Thomas Layton

Thomas Layton is an angel investor and entrepreneur based in San Francisco who serves as Chairman of Upwork. See portfolio, sector focus and contact routes.

About Thomas Layton

Thomas Layton is an angel investor and entrepreneur based in San Francisco who serves as Chairman of Upwork, a role he has held since 2011, and previously led OpenTable as CEO and Metaweb Technologies before its acquisition by Google. His investment thesis focuses on consumer internet, SaaS, and education technology, with investments spanning the United States and international markets like Morocco. Layton has made approximately 10 angel investments, typically participating at the seed stage, though his specific check size and lead/follow behavior are not publicly documented. Notable portfolio companies include Hostie, PipeDreams, Yassir, Novi Connect, NextLesson, and Hearsay Systems, reflecting his interest in startups that connect people, services, and information. His latest recorded investment was in Hostie as part of a Seed VC round in April 2025. While Layton has lectured at Stanford Graduate School of Business and co-founded the non-profit MapLight.org to expose connections between money and politics, there is no public record of distinctive investment viewpoints or published writing on his investing philosophy.

Thomas Layton at a glance

Location
San Francisco, California, United States
Investor type
Individual/Angel
Focus areas
General
Investments recorded
10

Frequently asked about Thomas Layton

What does Thomas Layton invest in?
Thomas Layton (San Francisco, California, United States) — sector focus: General.
How do I contact Thomas Layton?
Thomas Layton's published profile links (website, LinkedIn or X where available) are listed on the StartupFundraising.com investor profile.
Where is Thomas Layton headquartered?
Thomas Layton is based in San Francisco, California, United States.

This profile is part of the StartupFundraising firm database: focus, portfolio history, disclosed location and contact routes, refreshed as new filings and rounds are ingested. Founders use it to check fit before reaching out and to find investors in San Francisco.

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