Israel declared war on Hamas following a devastating attack by the militant group on Saturday. Israelis are still reeling, mourning the deaths of at least 1,200 people. Bessemer Venture Partners' Adam Fisher lives near Tel Aviv. He describes life right now as operating on "two incongruous planes." Fisher explains that "on the one hand, a lot of things continue as usual... the country's not static. It's moving. Things are happening. People are working. On the other hand, something are not happening. Schools are shut. People have less productive hours in the day because they are very distracted... whether it's the occasional air raid siren or the trickle of more horrifying news from three or four days ago."

Video Transcript

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JOSH LIPTON: Adam Fisher is considered one of the top investors in Israel. Since 2007, he has managed Bessemer's Israel office, where he has invested in more than 30 Israeli startups. We spoke to Adam about the war and how he and his portfolio founders are navigating this conflict.

ADAM FISHER: My media family is fine. I'm too old, as it seems, to be called up to the reserves. My children are still too young. But we have friends and colleagues and family members, who either have been called up.

JOSH LIPTON: And what is life like right now, Adam? You work in Tel Aviv. You live right outside Tel Aviv. What is life like right now, just day-to-day, as this conflict rages on?

ADAM FISHER: Well, I would say it operates on two incongruous planes, if you will. On the one hand, a lot of things continue as usual. I mean, the country is not static. It's moving. Things are happening. People are working. On the other hand, some things are not happening. Schools are shut. People have less productive hours in the day, because they're very distracted, as you can imagine, whether it's the occasional air raid siren or the trickle of more horrifying news from three or four days ago.

JOSH LIPTON: You know, you're a venture investor, Adam. It almost feels, you know, a bit uncomfortable to talk about business and investing as war rages. But I want to ask you just about the Israeli tech community. It is, of course, a global powerhouse. How is it navigating this conflict, Adam?