About us
Our Story
The Connection Catalyst was born from a simple observation: the most valuable business opportunities are often hiding in plain sight, within our existing networks.
Founder Dori Stein discovered this truth repeatedly throughout his entrepreneurial journey. After successfully founding, scaling, and exiting multiple companies, including SMBS (acquired by Rubinstein Software), Goldenfeeds (reached multimillion-dollar ARR), and Fornova (scaled to tens of millions and 200 employees), one pattern became increasingly clear — the power of warm introductions far outweighed cold outreach.
In 2023, while helping startups create investment content and raise funds through his EdGrants venture, Dori faced a familiar challenge. Countless founders and venture capital firms were struggling with inefficient networking — either not leveraging their existing connections or wasting valuable relationship capital on unfocused introduction requests.
The Connection Catalyst emerged as the solution to this universal business problem, combining sophisticated AI technology with proven relationship-building strategies to transform how professionals leverage their networks.
We believe that everyone's professional network contains untapped gold mines of opportunity. Our mission is to help founders, sales teams, venture capital firms, and business leaders uncover these hidden opportunities through intelligent, precision-targeted networking.
We're committed to:
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Transforming relationship capital into tangible business results
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Eliminating the inefficiency of traditional cold outreach
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Preserving valuable connections by making every introduction request count
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Creating authentic opportunities that benefit all parties involved
Our Mission
"I've founded four companies and raised over $37M in capital. In every success story, there was a common thread: someone in my network made a critical introduction that opened the right door. The challenge was always identifying which doors to knock on and who could open them." — Dori Stein, Founder
Expert Team
Dori Stein, Founder & CEO
A serial entrepreneur with a track record of building and scaling successful companies across multiple industries. Dori has:
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Founded 4 technology companies
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Raised over $30M in venture capital
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Built teams of 200+ professionals
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Achieved one successful exit and built multiple profitable companies valued at tens to hundreds of millions of dollars
Operated globally with offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Amsterdam and Tel Aviv
Dori brings deep expertise in market transparency, business development, and leveraging technology to create efficiency in relationship-driven industries.
"After experiencing both sides of the introduction equation — as someone seeking introductions and as someone constantly asked to make them — I became obsessed with solving this problem. The Connection Catalyst is the culmination of that journey."
Joerg Noppens, Chief Operating Officer
Joerg "George" serves as Chief Operating Officer of Connection Catalyst, bringing over 15 years of experience in e-commerce, digital retail, and go-to-market strategies. With a proven track record that includes leadership roles at EdGrants, Fornova, and Goldenfeeds, George excels at leveraging data-driven methodologies and AI-powered solutions to optimize business outcomes. His expertise spans SaaS implementation, multi-channel digital marketing, and strategic business development across international markets. As COO, George oversees the operational infrastructure that powers Connection Catalyst's network analysis technology, ensuring seamless delivery of high-value introductions to clients while continuously refining the company's approach based on performance metrics and market trends. His unique blend of technical knowledge and business acumen makes him instrumental in scaling the company's innovative approach to relationship-based business development.
Maximilian Noppens, Head of Data Intelligence
Maximilian "Max" Noppens Weber serves as Head of Data Intelligence for Connection Catalyst, where he orchestrates all data gathering initiatives and campaign operations that power the company's network analysis system. With a background in advanced data extraction methodologies and a passion for transforming raw information into actionable intelligence, Max leads the team responsible for securely processing tens of thousands of LinkedIn connections daily. His expertise in navigating platform limitations while maintaining compliance with terms of service ensures maximum data quality and processing efficiency. Max has developed proprietary methods for enhancing connection extraction rates without compromising data integrity, enabling Connection Catalyst to deliver comprehensive network analyses even for clients with extensive professional ecosystems. His meticulous approach to data management and campaign orchestration forms the technical foundation that makes the company's precision-targeted introduction service possible.
Our Values
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Relationship First: We believe business is fundamentally about human connections. Technology should enhance relationships, not replace them.
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Authentic Value Exchange: Every introduction should create mutual benefit. We focus on matches where all parties gain value.
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Quality Over Quantity: A few perfect connections outperform hundreds of mediocre ones. We prioritize precision over volume.
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Respect for Relationship Capital: Trust takes years to build and seconds to damage. We help you leverage your network without depleting your social currency.
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Data-Driven Personalization: The best outreach combines human intuition with data intelligence. We blend both for optimal results.
The Connection Catalyst is more than a service — it's a new approach to professional networking that prioritizes precision, authenticity, and measurable results.
Whether you're growing a sales pipeline, raising capital, or expanding into new markets, we invite you to experience the power of precision-targeted introductions through your existing relationships.
"The difference between struggling to get noticed and having the right doors open for you often comes down to who makes the introduction. We help you find those perfect connectors hiding in your network." — Dori Stein
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