%20(2).avif)
Who we are
We lived your past.
That's why we invest in your future.
Like you, we've been in the trenches of raising funds, scaling teams, and making hard calls at the earliest stages of business. "Operator" isn't a hat we wear. It's who we are.
John Smith has spent his career building and scaling technology companies and investing in early-stage businesses across robotics, applied AI, and enterprise software. As a founder, a senior executive, and investor, he's spent decades in the room where hard calls are made, building businesses from scratch and backing technically ambitious teams through their earliest stages.
Before Firehunter, he was a General Partner at a venture firm focused on B2B AI and intelligent software platforms. Before that, he held senior executive roles at CA Technologies and HP, including hands-on work with founder-led startups.
Firehunter was created to address a consistent gap: early-stage founders making critical decisions without experienced support.
Firehunter exists to fix that.
What matters to us
Founders first
We started Firehunter for founders. That ethos shows up in every conversation we have.
Clever and clear
Smart founders deserve straight answers. That's what we give.
Earned opinions
We've built companies and made expensive choices (and, sometimes, mistakes). We'll share what we know so you can learn before doing the same.
In it for the long run
We're here for you and your big idea - and we'll stick with you through more than just one round.
No ego
On your team, not a pedestal. Let's talk and find the best way forward for your company.
TESTIMONIAL
"When John and I built Firehunter inside HP, we agreed on something early: values only matter if they show up in how people behave every day. What stood out about John then — and what stands out even more now — is his determination to turn principles into practice. Leadership, accountability, teamwork — they weren’t slogans on a slide. They were commitments we lived by. That discipline drove Firehunter’s success, and it’s why I have a strong conviction in what he’s building today."
Bruce Fischer, CTO
Bongo Learn / Cofounder, Firehunter Business Unit
Want to work together?
We're always open to conversations with founders and LPs who are building in our world.