Guy Flechter, co-founder and CEO of Sola Security, shares how he transformed disappointment into learning opportunities while building a global product-led growth cybersecurity platform with 5,000+ customers. From getting ghosted by VCs to securing Microsoft as an investor, Guy reveals the frameworks behind his second-time founder success—including why choosing learning over disappointment became essential for managing the founder rollercoaster, and how he built Sola's global go-to-market strategy using three pillars: social networks, PLG product design, and a global-first mindset.

He breaks down the B2P (Business to Practitioner) model for cybersecurity startups, why product marketing and UI/UX designers should be top-10 hires for non-American founders, how AI is creating generalist security practitioners, and practical wellness strategies like daily 7-8km walks to combat burnout. If you care about building a modern cybersecurity startup with a product-led growth motion, this episode delivers concrete mental models and playbooks you can apply.📖 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How reframing disappointment as a learning opportunity builds founder resilience
• Why founder‑led fundraising still involves rejection and ghosting—and how to respond
• The principles of product‑led growth (PLG) and why a self‑service product scales globally
• How to use social networks and a B2P mindset to reach practitioners worldwide
• Why early hires should include product marketing and UI/UX professionals
• The case for global teams and flattening the emotional ups and downs of startup life
• How AI‑powered tools will shift security from specialists toward generalists
• Lessons on respectful hiring and firing from a second‑time founder

The importance of curiosity and lifelong learning for aspiring cybersecurity professionals🔔 Listen and Subscribe

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcast
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2apfGY403NGr1EyTNkJfG4
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/the-generalists

👤 Hosts

• Michael Smith Jr.: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/
• Raz Kotler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/razkotler/

👤 Guest

• Guy Flechter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-flechter-ba475535/

🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned🧠 Concepts and Research

• System and Organization Controls (SOC 2): https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/landing/system-and-organization-controls-soc-suite-of-services
• Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governance,_risk_management,_and_compliance
• Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): https://www.shopify.com/encyclopedia/customer-acquisition-cost
• Net Revenue Retention (NRR): https://www.klipfolio.com/resources/articles/what-is-net-revenue-retention

🏢 Companies

• Sola Security: https://www.solasecurity.ai
• Cider Security: https://www.cidersecurity.io
• AppsFlyer: https://www.appsflyer.com
• LivePerson: https://www.liveperson.com
• Lovable: https://www.lovable.dev
• Cursor: https://www.cursor.sh
• Stripe: https://stripe.com
• Monday.com: https://monday.com
• Notion: https://www.notion.so
• Wix: https://www.wix.com
• Figma: https://www.figma.com
• Canva: https://www.canva.com

🎧 Podcast and Media

• Lenny’s Podcast: https://www.lennyspodcast.com
• Pattern Breakers Podcast: https://www.patternbreakers.com/podcast

📚 Books and Articles

• Pattern Breakers by Mike Maples Jr. & Peter Ziebelman: https://www.patternbreakers.com/book
• The New AI Growth Playbook: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/the-new-ai-growth-playbook
• The Rise of Cursor: https://www.lennyspodcast.com/the-rise-of-cursor

#ProductLedGrowth #cybersecurity #SecondTimeFounder