"The winners keep us in the game." — Mark Mullen, Co-Founder at Bonfire Ventures

In this episode of Tech Scenes Beverly Hills, Jeff James Martin sits down with legendary venture capitalist Mark Mullen to unpack the human side of investing—and what really separates great founders from the rest. Mark brings a rare mix of global experience, deep operational insight, and a no-BS approach to evaluating early-stage companies. From launching Bonfire Ventures and managing $1B+ in B2B SaaS investments, to his days advising billion-dollar deals across 17 countries, Mark shares war stories and wisdom from every corner of the capital stack.

The conversation covers the evolution of the venture landscape, what he learned from Bill Daniels (the father of cable TV), and why the founder journey still matters more than the pitch. Whether you’re building, investing, or simply curious about how real deals get done—this episode gives you the inside edge.

Takeaways:

Venture capital is still a human game—founders matter most.

Relationships shape both careers and capital.

Diverse global experience can shape bold perspectives.

Instincts are critical—but only with discipline.

Founders often need one failed company before they get it right.

Team alignment is make-or-break in early-stage ventures.

Market conditions can create friction for great ideas.

Transparency is currency in the founder-investor relationship.

Good founders adapt fast.

Experience helps spot patterns—great investors stay curious.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Mark Mullen

02:15 Early Career and Banking Roots

05:45 Global Exposure and Studying in Paris

10:30 Meeting Bill Daniels

15:00 Lessons from the Father of Cable TV

20:45 Insights into Venture Capital

25:30 Why Founders Drive Investment Success

30:00 Misconceptions and VC Challenges

35:00 Trusting Instincts in the Deal Process

40:15 The Human Side of Investing

45:20 SaaS, AI, and the Future of Tech

50:00 Metrics, Models, and Market Dynamics

55:00 Building Enduring Companies

1:00:30 Personal Stories and Hard Lessons

1:05:30 Mark’s Desert Island Album

1:10:00 Closing Thoughts and Wrap-Up

Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Learn more about the book Peak Teams – Mastering the Habit of Unstoppable Venture-backed Companies

https://a.co/d/hp5Jtnu

Visit Collective Genius™ to Build Your Growth Team with the Peak Operating System™

https://www.collective-genius.com/

Got 5 minutes? Take the Peak Teams Assessment to see where your team needs to level up

https://www.collective-genius.com/peak-teams-assessment

Music by: andrewapplepie.bandcamp.com

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