5,000+ Post-Exit Founders: What Actually Works with Barak Kaufman

Barak Kaufman, founder of Post‑Exit Founders (PEF), grew a 5,000+ member community in four years by word of mouth. He shares what he’s learned from their stories: what works after an exit and what does not. Barak is now partner at VC firm Vine Ventures in New York City and Tel Aviv.

Connect with Barak:
Linkedin:   / barakk  
X: @barak-kaufman
PEF: https://pef.xyz/
Vine Ventures: https://vineventures.com

Connect with Anastasia:
Linkedin:   / anastasiakoroleva  
X: @AnasKoroleva
Newsletter: https://www.exitparadox.com/blog
About Anastasia: https://www.exitparadox.com/about

Listen to Exit Paradox Podcast:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7qWn...
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TIME STAMPS:
00:00 – Why your exit dollar figure doesn’t define you
00:16 – Introduction: Barak Kaufman & Post Exit Founders (PEF)
01:08 – Life after selling: discomfort, confusion, recalibration
02:11 – Supporting exited founders to make better decisions
03:07 – Barak reflects on being interviewed
08:18 – Origins of PEF: growth, community DNA, culture of kindness
10:02 – Challenges of scale: 5,000+ members and maintaining trust
12:50 – Dating, cofounders, and tribes within PEF
14:24 – Building “intentional serendipity” in the community
16:47 – The importance of in-person connection
22:32 – Lack of judgment and welcoming messy post-exit journeys
24:58 – Why PEF doesn’t ask about the size of your exit
27:10 – The “golden cage” of financial freedom
28:25 – Barak’s unusual path: investor → founder → investor
35:44 – Barak’s mission: helping exited founders find their purpose
after acquisition
37:32 – Early post-exit struggles
39:11 – Joining Vine Ventures and rediscovering purpose
42:35 – From negative one to zero: finding clarity
44:44 – Angel investing regrets & lessons learned
46:39 – Fulfillment, family, and life design
58:46 – Parenting identity as post-exit mission
59:40 – Hiding behind noble roles: parenting, philanthropy, boards
01:02:18 – Why many rush into a new venture too quickly
01:03:50 – The three typical post-exit paths: messy middle, next mountain, not seeking
01:06:52 – The “wasted decade” risk if clarity is delayed
01:17:15 – Different founder motivations: curiosity, relationships, efficiency
01:18:51 – Closing thoughts & gratitude

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5,000+ Post-Exit Founders: What Actually Works with Barak Kaufman