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Key people at BubbleProof.
Based in Silicon Valley, California, BubbleProof produces a satirical mockumentary series that parodies the technology industry, venture capital dynamics, and modern startup entrepreneurship. The ongoing entertainment project features exaggerated versions of real-life technology insiders as they attempt to launch a new venture capital fund and navigate the resulting industry chaos. The series officially premiered its initial episode and trailer to audiences at the TechCrunch Disrupt SF conference in September 2017. Since its debut, the production has released at least eight episodes, incorporating fictional early-stage startups like Palmzi and Smartmouth into its overarching narrative. The primary cast and creative writing team include prominent industry figures such as Reputation.com founder Michael Fertik and Bessemer Venture Partners executive David Cowan. BubbleProof was founded in late 2015 by professional filmmaker Martin Sweeney alongside co-creators Michael Fertik and David Cowan.
Key people at BubbleProof.
Bubbleproof is a satirical mockumentary TV series that parodies Silicon Valley venture capital culture, centering on fictionalized versions of tech founder Michael Fertik and VC David Cowan launching a VC fund for the "post-truth economy."[1][2][3] Created by filmmaker Martin Sweeney in collaboration with Fertik and Cowan (portrayed by themselves), it premiered at TechCrunch Disrupt SF in 2017, blending comedy with exaggerated depictions of startup hype, deal-making, and egos on Sand Hill Road.[3][4][6] The series includes episodes like "On Wings of Disruption" and "Gravity Is My Co-Pilot," produced by Borracho Pictures, with no evidence of ongoing activity post-2017.[5][8]
Bubbleproof originated in late 2015 when filmmaker Martin Sweeney partnered with Silicon Valley insiders Michael Fertik—founder of Reputation.com and pioneer in online reputation management—and David Cowan, a Bessemer Venture Partners VC with investments in Twitch, LinkedIn, and Twilio, plus co-founding cybersecurity firms like VeriSign.[2][7] Sweeney was hired to create "flattering documentaries" about their more caricatured alter-egos, evolving from award-winning shorts *Femto-Management* (extreme micro-management satire) and *CI: A TEDD Talkumentary* (counter-intuition framework parody).[2][5] The project premiered as a 10-episode series on July 1, 2017, filmed in Menlo Park at Bessemer Venture Partners, satirizing Fertik's "improbable victory" and Cowan's push for a $260M fund amid bubble fears.[3][5][9]
Bubbleproof rides the 2017 tech bubble wave, mocking Sand Hill Road's frenzy amid predictions of collapse, unicorn valuations, and "post-truth" investor spin—trends amplified by Fertik's Reputation.com exit and Cowan's Midas List status.[1][5][6] Timing captured peak hype (e.g., $330M rounds), using market forces like easy capital and ego-driven innovation to expose VC absurdities, influencing niche discourse on startup culture via TechCrunch exposure.[4] It humanizes insiders' flaws, subtly critiquing how such dynamics fuel ecosystem bubbles without prescribing change.[2][9]
Bubbleproof's chaotic satire peaked in 2017, with no recent updates signaling a likely archival status amid evolving VC norms like AI booms and downturns. Future relevance may grow if bubble rhetoric resurfaces, potentially via revivals or clips on platforms dissecting SV excess. Its insider lens positions it as a timeless artifact, tying back to the "hard-hitting comic documentary" that skewered fund launches—proving even mock VCs can disrupt perceptions.[1][2]
