Israeli start-up, Alignment Labs, is successfully functioning despite its co-founders – Yehuda Neeman and Alon Blum – being actively enlisted in reserves during ongoing conflict. Neeman, the company’s CEO and Blum, its CPO, were called up for duty in the wake of the Hamas attacks on October 7, leaving the start-up with just one remaining employee.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the two-year-old company is continuing to cater to its clients – Windward, Fairtility and Lumen – thanks to its flagship product, Goni. The virtual chief alignment officer provides data-based management insights and ensures that all employees are fully aligned.

Neeman pointed to a widespread problem in tech R&D departments: a misunderstanding of priorities among 40% of employees which can lead to missed deadlines and loss of valued clients or staff. Goni serves to address these issues, verifying alignment among employees by learning the company culture and talking with the employees.

Managing Partner at Jumpspeed Ventures, Ben Wiener, recognized the potential of the start-up when another of its customers, a 20-person company, found every single one of its staff’s priorities differed from the CEO’s until Goni stepped in. Noting the prevalence of this issue, even in large companies, Wiener championed Alignment Labs for aiming to rectify internal misalignments in corporate communications, particularly in R&D departments which he described as being a ‘limitless’ playground.

In the face of adversity, Alignment Labs is persevering with its focus firmly set on expanding its customer base in the US and embarking on a new round of funding that had been deferred since last Fall.

Source: How can a startup function when its founders go to war?