Tony is an entrepreneur and active early stage investor in digital media.
Tony was recently hired by Sony Pictures to build their New Media studio after one of his investments, Grouper Networks, was acquired by Sony and re-branded Crackle in 2008. He began his business career at Microsoft in 1991 where he spent four years in product management and launched the Microsoft Network (MSN). In 1996, he left to co-found Cognisoft which was later sold to Verity where he served as VP Marketing until 1998. Through his company BlueRain, Liano has been a private investor and adviser in over 20 digital media start-up companies, including IRIS Distribution and Matchmaker.com. He has also been active filmmaker in the Bay Area, most recently producing the feature narrative EVERYTHING STRANGE AND NEW that premiered at Sundance and is nominated for a 2011 Spirit Award. Liano received a BA from Purdue University and MBA from Northwestern University and currently sits on the Filmmaker Advisory Board for the San Francisco Film Society.
