Atlas Obscura Welcomes Ekta Tolani to Its Board of Directors

As Atlas Obscura forges forward in 2026, the company welcomes a new director to its board of directors.

Ekta Tolani joins as the new Requisite Holder Preferred Director, filling a seat previously held by venture capital leader, John Backus.

“We welcome Ekta to the board at this key moment in the company’s progress,” said Louise Story, the chief executive officer of Atlas Obscura. “She brings extensive global knowledge, investment acumen, and an excitement for the promise of Atlas Obscura.”
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Ekta Tolani is the Chief Investment Officer of KBW Ventures – the investment arm for HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal. She has deployed over +$1B worldwide into direct deals during her career. Over her 15 years of experience, Ekta has driven investment strategy and process for sourcing, selecting, and winning direct Private Equity ($100M+) and Venture Capital ($1M – $5M) style deals across a variety of high-growth sectors. She has also allocated $100M+ to hedge funds, private credit, fixed income and PE/VC funds.

She has been instrumental in the setup of this large family office from drafting the charter to executing the multi-asset diversified investment strategy. She crafted legacy planning and wealth preservation themes for her principals.

Ekta has cultivated a solid network of both family offices and institutional investors across the
Middle East, North America, and Asia. She currently manages a broad network of such active
relationships; a global network of LPs, Family Offices, and GPs recording top quartile returns. She brings in a plethora of great opportunities and co-investors with her.

She holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and is the ambassador for the school’s MBA program and Booth Women. She is a member of the Private Equity Women Investor Network, and an ardent champion for women empowerment.

About Atlas Obscura

Atlas Obscura is the leading community-focused travel platform inspiring wonder and curiosity about the world’s most remarkable places. Through its award-winning content, unique experiences, and community-driven platform featuring more than 30,000 wondrous places, Atlas Obscura serves millions of passionate travelers seeking authentic, off-the-beaten-path discoveries. The company publishes bestselling books including the No. 1 New York Times bestseller “Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders,” and operates digital products that help people find amazing things to do when they are traveling.

For more information about Atlas Obscura, visit http://www.atlasobscura.com.

For questions or media requests, please contact Rebecca Cruz at rebecca@atlasobscura.com.