Bonfire Ventures 🔥

We led GitStart’s latest round because we believe in their potential to reshape how development teams work. Originally developed by CEO Hamza Z. to tackle challenges he faced as an engineer, GitStart quickly gained the attention of his then-boss, Fred Stevens-Smith, who became one of the company’s first investors. By combining AI with human expertise, GitStart transforms routine tickets into ready-to-merge pull requests, freeing dev teams to focus on high-impact projects. ✨ Why we’re excited about GitStart: 🔹 Solving a Core Issue: GitStart removes critical bottlenecks by automating repetitive work, letting teams focus on high-value tasks. Teams can now buy outcomes, not just interfaces, reshaping software delivery. 🔹 A Strategic Market Fit: With demand for efficient dev solutions rising, GitStart is perfectly positioned to set a new standard in agile, productive development. 🔹 From Engineer to Founder: Hamza Zia, a former engineer at Rainforest QA, first built this solution to streamline his own work. Recognizing its potential, Rainforest CEO Fred Stevens-Smith became one of GitStart’s earliest backers, encouraging Hamza to turn it into a full-fledged company. Today, Hamza’s deep expertise fuels GitStart’s commitment to practical, results-driven automation. 🔹 Real Results for Clients: GitStart’s customers already see significant savings and faster results. One CEO noted, “every ticket GitStart handles costs one-sixth of what it does in-house—and it’s done faster.” Beyond saving costs, GitStart lets companies optimize their teams for higher productivity. Learn more about why Jim Andelman invested in GitStart here - https://bit.ly/4fK1hpm

🔥 Why We Invested in Reactiv: It’s All About the Founders 🔥 "From the very first call, we knew Ross and Zack were founders we wanted to back. Not only are they building something game-changing with Reactive, but they’re also just good humans. Their journey started as operators at a little company you might’ve heard of—Shopify—where they honed their expertise in the e-commerce ecosystem. Later, they joined Plobal and saw firsthand the massive opportunity (and frustrations!) around mobile apps for merchants. Their clarity on how to tackle this problem in an otherwise complicated space made them instant standouts. Navigating go-to-market in the Shopify ecosystem is no easy feat, but Ross and Zack’s vision and experience made it clear they weren’t just solving a problem—they were creating a solution that merchants desperately needed. Since we invested, it’s been even more of the same—grit, dedication, curiosity, and a collaborative spirit. These are the kinds of founders we love to partner with." If you want to see why we’re all-in on Reactive and how they’re transforming mobile app creation for e-commerce merchants, check it out here: https://bit.ly/4e0tvKZ via Jennifer Richard Congrats Ross Correia, Zack Elias, Michael Pezzi! 🔥 🔥

Here’s how my ignorance led to a $400 million exit. When I moved to LA in 2006, I knew little about the tech scene. I was still managing international investment banking and frequently traveled to Europe and New York, unaware of the opportunities in my new backyard. After all, LA wasn’t Silicon Valley—it was Hollywood. That’s all most investors saw. But sometimes, being an outsider is your most significant advantage. Take Edgecast, for example, founded by a former I-banking client and now friend (Alex Kazerani). While I didn’t know much about content delivery networks, I knew and trusted him, so I became one of his first investors. Six years later, that “gut” decision resulted in a $400 million exit. Funny enough, my lack of VC habits became my superpower. I wasn’t stuck in the Silicon Valley playbook. My core investment strategy has always been about people and relationships—that’s where the true value lies. Sometimes, the smartest move is trusting your gut and betting on people, not just ideas. How has being an outsider in your industry given you an edge? Let’s trade stories on how "not knowing" can sometimes be the best advantage.

Have you ever had a conversation that just sticks with you for days? It challenges everything you previously thought to be true. You sit up at night re-running parts of it in your head. I had one of those recently with Brett Queener, Managing Director at Bonfire Ventures 🔥 Brett's recent writings on the implications of the "AI Age" caught my attention, and ultimately led to this conversation that has caused me to question everything I thought I knew about SaaS. In our conversation: ⏳ Brett breaks down the 3 ages of applications software 🤖 We dive head-first into an agentic future 🤯 Why all of us need to question what it means to do our job well Full episode: https://lnkd.in/dhAciUjT YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dqMSPH6Z

Dive into the latest trends in AI-Native Vertical SaaS during LA #TechWeek. Hear from Bonfire's Jim Andelman alongside industry leaders John Chen (Fika), Trevor Neff (Headline), Nick Tippmann 🏔️☁️ (TipTop VC), and David Pack (olive). Each of them brings unique insights with a front-row seat to what's happening in this space. Register now to secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/gKDeap-t 📅 Thursday, October 17 ⏰ 8:30-10:30 AM 📍 Venice #TechWeek #AINative #SaaS #BonfireVentures

📣 Calling all SDRs! 📣 Standout companies in Bonfire Ventures 🔥 portfolio are on the lookout for outstanding Sales Development Representatives (SDRs)! 🚀 Teams at Branch, ChowNow, Duro, Figment, and Windfall are ready to welcome new talent who are excited about driving growth and making an impact. Check out open roles: https://bit.ly/4g3jgI8 #SDR #SalesCareers #BonfireVentures

🎉 Huge congratulations to Matt Danna, Sean Stavropoulos, and the entire Boulevard team on their incredible achievement of debuting on the Inc. 5000 list, ranking 163rd overall! 🚀 If you’ve booked a self-care appointment online, there’s a good chance you’re already experiencing the Boulevard difference. We’re proud to be part of your journey and can’t wait to see what’s next! 🌟

What better excuse to bring together a powerful group of women than to cheer on another set of incredible women going for gold? And gold…and bronze, we got! 🥇🤸♀️🥉 Bonfire Ventures 🔥 was thrilled to spend the morning with an outstanding group of LA's founders, funders, and operators while we watched the Women’s All-In Gymnastics Finals! Team spirit was in the air and camaraderie was on full display as everyone showed up in their USA gear. 🇺🇸 A big thank you to our friends and co-hosts from Upfront Ventures: Kerry Bennett, Mayu Kataoka, Lacey Hulsey—you are amazing, and your network of female founders is inspiring! And a heartfelt thank you to our partners, Maureen Klepfer & Regina Brauer from Propeller Industries and Roy Levkovitz, Becca M. , Sarah Fergusson Chambless from Fenwick, for your continued support and for championing the people in our network.

We're witnessing a revolutionary shift in the application software market. The future of software is here, transforming how we think, create, and innovate. As we embrace these changes, it's crucial to reflect on our journey and the lessons learned. Brett Queener unveils his thoughts on this in his most recent article: "The Three Ages of Application Software." Check it out!