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Laurel Touby is the Managing Partner at Supernode Ventures, an early-stage micro-venture capital fund based in New York City. Before transitioning to venture capital, she founded the media platform mediabistro.com in 1996 and served as its Chief Executive Officer until selling the company for $23 million in 2007. Following this exit, Touby built an angel investment portfolio of more than 20 companies, mentored founders through Techstars, and hosted a startup-focused program for CBS Interactive. She established Supernode Ventures in 2017, building a Fund I portfolio of over 50 companies that includes notable investments such as Braze, which completed its initial public offering in 2021, and BBOT, which achieved a $100 million exit. Her current investment focus centers on pre-seed and seed-stage technology startups operating within the financial technology, healthcare technology, and enterprise software sectors.
Laurel Touby stands as a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, currently serving as the Managing Partner at Supernode Ventures. This early-stage venture fund is dedicated to identifying and nurturing groundbreaking companies that are shaping the future. At Supernode Ventures, Laurel Touby leverages her deep industry expertise and extensive network to support founders building the next generation of disruptive technologies and business models.
Her investment focus areas are strategically aligned with emerging trends and significant market opportunities. Laurel Touby is particularly interested in the 'future of work,' encompassing everything from innovative SaaS solutions for productivity and collaboration to platforms that redefine employment and talent acquisition. She also has a strong emphasis on 'media technology,' investing in companies that are revolutionizing content creation, distribution, and consumption, including creator economy tools and new media platforms. Furthermore, marketplaces, whether B2B or B2C, that efficiently connect buyers and sellers or aggregate fragmented industries, are key components of her investment thesis. Her portfolio often reflects a commitment to B2B SaaS, AI-driven solutions, and companies that demonstrate strong network effects.
Before co-founding Supernode Ventures, Laurel Touby built an impressive career marked by entrepreneurial success and insightful angel investing. She is widely recognized as the founder of Mediabistro, a pioneering online community and resource hub for media professionals. Under her leadership, Mediabistro grew into an indispensable platform, eventually being acquired by Jupitermedia and later Prometheus Global Media. This experience as a founder provided her with invaluable firsthand knowledge of the challenges and triumphs of building a successful startup, which she now imparts to her portfolio companies. Following the sale of Mediabistro, Touby became an active and influential angel investor, backing numerous promising startups across various sectors before transitioning to lead Supernode Ventures.
Laurel Touby's approach to investing is characterized by her hands-on engagement and a genuine desire to help founders succeed. She brings not only capital but also strategic guidance, operational insights, and crucial connections to her portfolio companies. Her notable investments, both as an angel and through Supernode Ventures, span a diverse range of innovative companies, though specific public disclosures of all individual investments are not always available. However, her consistent focus on high-growth areas like AI, the creator economy, and platforms that enhance professional lives underscores her commitment to backing companies with significant potential for impact and returns. Founders seeking smart capital and experienced mentorship often find a powerful ally in Laurel Touby and Supernode Ventures.
Laurel Touby is the Managing Partner at Supernode Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund. She is also widely known as the founder of Mediabistro and a seasoned angel investor.
Laurel Touby primarily invests in companies within the 'future of work,' 'media technology,' and 'marketplace' sectors. Her focus includes B2B SaaS, AI-driven solutions, and platforms that disrupt traditional industries or create new ones.
Laurel Touby works as the Managing Partner at Supernode Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm she co-founded. The firm is based in New York City.
