Soraya Darabi

Soraya Darabi is an experienced entrepreneur and investor; the Founder of TMV, a successful early-stage holding company overseeing two venture funds and three investment vehicles all focused on ideas that will transform industries and inspire new ones. At TMV, Soraya serves as general partner where she leads impact investments across the future of work, healthcare and education technology.

Earlier in her career, Soraya served as the Manager of Digital Partnerships & Social Media at The New York Times, where she activated ground-breaking partnerships, established award-winning campaigns and spearheaded the positioning of the global media and news leader across social networks.

In 2009, she co-founded Foodspotting, named “App of the Year” by both Apple and Wired (later acquired by OpenTable, then Priceline).

Continuing her passion for creating innovative, mission-driven brands that change the way we live, Soraya co-founded a venture-backed start-up that helped facilitate the slow-manufacturing movement by demanding honesty and quality across supply chains.

Over the years, she has been named one of Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business” for which she was featured on the cover of the magazine. She has also been featured on the cover of Brand Week’s “Digital Best” issue. Other honors include being named an Inc. Magazine "30 Under 30" (2012), Fortune Magazine’s "40 Under 40: Women to Watch" (2015).

Soraya sat on the first digital advisory board of General Electric, is a World Economic Forum "Young Global Leader," and a six-time mentor to TechStars New York for which she’s been named a three-time "Mentor of the Year." A published journalist, Soraya has served as a pundit for ABC News and has appeared as a guest and subject matter expert on business networks like CNBC, CNN and Fox. She has also given keynote talks on innovation at work in over 15 countries as a result of her 12-year partnership with the American Program Bureau.

She is the host of "Business Schooled - a Podcast by Synchrony," a "Top 20 Business Podcast" where she interviews persevering founders who have made it past their startup days and reached new heights of success.

Soraya serves on the board of directors for the non-profit Yamba Malawi. She graduated with B.A. magna cum laude from Georgetown University and completed the Global Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century program at Harvard Kennedy School. Soraya lives and works in New York City.