de que archivará sus planes de comprar HubSpot $HUBS. "Decir que no a ofertas tan humillantes es difícil, pero con nuestro excepcional equipo, me siento seguro de tomar esa decisión", dijo el director ejecutivo de Wiz, Assaf Rappaport, en un memorando divulgado.
- GREY Journal Daily News PodcastApple PodcastsWhy Would Wiz Walk Away from Googles Offer
Investments
Frame Security
A cybersecurity platform that trains employees to recognize and respond to AI-powered social engineering, deepfake, and phishing attacks
Harmony
An enterprise service management platform that delivers AI-native employee support across IT, HR, finance, procurement, and legal
In the news
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