Golden Gate Ventures elevates Angela Toy to chief operating officer in strategic  international expansion move

• Will drive operational excellence, support firm’s expansion initiatives
• A decade of experience with the firm, appointed partner in mid 2021

Golden Gate Ventures, a venture capital fund founded by Silicon Valley natives, has announced the appointment of partner Angela Toy (pic) as its chief operating officer (COO). This newly created position reflects the firm’s commitment to robust expansion and strategic leadership in startup ecosystems as the firm continues to experience swift growth, with presence now across Southeast Asia, Middle East and North America.

In her role as COO, Toy, who is also partner for Portfolio Growth at Golden Gate Ventures, will play a pivotal role in driving operational excellence, supporting the firm's expansion initiatives, and fortifying its corporate structure. She brings to this position a decade of unparalleled dedication and strategic leadership, having been an integral part of Golden Gate Ventures since its inception in 2011, where she served as employee number two.

Toy, who celebrated her tenth anniversary with the firm, became a partner in mid-2021, assuming a key role in spearheading portfolio growth. In the past year, she has also been promoted to a few boards, leveraging her deep insight into business operations. Her elevation to the position of COO is a natural progression, showcasing her leadership acumen and capitalizing on her wide horizontal view and deep vertical understanding of Golden Gate Ventures’ portfolio.

"Toy’s appointment as COO is a testament to her contributions to Golden Gate Ventures, underpinned by the rigor she brings to everything she touches, and the way she challenges fellow partners to sharpen our strategic vision. Her wealth of experience and passion for fostering innovation make her the ideal leader to navigate the firm through this period of expansion. Our unique footprint connects the globe through Singapore, and the COO role is critical in elevating our firm as we gear up for our international play," said Vinnie Lauria, founding partner at Golden Gate Ventures.

“I look forward to sharpening our strategic direction as we level up to an international firm, finding new synergies across different startup ecosystems and helping emerging ones leapfrog ahead,” Toy said.

Golden Gate Ventures has witnessed remarkable growth in the last two years: expanding its presence with the establishment of its Vietnam operations in 2022 to capitalise on the country’s rise as a leading global economy; launching an office in Saudi Arabia in 2023 to tap into opportunities in the Middle East– Southeast Asia corridor; and adding a New York presence in recent months to help portfolio companies raise funds from the region.