Paris 2024Fiona Darmon: "We only have one Israel, and we aren't going anywhere"
Paris 2024
Fiona Darmon: "We only have one Israel, and we aren't going anywhere"
"We are resilient. We are survivors and we will persevere," added the Founder and Managing Partner of Sunvest Capital Partners during the Gala Evening of the Business Delegation to Paris led by Bank Hapoalim and Calcalist.
Look at this room. A room filled with passion, energy, success, persistence and audacity – Chutzpah as we call it. You have here the owners, CEOs and senior leadership of Israel’s leading financial institutions, real estate developers, fashion retailers, car importers, insurance companies, national airline, alongside the best VC, PE, Buyout and infrastructure funds Israel has to celebrate.
Amazing men and women who took temporary leave from the unprecedented painful reality we face in Israel, to travel out to Paris.
We did this for two main reasons - to strengthen our ties with your amazing country, the largest country in western Europe. But more importantly showing France and the world that we are strong. We are resilient. We are survivors and we will persevere. Our world changed forever on October 7 and since. It will never be the same. We realized who our partners are and who our foes are. We lost 1,517 beautiful souls, have 128 hostages, and hundreds of our family members now fighting to protect our democracy, our borders. Yet, we are here to stay.
Can you believe that since October 7, we have seen M&As in excess of $4.8 billion! Yes! $4.8B. Can you fathom that we have seen investments into over 250 technology companies of nearly $5B, $1.5B of that from international groups. 250 companies! $5 billion! That’s mind blowing! Can you comprehend that our stock market is up by 26% since October 8! more than the Dow Jones with its 17% increase or NASDAQ Composite at 26%.
That is because of the amazing people in this room and in our country, people who won’t, can’t give up. After all, we only have one Israel, and we aren't going anywhere. Thank you for all that have come from near and far, to support our nation, to remember our fallen and bring back our hostages, to celebrate life, innovation and passion, and for being here for us, now and always.
Fiona Darmon is the Founder and Managing Partner of Sunvest Capital Partners.
