Yotam Rosenbaum
Venture Partner at 77 Partners
Yotam Rosenbaum is a venture partner at 77 Partners, investing in early-stage technology companies, and previously a founding partner at First Peak Ventures. He trained as a musician at Berklee College of Music before co-founding Earbits, a Y Combinator-backed music-streaming platform, with a bandmate in 2010; the company was later sold for a reported US$8 million. Rosenbaum has since become an active investor across more than 400 Y Combinator companies. On Perspective X with Pauline Fetaui, he discussed what YC looks for in founders and the work behind securing investment.
Career
- Now Venture Partner · 77 Partners
- Earlier Founding Partner · First Peak Ventures
- 2017–2019 Chief Entrepreneur in Residence · QUT Bluebox
- Until 2015 · Startup Co-founder & COO · Earbits
Sources: rocketreach.co
Key moments
Jump straight to the part of The Hidden Criteria Behind a YC Yes: Yotam on Founder Signals, and the Real Work Behind a Yes you want.
- 1:17 Embracing Uncertainty: Yotam’s Philosophy on Direction Without a Map
- 6:41 From Funk Band to Founder: The Origins of Earbits
- 11:05 The Aha Moment: Building the Google AdWords for Music
- 14:58 Joining Y Combinator: Early Traction & Getting In
- 20:04 Life at YC: Feeling Out of Place, Finding Belonging
- 24:29 Investing in 400+ YC Startups: How It Started Post-Exit
- 31:19 Moving to Australia: The Hot DesQ Bet That Paid Off
- 36:35 Comparing Ecosystems: SF vs Brisbane Startup Mindsets
- 41:09 The Importance of Community: No Founder Builds Alone
- 45:39 The 77 Partners Venture Challenge: Who It’s For
Connections
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Spot something wrong? Suggest a correction Updated 25 September 2026
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