Sarah Leary

Sarah Leary is a prominent technology founder and executive, currently serving as a Board Member at Alto. She has a rich background in entrepreneurship and venture capital, having co-founded Nextdoor, the largest private social network for neighborhoods, where she played a crucial role in its growth and development.

Professional Background

• Education: Sarah graduated from Harvard College with an AB in Economics and later earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.
• Early Career: She began her career at Microsoft as a product manager for Microsoft Office, contributing to the launch of several key versions of the software. Following her time at Microsoft, she worked as an associate at Greylock Partners, focusing on software and internet investments.
• Entrepreneurial Ventures:
  • In 1999, Sarah co-founded Epinions, which later became Shopping.com after merging with another company. This venture went public and was subsequently acquired by eBay.
  • She served as an entrepreneur in residence at Benchmark Capital before co-founding Fanbase and then Nextdoor, where she held various leadership roles including Vice President of Product and Marketing.

Current Roles

• Board Memberships: Sarah is not only a board member at Alto but also serves on the board of Spindrift Beverage Co., Inc. She has been involved with the Middlesex School Board of Trustees since 1999.
• Venture Partner: At Unusual Ventures, she focuses on Seed and Series A investments in both enterprise and consumer startups.

Personal Achievements

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sarah is recognized for her athletic achievements, having been inducted into Middlesex’s Athletic Hall of Fame for her contributions to varsity lacrosse during her time at Harvard.

Sarah Leary's extensive experience in technology and entrepreneurship positions her as a significant figure in the startup ecosystem, particularly in Silicon Valley.