Toy Ventures

Toy Ventures, established in 2019 and based in Berkeley, California, is an operator-led venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments. The firm is co-founded by Ramnik Arora and Lingtong Sun, both of whom bring significant experience in product development and data-driven growth strategies from their time at major tech companies like Facebook and Doordash. Toy Ventures primarily invests in sectors like blockchain, enterprise software, and fintech, targeting startups that leverage innovative technologies to disrupt traditional markets. Their portfolio includes companies like Mercury, a digital bank for startups, and Flexport, a platform for global logistics and freight forwarding. The firm is particularly known for backing companies that scale rapidly, and several of their portfolio companies, including Coinbase and Slack, have gone public. Toy Ventures typically participates in seed and Series A funding rounds, often leading these rounds and providing not just capital, but also strategic guidance rooted in their deep operational expertise. The firm has a strong track record of identifying high-potential startups early, which has led to multiple successful exits, including companies like Robinhood and Nextdoor. Despite their relatively small team, Toy Ventures has made a significant impact in the venture capital space by focusing on building strong, long-term partnerships with their portfolio companies. Their approach is hands-on, aiming to be the most valuable partner on the cap table for each startup they invest in.