Our Mission
We help organizations turn their customers into community
...and treat their members like family.
Our Story
GroupFire was founded in Laguna Beach, California by Mark Surfas, a serial entrepreneur driven by a lifelong passion for building organizations and connecting people. Before GroupFire, Mark was CEO and founder of GameSpy Industries, the largest online community for videogamers, which he sold to IGN Entertainment.
That experience taught Mark something fundamental: when you give people the right tools to connect, remarkable communities emerge. But most organizations — from professional networks to nonprofits to membership groups — lacked the technology to make that happen.
GroupFire was created to change that. Our platform gives every organization, regardless of size or budget, the tools to build meaningful, lasting communities. We believe that the strongest organizations are the ones that treat their members like family — and we build the technology to make that possible.
What We Stand For
These values guide every decision we make and every feature we build.
Community First
Everything we build starts with the question: does this make communities stronger?
Radically Responsive
We pledge to be incredibly responsive to our customers' needs.
Continuous Innovation
We never stop improving our platform and adding capabilities.
Human Connection
Technology should bring people together, not replace real relationships.
Our Leadership
Mark Surfas
Founder & CEO
Serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits. Founded GroupFire from his passion for community and communication. Previously CEO of GameSpy Industries (sold to IGN Entertainment) and co-founder of California Stem Cell.
Want to learn more?
We would love to hear from you. Let us show you how GroupFire can transform your community.