Bonfire Ventures

Brett Queener | Bonfire Ventures

Brett Queener, a partner at Bonfire Ventures, leverages his extensive experience in scaling software companies and leadership—from Siebel Systems to Salesforce and SmartRecruiters—to deeply support AI-native founders with exceptional visions by helping them achieve product-market fit, build scalable businesses, and grow as leaders, earning high praise for his hands-on, demanding, and passionate approach.

Partner Focus

Focus: Anything – as long as the founder is awesome, they are AI native, and the vision is amazing.

“It’s so rewarding to partner early with founders as they navigate the “product fit” waters and successfully emerge as fully formed leaders and market validated versions of their initial audacious visions.”

About Brett

My entire career has been focused on growing software companies fast and built to last. I live at the intersection of product and GTM and dig deep with founders in helping them both build a scalable business and become more effective leaders.

I started my software career at Siebel Systems helping build a juggernaut of alliances and marketing organizations in the on-premise world. I then joined Salesforce.com where I did an amazing job at “failing upwards” for 12 years – running Revenue Operations, then Products, and then leading several of our larger acquired business units. I then tested my pre-revenue entrepreneur mettle and lived the “hard things about hard things” as COO of SmartRecruiters, which has subsequently become a unicorn.

When I am not visiting founders, I live in Santa Barbara with my wife Lisa and my dogs Gigi & poppy. My children have flown the coop but promise to come visit a lot. During my down time, you will catch me messing around with AI, crushing my Tonal, obsessing over GSW hoops & 49ers football, making rhone style wines, and stealing away moments to play Japanese RPGs.

Last Updated: May 2026

Working with Brett

“Brett's combination of experience, passion, drive, and coaching capabilities is second to none. I’ve spoken to many VCs, and I’d turn down better offers just to have Brett at the table. Brett demands excellence from his founders, but the more a founder digs in, the more Brett shows up—in the trenches right there with you. There are not many VCs, let alone with his resume, willing to be in the thick of it. We would not be where we are without Brett and his guidance.”

— Sheila Stafford, CEO & Co-Founder, TeamSense

Investments

Exits

  • Siebel Systems
  • Salesforce.com
  • Roam
  • Trustpage

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