Pejman Nozad
InvestorFounderFounding Managing Partner at Pear VC
Palo Alto, California
Writes $250K – $3M checks · typically $2.5M
FoundedPear VC
Midas 2025 · #46Midas 2024 · #28Midas 2023 · #21Midas 2022 · #15Midas 2021 · #15
About
Pejman Nozad co-founded Pear VC and serves as its managing partner, leading a seed-stage firm whose portfolio has reached a combined value of close to $50 billion. His early-stage bets include DoorDash, Guardant Health, AppLovin, and Dropbox. A former professional soccer player, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2014, an award recognizing American citizens who contribute to their communities while staying connected to their ethnic roots.
Contact· published on Pejman's own website
Invests in
AI & Machine LearningBiotechClimate TechCloud ComputingConsumerCreator EconomyCrypto & Web3Deep TechDeveloper ToolsE-commerceEdTechEnterprise SoftwareFintechFoodTechFuture of WorkGamingGovTechHardwareHealthtechIoTLogistics & Supply ChainMarketplacesMedical DevicesMobility & TransportationPropTechRoboticsSaaSSocialTravel & Hospitality
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Nozad co-founded the investment firm Amidzad Partners in 1999 with Rahim and Saeed Amidi. Nozad co-founded Pear VC with Mar Hershenson in 2013, originally under the name Pejman Mar.
- Awards
- Nozad received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2014 for his contribution to America as an immigrant. Nozad was ranked #1 in the world on the Forbes Midas Seed List three years in a row (2023, 2024, 2025).
- Hobbies
- Nozad has attended six FIFA World Cups, two of them as an accredited journalist covering the games. Nozad's favorite sports team is Manchester United and he enjoys family, traveling, and the World Cup.
- Family
- Nozad lives in California with his wife, Mania, and their two children.
- More
- Nozad started his career in Iran as a sports journalist and played soccer, including writing a sports column at 16 and hosting a sports radio talk show at 18. Nozad played soccer professionally in Iran for three years before moving to Germany to play on a scholarship, and immigrated to the United States in 1992.
Mentioned above: the Pear VC mafia →
From Pejman's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Founder at Pear VC
Intro paths
In turn, Pejman can intro founders to Pear VC's investors below.
Experience
- Pear VCFounding Managing Partnercurrent2013 — presentPalo Alto , California
- DropboxInvestorcurrent2007 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- DoorDashInvestorcurrent2013 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Branch MetricsInvestorcurrent2013 — presentPalo Alto
- SoundHoundInvestorcurrent2005 — present
- Zooskinvestorcurrent2007 — present
- Gusto!Investorcurrent2012 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- FootballmediaEditor in Chief and Publishercurrent2005 — present
- International Sports Press AssociationMembercurrent1990 — present
- AmidzadGeneral Partner2000 — 2015
- Webs.comInvestor2004 — 2011
- Olympic Children Games 2008 San FranciscoBoard Member2007 — 2008
Skills & more
+12 more
Mobile ApplicationsAngel InvestingMobile DevicesBusiness StrategySaaSOnline AdvertisingBusiness DevelopmentE-commerceDue DiligenceMergers & AcquisitionsInvestmentsCorporate DevelopmentLanguages English · Farsi · German
From Pejman's professional profile.
Investments
Board seats
Sheffield United
Investor
AffinityApplovinAurora SolarBranchCourseHeroDoorDashDropboxGuardant HealthGustoQwikiSoundhound
Sources: the firm's website · curated public sources.
Colleagues at Pear VC
Network4
Investors connected to Pejman in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Pejman Nozad?
- Pejman Nozad co-founded Pear VC and serves as its managing partner, leading a seed-stage firm whose portfolio has reached a combined value of close to $50 billion. His early-stage bets include DoorDash, Guardant Health, AppLovin, and Dropbox. A former professional soccer player, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2014, an award recognizing American citizens who contribute to their communities while staying connected to their ethnic roots.
- Where does Pejman Nozad work?
- Pejman Nozad is Founder of Pear VC and Founding Managing Partner at Pear VC.
- What does Pejman Nozad invest in?
- Pejman Nozad invests in AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Climate Tech, Cloud Computing, Consumer, Creator Economy, Crypto & Web3, Deep Tech, Developer Tools, E-commerce, EdTech, Enterprise Software, Fintech, FoodTech, Future of Work, Gaming, GovTech, Hardware, Healthtech, IoT, Logistics & Supply Chain, Marketplaces, Medical Devices, Mobility & Transportation, PropTech, Robotics, SaaS, Social, Travel & Hospitality.
- What check size does Pejman Nozad write?
- Pejman Nozad typically writes checks of $250K – $3M.
- What companies did Pejman Nozad found?
- Pejman Nozad founded Pear VC.
- What boards does Pejman Nozad sit on?
- Pejman Nozad holds tracked board seats at Sheffield United.
- What companies has Pejman Nozad invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Affinity, Applovin, Aurora Solar, Branch, CourseHero, DoorDash, Dropbox, Guardant Health, Gusto, Qwiki, Soundhound.
- What awards has Pejman Nozad received?
- Nozad received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2014 for his contribution to America as an immigrant. Nozad was ranked #1 in the world on the Forbes Midas Seed List three years in a row (2023, 2024, 2025).
Founder mafias
Dropbox mafia59
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 52 more
DoorDash mafia25
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 18 more
Gusto mafia18
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 11 more
Pear VC mafia18
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
+ 11 more
Branch mafia5
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Shared employers
Also worked at Dropbox137
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+ 131 more
Also worked at DoorDash70
+ 64 more
Also worked at Branch Metrics10
+ 4 more
