Sarah Fay
About Sarah Fay
Sarah Fay is a digital transformation and AI leader based in Boston. She spent eleven years at Aegis Media North America (now Dentsu), from 1998 to 2009. Her roles there included President of Carat US and President of Isobar US, the company's two largest divisions. She acquired six companies and led the integration of digital marketing with traditional media services. Ziff Davis proxy filings list her as CEO of Aegis Media North America from 2008 to 2009.
Since 2009 she has been an independent director on public and private technology and digital media boards. She has chaired the Ziff Davis board since May 2022 and has been a director there since 2018. Past boards include TheStreet, [X+1], Celtra, SocialFlow, Women's Marketing Inc. and Narrative I/O. She also served on the boards of the Ad Club of Boston, the Boston Chamber of Commerce and MITX, and launched and led the Boston chapter of All Raise from 2019 to 2023. She holds a BA in English from the University of Vermont.
Crunchbase lists one personal investment, an angel round in the HR software company Namely. Tracxn dates that round to January 2012. Glasswing's site says she has been a board advisor and/or angel investor to Adelphic Mobile, clypd, ViralGains, Ghostery, Namely, Mavrck and MOGUL. Fortune described her in 2016 as an angel investor when Glasswing launched. Tracxn also lists a Brandlight seed round in April 2025. Crunchbase does not list it, so treat it as unconfirmed.
Fay was a founding partner and Managing Director at Glasswing Ventures from 2016 to 2023. Glasswing is a Boston-based early-stage firm focused on AI. Her Glasswing biography says she led investments in marketing technology, digital and B2B marketplaces, and that she led Narrative I/O and several pre-seed startups. Crunchbase links Glasswing's rounds in Labviva, Narrative and Elsy to her profile. She moved to an advisor role at Glasswing in 2023. She now speaks on AI and generative AI.
Her public record points to pre-seed and seed AI-powered companies, with a focus on marketing technology, digital media and B2B marketplaces. Most of her disclosed activity is in the United States and the East Coast. Her personal check size is not public. Her angel activity since leaving Glasswing is also not clearly documented. Her board work suggests she is best placed to help founders in media, advertising and marketing technology.
- Namely: HR and payroll software company. Angel round in 2012 (Crunchbase, Tracxn).
- Narrative I/O: data marketplace company. Invested through Glasswing, where she led the seed round and served on the board from 2019 to 2023.
- Labviva: B2B marketplace for lab supplies. Invested through Glasswing, where she was a director from 2019 to 2023.
- Elsy: Invested through Glasswing (Crunchbase seed round, listed as lead investor).
- Brandlight: Seed round in April 2025 listed on Tracxn only.
- crunchbase.com/person/sarah-fay
- glasswing.vc/advisors
- glasswing.vc/team/sarah-fay
- sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1084048/000108404824000033/zd-20240327.htm
- sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1084048/000108404822000031/boardchairpress
- tracxn.com/d/people/sarah-fay/__IztuvWKOnN1Jy1MPes3bOGuoodECtWBT8XOV8a
- fortune.com/2016/05/20/glasswing-ventures-takes-flight-to-back-ai-star
- mediapost.com/publications/article/388886/None
Investing activity
Sarah Fay has made 1 investment according to Crunchbase across 1 portfolio company, and has seen 1 exit.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Sarah Fay
Is Sarah Fay an angel investor?
Yes, she has made angel investments, including Namely in 2012. Glasswing's site also lists several other companies she advised or backed as an angel.
What stage does Sarah Fay invest in?
At Glasswing she invested at pre-seed and seed in AI-powered startups. Her current personal investing stage is not stated publicly.
What sectors does Sarah Fay back?
Her Glasswing work centered on AI, marketing technology, digital media and B2B marketplaces. Her board background is in media and digital advertising.
What is Sarah Fay's check size?
Her personal angel check size is not public.
What is Sarah Fay doing now?
She is Non-Executive Chair of the Ziff Davis board and an advisor to Glasswing Ventures. She also speaks on AI and generative AI.
Where is Sarah Fay based?
She is based in Boston, Massachusetts.
How can founders reach Sarah Fay?
Founders on Lounge can see Sarah Fay's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with them under Warm Paths, and add Sarah Fay to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.