VINNY SMITH
Founder
Toba Capital, Insight Capital Partners
Newport Beach
Born in Baltimore
Age: 55
Lives in Newport Beach
WHY: Launched venture capital firm Toba in late 2012 with former Quest Software colleagues, now OC’s largest VC. Serial entrepreneur who sold Quest to Dell in 2012 for $2.8 billion, cashed out nearly $1 billion.
HOW: Started career in 1986 at Oracle. In 1992 started San Francisco-based Patrol Software with Oracle colleague. BMC Software Inc. bought Patrol in 1994 for estimated $33.7 million. Aliso Viejo-based Quest chairman, chief executive from 1997 until sale. Grew it to $800 million-plus in annual sales, upper ranks of OC software makers. Oversaw over 70 acquisitions, investments at Quest.
RECENT: Toba-backed firms in OC include early-stage investment analytics software maker Alteryx Inc., whose stock has been a home run since 2017 IPO. Also a winner in SecureAuth’s $200 million sale two years ago to El Segundo-based private equity firm K1 Investment Management. Toba was primary backer of software maker, which raised more than $40 million since 2005 inception.
FAST FACT: Owns a soccer team in Croatia.
QUOTABLE: “We are always excited to invest in companies with technology that will bring significant value to the pressing challenges businesses face.”
PERSONAL: Smith and wife, Tori, support numerous charities, including CureDuchenne; Augie’s Quest, which battles Lou Gehrig’s disease; kid’s programs, such as Orphan Starfish, which provides after-school training in orphanages, shelters in 25 Latin American spots, Philippines. Gave $5 million to Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, which he attended; seeded Costa Mesa-based Gen Next Foundation with $1 million grant; gave $1 million to Irvine-based nonprofit Fuel Freedom Foundation. Has several real estate plays across state as personal investor, chief financial backer of Newport Beach-based developer Integral Communities. Graduated from University of Delaware, where he wrestled. Sports casual air, home uniform often jeans, cap.
