Pejman Nozad
Pejman Nozad | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Venture capitalist, former professional soccer player, radio host |
| Known for | Co-founder of Pear VC and Amidzad Partners; Forbes Midas List rankings |
Pejman Nozad is an Iranian-American investor specializing in venture capital, known for co-founding Pear VC and Amidzad Partners. Prior to his investment career, he was a professional soccer player and hosted a radio show. Nozad achieved the 15th position on the Forbes Midas List in both 2021 and 2022, and secured the top spot on the seed investors ranking in 2024.
Early life and education
During the Iranian Revolution, Nozad spent his childhood attending a German-language school in Tehran, which eventually shut down due to the unrest. By age 16, he was contributing a sports column and had launched a sports radio talk program by 18.
Career
Before relocating to Germany on a scholarship in the 1980s, Nozad played soccer professionally in Iran. He later emigrated to the United States in 1992. His initial employment included washing cars, working at a yogurt store, and selling rugs at Medallion Rug Gallery.
In 1999, Nozad partnered with Rahim and Saeed Amidi, proprietors of Medallion Rug Gallery and Plug and Play Tech Center, to establish Amidzad Partners. This firm invested in companies such as Qwiki. In 2013, he co-launched the venture capital firm Pear VC alongside Mar Henshenson, originally called Pejman Mar. Pear VC famously converted a $1.9 million investment in DoorDash into $440 million.
Nozad’s contributions through Pear VC brought him repeated acclaim, placing him 15th on the Forbes Midas List for both 2021 and 2022, as well as second on the Midas Seed List in 2022.