Pear VC

Pear VC, founded in 2013 by Pejman Nozad and Mar Hershenson, is a Menlo Park-based venture capital firm specializing in pre-seed and seed-stage investments. Originally launched as Pejman Mar Ventures and rebranded in 2016, the firm combines a venture investing arm with an accelerator program (PearX) that has supported over 80 companies. Pear emphasizes a hands-on "partnering" approach, providing founders with operational support including in-house recruiting (over 175 hires), sales playbooks, 1:1 coaching, pitch deck polishing, and key introductions to drive product-market fit and growth.

The firm's founders bring unique expertise: Nozad, an immigrant from Iran who transitioned from rug sales to angel investing in hits like DoorDash and Dropbox, and Hershenson, a Stanford PhD and 3x founder with technical patents. Pear has seeded companies worth over $300B, including seven unicorns (e.g., DoorDash, Gusto, Guardant Health), three public companies, and recent investments in AI like Portal Biotechnologies. Recognized on Forbes Midas Lists, Pear closed its largest fund at $432M in 2023, targeting AI and early-stage innovation.

Pear offers unique resources like Pear Studio workspaces in San Francisco and Menlo Park, Pear Dorm fellowships at Stanford, Harvard, and MIT, and programs such as Emerging Managers in Residence and Female Founders Circle. With a team of 20+ ex-founders and operators, Pear focuses on exceptional founders across tech sectors, fostering long-term partnerships beyond funding.