Mark Mullen: Why VC Success is Broken

Demo Day Podcast

Content provided by CoEfficient Labs. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by CoEfficient Labs or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

1M ago 1:07:41

MP3•Episode home

What does it really mean to “succeed” as a founder or a VC? In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Mark Mullen, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Bonfire Ventures, to explore the realities behind startup success, venture capital, and what it takes to build a high-performing team in today’s market.

Mark opens up about the unrealistic expectations in venture capital, why selling a company for $11M can be celebrated in some industries but deemed a failure in VC, and how the focus on founder personalities has shifted startup culture. He also shares the lessons he’s learned growing Bonfire from a solo GP to a team of 11 managing over a billion dollars, and the strategies behind picking founders, understanding their motivations, and making early-stage investments.

In this conversation, we cover:

- The evolution of Bonfire Ventures and its $245M fundraise

- The difference between founder wins vs. VC wins

- How capital markets, interest rates, and M&A affect venture returns

- Why intuition matters — and how to back it up with real metrics -The qualities Mark looks for in founders and early-stage companies

- Lessons from market downturns, COVID, and AI’s rise in venture capital

- The Palisades fire and how that affected Mark and his family

If you’re a founder, investor, or curious about venture capital, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions, mindset, and strategies that shape startup and VC success today.

Mark Mullen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mamullen Website: https://www.bonfirevc.com/

Sean Goldfaden LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-goldfaden Website: https://www.coefficientlabs.com/

118 episodes

#Trading #Business News #Business #CoEfficient Labs #Venture Capitalists #Startups #Los Angeles #Silicon Beach #Entrepreneurship #Accelerator #Incubators #Growth Hacking #Lean Startup