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Lo Toney
Founding Managing Partner at Plexo Capital
Laurence "Lo" Toney is the Founding Managing Partner at Plexo Capital, a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in emerging seed-stage venture capital funds and directly in companies from their portfolios. Plexo Capital was incubated and spun out from Google Ventures (GV) to enhance access to early-stage deal flow, particularly targeting diverse teams and entrepreneurs.12
Professional Background
Lo Toney has over 20 years of experience in various strategic and operational roles within the tech and investment sectors. Before founding Plexo Capital, he held significant positions at several prominent companies:
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Partner at GV (Google Ventures): From 2015 to 2018, he focused on investments in marketplaces, mobile consumer applications, digital media, and gaming.35
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General Manager at Zynga: He managed the Zynga Poker franchise, significantly increasing web bookings and margins during his tenure.4
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Global General Manager at Nike.com: He was responsible for the e-commerce strategy and operations, leading a team to enhance Nike's online presence.4
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Director and General Manager at eBay: Toney oversaw the collectibles business unit, managing a substantial P&L.4
Education
Lo Toney earned his MBA from the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business, where he also completed a program in Management of Technology. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from Hampton University.35
Contributions and Recognition
Toney is recognized for his commitment to increasing diversity in venture capital. He has been involved in initiatives aimed at supporting minority-led startups, and he has been featured in various media outlets for his contributions to technology and venture capital.32 He was named one of the "Most Important African-Americans in Technology" by Business Insider, reflecting his influence in the industry.3
Overall, Lo Toney's career is marked by a focus on innovation, diversity, and strategic investment in the tech ecosystem.
Highlights
Had a great time on @CNBCClosingBell with @ScottWapnerCNBC talking about the @OpenAI financing. Things are moving fast!
Applications are now open for the sixth cohort of our GPx program!
We are thrilled to announce that this will be an open global cohort, welcoming all emerging managers from around the world, with a special focus on the Middle East and Africa. We have witnessed incredible innovation and growth from these regions, and we are eager to learn more and provide support to GPs in those regions.
Our GPx program is designed to provide emerging managers, including those traditionally underrepresented in venture capital, with the tools they need to succeed.
The GPx program includes: Online video content to expand your knowledge base Deep dive sessions with industry experts One-on-one meetings with the Plexo Capital and Plexo Foundation teams Introductions and an invitation to pitch to LPs at our Plexo Capital Summit
We are committed to ensuring that all emerging managers have access to the knowledge, mentorship, resources, and capital needed to thrive in the venture capital landscape.
Submit your firm at gpx.plexocap.com by August 23, 2024
#VentureCapital #EmergingManagers #MiddleEastAfrica
