Santo Politi
InvestorCo-founder & General Partner, Early at Spark Capital · Board Member at Liquidity Capital · Board director at Verana Networks · Board director at Lightmatter® · Board director at Droplette
New York
Writes $100K – $15M checks · typically $10M
About
Santo Politi co-founded Spark Capital in 2005 with Todd Dagres and Bijan Sabet. Born in Turkey, he studied electrical engineering in the U.S. and worked as an engineer at Panasonic before moving into finance and venture capital, including roles at Bankers Trust, Blockbuster (as President), and Charles River Ventures. He focuses on early-stage investing and has backed companies such as Plaid, Oculus, Twitter, and Wayfair.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Likely emails· guessed from name + firm domain, not firm-published
- s•••@sparkcapital.comreveal100% confident
- s•••@sparkcapital.comreveal80% confident
- s•••@sparkcapital.comreveal70% confident
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningB2B MarketplacesConsumerDeep TechFintechHardwareSaaS
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Santo Politi founded Spark Capital, where he serves as general partner.
- Education
- Studied at The Wharton School (MBA, Finance and Entrepreneurship) Studied at Boğaziçi University (BS, Electrical Engineering) Studied at New Jersey Institute of Technology (MS, Electrical and Electronics Engineering)
From published sources — common ground for a warm intro.
Board director at Verana Networks
Intro paths
In turn, Santo can intro founders to Verana Networks's investors below.
Verana Networks's investors · 1
Co-founders at Verana Networks
Board director at Lightmatter®
Intro paths
In turn, Santo can intro founders to Lightmatter®'s investors below.
Lightmatter®'s investors · 6
Co-founders at Lightmatter®
Board director at Droplette
Intro paths
In turn, Santo can intro founders to Droplette's investors below.
Droplette's investors · 4
Co-founders at Droplette
Experience
- Spark Capital LLCFounder and General Partnercurrent2006 — presentGreater Boston
- SesameCurrent Board membercurrent2025 — present
- PlaidCurrent Board Membercurrent2015 — present
- eToroCurrent Board Membercurrent2011 — present
- AlpacaCurrent Board Membercurrent2019 — present
- Liquidity GroupCurrent Board Membercurrent2020 — present
- Stoke SpaceEarly Investorcurrent2021 — present
- LightmatterInvestor & Former Board Membercurrent2017 — present
- PreVeilCurrent Board Membercurrent2018 — present
- Oculus VRFormer Board Member2013 — 2014
- adap.tvFormer Board Member2010 — 2013
- IPWirelessFormer Board Member2009 — 2012
- AdMeldFormer Board Member2007 — 2011
- 5minFormer Board Member2008 — 2009
- thePlatformFormer Board Member2005 — 2006
- BigBand NetworksFormer Board Member2002 — 2005
- Broadbus TechnologiesFormer Board Member2001 — 2005
- Charles River VenturesPartner2000 — 2005
- BlockbusterPresident of New Media1999 — 2000
- DigitalthinkFormer Board Member1997 — 1999
- Novatel WirelessFormer Board Member1998 — 1999
- Bankers TrustGeneral Partner - BT Venture Partners1997 — 1999
- PanasonicGeneral Manager1990 — 1995
Deals · 7
Verana NetworksBoard seat
via Spark Capital · filed May 2020 · $10.1M raise
WesperBoard seat
via Spark Capital · filed Feb 2020 · $5.6M raise
Nift NetworksBoard seat
via Spark Capital · filed Apr 2018 · $16.4M raise
QriouslyBoard seat
via Spark Capital · filed Mar 2017 · $2.6M raise
Pixie TechnologyBoard seat
via Spark Capital · filed Jul 2016 · $24.9M raise
MightyTVBoard seat
via Spark Capital · filed Jun 2016 · $2.3M raise
Oculus VRLed round
via Spark Capital
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
5minAdap.tvAdmeldAlpacaBigBand NetworksBroadbus TechnologiesCybereasonDigitalThinkDropletteeToroIPWirelessLightmatterLiquidity GroupNovatel WirelessPlaidPreVeilSuperpedestrianThePlatform
Investor
Tumblr exitedTwitterWayfair
Sources: the firm's website · curated public sources · SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Spark Capital
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Network3
Investors connected to Santo in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Santo Politi?
- Santo Politi co-founded Spark Capital in 2005 with Todd Dagres and Bijan Sabet. Born in Turkey, he studied electrical engineering in the U.S. and worked as an engineer at Panasonic before moving into finance and venture capital, including roles at Bankers Trust, Blockbuster (as President), and Charles River Ventures. He focuses on early-stage investing and has backed companies such as Plaid, Oculus, Twitter, and Wayfair.
- Where does Santo Politi work?
- Santo Politi is Co-founder & General Partner, Early at Spark Capital and Board director at Verana Networks and Board director at Lightmatter® and Board director at Droplette.
- What does Santo Politi invest in?
- Santo Politi invests in AI & Machine Learning, B2B Marketplaces, Consumer, Deep Tech, Fintech, Hardware, SaaS.
- What check size does Santo Politi write?
- Santo Politi typically writes checks of $100K – $15M.
- What boards does Santo Politi sit on?
- Santo Politi holds tracked board seats at 5min, Adap.tv, Admeld, Alpaca, BigBand Networks, Broadbus Technologies, Cybereason, DigitalThink, Droplette, eToro.
- What companies has Santo Politi invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Oculus VR, Tumblr exited, Twitter, Wayfair.
- Where did Santo Politi go to school?
- Santo Politi studied at The Wharton School (Master of Business Administration - MBA, Finance and Entrepreneurship); Boğaziçi University (Bachelor of Science - BS, Electrical Engineering); Boğaziçi University (Bachelor of Science - BS, Physics).
- Does Santo Politi lead rounds?
- Yes — Santo Politi has led 1 tracked investment.
Same school
Also attended The Wharton School1,557
+ 1,551 more
Also attended Boğaziçi University58
+ 52 more
Also attended New Jersey Institute of Technology19
+ 13 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Sesame4
Also worked at eToro18
+ 12 more
