Bonfire Ventures

Bonfire Ventures is a private equity firm based in Santa Monica, California, that focuses on early-stage investments in the technology and business services sectors across the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 by Jim Andelman and Mark Mullen, the firm specializes in leading Seed rounds for founders of business software solutions companies that aim to innovate and transform their respective industries. The firm manages its venture capital fund, Bonfire Ventures II, which was established in 2020 and targets investments in 25 to 30 companies over a three-year period, emphasizing software and business products and services.

Jim Andelman

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Tyler Churchill

Principal

Brett Queener

Managing Director

Jennifer Richard

Principal

Past deals in Los Angeles, CA

Duro

Seed Round in 2021
Duro provides cloud-based SaaS software to help hardware companies manage the design and manufacturing of their custom hardware products. Duro’s workflow management solution is as simple to use as a spreadsheet, but integrates automated data entry and validation to enforce hardware product development best practices.

SafeRide, Inc

Series B in 2021
SafeRide, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that develops a digital health platform and mobile application designed to facilitate non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) for patients. The platform allows healthcare providers to efficiently book and manage transportation, addressing issues such as appointment no-shows and future scheduling needs. Key features include the ability to send appointment reminders, real-time text alerts, and ride tracking, ensuring patient safety and quality service. SafeRide also offers tools to identify and monitor at-risk patients before they require critical care. Since its founding in 2015, the company has expanded its service network to include major cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, St. Louis, and the greater New York area.

Thankful

Series A in 2021
Thankful, Inc. develops an artificial intelligence platform known as Thankful which deflects queries. The platform allows modifying scripts, managing the team, and monitoring thankful's accuracy and impact over time. Its features include questions and answers auto replies, information gathering, ticket routing, e commerce actions, advanced scripts, and team management. Thankful, Inc. is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Boulevard

Series B in 2020
Boulevard Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a comprehensive management software platform tailored for salons, spas, and other appointment-based businesses. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in West Hollywood, California, Boulevard offers a cloud-based dashboard that provides real-time updates and various applications for staff and receptionists. The platform enhances operational efficiency by enabling staff to manage schedules, communicate with clients, book appointments, and process payments. Additionally, it features tools for client self-scheduling, customer relationship management, marketing, and custom reporting, addressing the unique needs of the beauty and wellness industry. By integrating these functionalities, Boulevard aims to streamline operations, boost sales, and enhance customer experiences in an industry often lacking advanced technological solutions.

Credit Key

Series A in 2020
Credit Key develops business-to-business credit and payments platform. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

Brainbase

Series A in 2020
Brainbase Inc. develops and markets a platform for licensing business. It offers Brainbase Assist, a tool that enables users to manage and collaborate on their licensing business. The company’s tool also allows users to track metrics, such as total sales and royalties, rights availability, and upcoming events. In addition, its tool helps users to compare licensee performance, and measure quarterly and annual growth rates. Brainbase Inc. was founded in 2016 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

Boulevard

Series A in 2019
Boulevard Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a comprehensive management software platform tailored for salons, spas, and other appointment-based businesses. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in West Hollywood, California, Boulevard offers a cloud-based dashboard that provides real-time updates and various applications for staff and receptionists. The platform enhances operational efficiency by enabling staff to manage schedules, communicate with clients, book appointments, and process payments. Additionally, it features tools for client self-scheduling, customer relationship management, marketing, and custom reporting, addressing the unique needs of the beauty and wellness industry. By integrating these functionalities, Boulevard aims to streamline operations, boost sales, and enhance customer experiences in an industry often lacking advanced technological solutions.

Brainbase

Seed Round in 2019
Brainbase Inc. develops and markets a platform for licensing business. It offers Brainbase Assist, a tool that enables users to manage and collaborate on their licensing business. The company’s tool also allows users to track metrics, such as total sales and royalties, rights availability, and upcoming events. In addition, its tool helps users to compare licensee performance, and measure quarterly and annual growth rates. Brainbase Inc. was founded in 2016 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

SafeRide, Inc

Series A in 2019
SafeRide, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that develops a digital health platform and mobile application designed to facilitate non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) for patients. The platform allows healthcare providers to efficiently book and manage transportation, addressing issues such as appointment no-shows and future scheduling needs. Key features include the ability to send appointment reminders, real-time text alerts, and ride tracking, ensuring patient safety and quality service. SafeRide also offers tools to identify and monitor at-risk patients before they require critical care. Since its founding in 2015, the company has expanded its service network to include major cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, St. Louis, and the greater New York area.

Thankful

Seed Round in 2019
Thankful, Inc. develops an artificial intelligence platform known as Thankful which deflects queries. The platform allows modifying scripts, managing the team, and monitoring thankful's accuracy and impact over time. Its features include questions and answers auto replies, information gathering, ticket routing, e commerce actions, advanced scripts, and team management. Thankful, Inc. is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Postie

Seed Round in 2018
Postie offers automated marketing tools for direct mail marketing. With real-time attribution & data visualization, Postie delivers Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Campaign Management tools to dynamically optimize your entire DM channel strategy. Re-engage with your customers: Easily create highly segmented CRM campaigns blending purchase and behavioral data for maximum performance. Retarget your prospective customers: Use your online and mobile data to identify highly engaged prospects and deploy daily trigger campaigns. Locate new customers with high ROAS Prospecting campaigns: Build look-a-like audiences that self-optimize into response models using real-time conversion data.

Credit Key

Seed Round in 2018
Credit Key develops business-to-business credit and payments platform. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

SafeRide, Inc

Seed Round in 2017
SafeRide, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that develops a digital health platform and mobile application designed to facilitate non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) for patients. The platform allows healthcare providers to efficiently book and manage transportation, addressing issues such as appointment no-shows and future scheduling needs. Key features include the ability to send appointment reminders, real-time text alerts, and ride tracking, ensuring patient safety and quality service. SafeRide also offers tools to identify and monitor at-risk patients before they require critical care. Since its founding in 2015, the company has expanded its service network to include major cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, St. Louis, and the greater New York area.

Postie

Seed Round in 2017
Postie offers automated marketing tools for direct mail marketing. With real-time attribution & data visualization, Postie delivers Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Campaign Management tools to dynamically optimize your entire DM channel strategy. Re-engage with your customers: Easily create highly segmented CRM campaigns blending purchase and behavioral data for maximum performance. Retarget your prospective customers: Use your online and mobile data to identify highly engaged prospects and deploy daily trigger campaigns. Locate new customers with high ROAS Prospecting campaigns: Build look-a-like audiences that self-optimize into response models using real-time conversion data.

Shippabo

Seed Round in 2016
Shippabo is an online platform that provides its users with shipping rates and shipment scheduling solutions. The platform offers freight forwarding, government filings, and trucking and drayage services to its users. It features online bookings, online custom bond purchases, real-time notifications, and shipment management. Shippabo was launched by Calvin Lo, Nina Luu, Wes Chien, and Sam Luu and is based in California.