# Yoav Vilner

> Yoav Vilner is an Israeli entrepreneur, investor, advisor, writer and musician. He co-founded startup marketing agency Ranky and interactive demo company Walnut, where he served as CEO before a board transition announced in January 2025. His subsequent work includes advising AI and cybersecurity companies, scouting for Andreessen Horowitz, and releasing music as Run Blind.

- **Role:** Co-founder and board member at Walnut; scout at Andreessen Horowitz; angel investor and startup advisor
- **Organizations:** Walnut, Ranky, L1ght, Andreessen Horowitz, Run Blind, International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences
- **Nationality:** Israeli
- **Known for:** Co-founded Ranky, which he says worked with approximately 600 startups and established offices in London and Manhattan., Co-founded Walnut, which had raised $56 million by January 2022., Helped lead the 2022 #WeAreProspects campaign.

## Career timeline

- **2012** — Co-founded Ranky with Shachar Shamir; Crunchbase records a December 2012 start.
- **2018** — Discussed Ranky and his return from New York on the Popcorn podcast.
- **2019-2020** — Served as founding CMO at L1ght, a company addressing harmful online content.
- **2020** — Co-founded Walnut with Danni Friedland.
- **2021** — Walnut raised a $15 million Series A, bringing disclosed funding to $21 million.
- **2022** — Walnut announced a $35 million Series B in January, reaching $56 million in total funding; launched #WeAreProspects that year.
- **2023** — Featured as a new Webby Awards B2B Marketing juror.
- **2025** — Walnut’s January press archive announced his board transition and Eric Anderson’s appointment as CEO; released Slow March as Run Blind.
- **2026** — Globes reported in September that he joined a16z as a scout in May.

## Achievements

- Co-founded Ranky, which he says worked with approximately 600 startups and established offices in London and Manhattan.
- Co-founded Walnut, which had raised $56 million by January 2022.
- Helped lead the 2022 #WeAreProspects campaign.
- Joined the Webby Awards judging academy for its B2B Marketing categories.
- Released the eight-track indie rock album Slow March as Run Blind in 2025.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Globes reported that Vilner had joined Andreessen Horowitz’s scout network in May 2026.
- **2025-07** — Rolling Stone MENA published a review of Run Blind’s Slow March on July 21.
- **2025-01** — Walnut’s press archive dated its announcement of his transition to a board role January 29; Eric Anderson became CEO.

## Links

- Website: https://yoavvilner.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoav-vilner/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/yoavvilner
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoavilner/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yoavilner

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/yoav-vilner
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-25