Lior Akavia

Lior joined Viola Ventures in 2024, focusing on investments in cybersecurity, enterprise infrastructure software, and AI.

Before transitioning to the investor side, Lior was the CEO and Co-Founder of Seebo, an industrial AI startup that helped tier-one manufacturers worldwide predict and prevent quality and yield losses.

Seebo was successfully acquired in 2022 for $130 million. Viola Ventures led the Series A round for Seebo and served on the board until its acquisition.

Prior to Seebo, Lior co-founded and led Playfect, a company that manufactured millions of gaming accessories and sold them in more than 35 countries before its acquisition in 2013.

Lior’s journey in technology began early; he started his computer science B.Sc. at the age of 15 and graduated Summa Cum Laude. This achievement paved the way for five years in an elite cybersecurity unit in the Israeli army, where he served as a software developer and R&D manager. During his military service, Lior also completed his MBA.

Lior says, “As an entrepreneur, I experienced the roller coaster of running a startup. Now, as an investor, I help entrepreneurs succeed in their journey. My goal is to increase their chances of building successful and impactful companies. I empower entrepreneurs through what I learned in founding and selling two startups, based on the mistakes I made, the lessons I learned, and a few good decisions I was fortunate to make.”

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Co-founder and CEO at Seebo, an AI-based process-optimization solution for manufacturers, acquired by Augury.
• Co-founder and Co-CEO at Playfect, a video-game accessories manufacturer, acquired by Mobile-fun.
• Head of an R&D section in a cybersecurity unit.

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT LIOR

• Lior is passionate about wave surfing: “Despite surfing since I was a teenager, I was never too good at it. So while at the sea, I remind myself that surfing is all about having fun.”
• During his army service, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, making him the youngest officer of that rank in the entire Israel Defense Forces at the time.
• Lior has lived and worked in Tel Aviv, Shenzhen, and San Francisco.
• Lior has performed one song live on stage with his childhood’s favorite rock band – Shabak Samech.