Tom Unterman

Tom Unterman founded Rustic Canyon Partners (originally Rustic Canyon Group) in 1999, building it into one of Los Angeles' largest and most established venture capital firms. The firm raised venture funds in excess of $800 million and concentrates on two sectors: Internet & Digital Media and Energy & Efficiency. For years it has been led day-to-day by Managing Partner Nate Redmond, while Unterman remained a founding partner and board director on numerous portfolio companies.

Before launching Rustic Canyon, Unterman spent 1992 to 1999 in senior executive roles at The Times Mirror Company, the Los Angeles-based media conglomerate (parent of the Los Angeles Times), culminating as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In that role he led the company's acquisition and divestiture activity and oversaw its investment program — the experience that seeded Rustic Canyon, which grew out of Times Mirror's investing efforts.

Unterman began his career as a corporate attorney, regarded as one of California's leading practitioners. He was a partner first at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe (1969–1986) and then at Morrison & Foerster (1986–1992) before moving into the operating and investing side of business. He holds a B.A. from Princeton University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

Beyond investing, Unterman is a prominent civic and nonprofit figure in Los Angeles. He has served as Board Chair of the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles, Chair of the California Community Foundation board, a director on the board of ProPublica, a trustee of CalSTRS (the California State Teachers' Retirement System), and a director or trustee of CalArts, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA, as Life Trustee), Advancement Project California, and Heal the Bay. He has also sat on public-company and portfolio boards, including BlackLine, Inc. (a director since 2010) and Praedicat.

• Invests at the seed and early stage, typically in companies based in or connected to Southern California, with the firm also active in the Bay Area.
• Sector concentration on Internet & Digital Media and Energy & Efficiency / cleantech, reflecting Rustic Canyon's two stated practice areas.
• Backs founders building durable, capital-efficient businesses; Unterman's CFO and M&A background means a strong orientation toward sound financials, governance, and a path to scale rather than hype.
• Hands-on investor who frequently takes board director seats in portfolio companies, contributing operational and financial discipline.