Invested by Aleph

Adam Fisher, Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, on What it Takes to be a Great VC, Lessons from Wix and Fiverr, and Why Israel Should Let Go of the “Startup Nation” Narrative

Dec 4, 2024

Adam Fisher, a seasoned partner at Bessemer Venture Partners, brings over 20 years of experience in the Israeli tech scene. He discusses the unique advantages of being an immigrant VC, likening it to having fresh perspectives in investment strategies. Adam dives into his early investments in Wix and Fiverr, noting their distinct branding and pricing evolution. He also touches on the importance of speaking out against anti-Semitism and the need for intellectual honesty in the venture capital landscape, urging for a more representative academic discourse.

01:15:02

Episode guests

Adam Fisher

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Adam Fisher emphasizes the vital role of intellectual honesty in shaping effective decision-making and fostering genuine relationships in venture capital.

His experiences as an introverted venture capitalist illustrate the unique advantages of deep thinking and meaningful conversation in networking dynamics.

Fisher's empathetic perspective highlights the emotional impact of investments, recognizing the dreams of entrepreneurs as central to the venture capital experience.

Deep dives

The Impact of the Move from Flash to HTML

The transition from Flash to HTML significantly affected users, as it meant that certain platforms no longer supported Flash, leaving millions with disrupted access. This shift highlighted the responsibility of tech companies to their user base and the ensuing consequences of such decisions, revealing how quickly an established technology could be rendered obsolete. Adam Fisher reflects on personal feelings towards these kinds of industry shifts, noting the emotional toll on entrepreneurs who invest their passion into their products. Ultimately, it poses a question about the ethical obligations of companies towards their users and the impact of technological evolution on entrepreneurial dreams.

Intro

4min

Tracing Heritage and Emphasizing Core Values

2min

Introverts vs. Extroverts in Venture Capital

3min

Poetic Reflections and Modern Warfare

5min

Voicing Perspectives: Navigating Silence and Anti-Semitism

9min

Navigating Venture Capital as an Immigrant

18min

Investing Insights: Wix and Fiverr's Journey

17min

Local Insights in Venture Capital

15min

The Balance of Success and Humility

2min

On this episode of Invested, Michael hosts Adam Fisher, one of the most prolific early stage investors in Israel with over two decades of experience investing across the technology stack. He established Bessemer's Israel office in 2007 and has invested in more than 60 companies primarily at the Seed and Series A stages. Over his career, Adam has helped 24 companies reach successful exits, including some of Israel's most notable companies like Wix, Fiverr, and Habana. His current portfolio has some of Israel's largest cloud companies such as Hibob, Melio, Yotpo and Cloudinary.

Adam’s life experiences–like his investments–are uniquely global. Born in South Africa, Adam was raised and educated in the US, where he studied at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Before joining Bessemer, he spent nine years at Jerusalem Venture Partners, where he was a partner in their New York, Jerusalem, and Beijing offices.

Please rate this episode 5 stars wherever you stream your podcasts!

KEY TOPICS