Pear VC

Pear VC is a venture capital firm specializing in pre-seed and seed-stage investments, partnering with entrepreneurs from their earliest days to build category-defining companies. The firm operates with a two-pronged structure, encompassing both a venture investing arm and an accelerator program known as PearX. Pear VC focuses on a broad range of sectors including artificial intelligence, consumer technology, enterprise software, digital health, fintech, biotech, and climate tech.

Founded in 2013 by Pejman Nozad and Mar Hershenson, Pear VC was initially launched as Pejman Mar Ventures before rebranding in 2016. The founders aimed to create a VC firm that prioritizes founder support. Pejman Nozad, an immigrant from Iran, transitioned from rug sales to becoming a successful angel investor, while Mar Hershenson, with a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford, is a three-time founder, bringing deep operational and technical expertise to the firm.

Pear VC has seeded companies that have achieved significant success, including seven companies valued over $1 billion and three public companies. Notable portfolio companies include DoorDash, Gusto, Guardant Health, Aurora Solar, Vanta, Affinity, and Viz.ai. The firm has also made recent investments in AI companies like Nomadic AI.

The Pear VC team comprises experienced founders and operators who provide hands-on support to portfolio companies. They offer comprehensive founder services, including in-house recruiting, tailored go-to-market playbooks, 1:1 coaching, pitch deck refinement, and strategic introductions to investors. The firm also provides resources such as Pear Studio workspaces in San Francisco and Menlo Park, and programs like Pear Dorm, Female Founders Circle, and AI Researcher Grant, fostering a supportive community for entrepreneurs.