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Pear VC, founded in 2013 by Pejman Nozad and Mar Hershenson, is a prominent venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California. With a fund size of $300 million, Pear VC has established itself as a key player in the early-stage investment landscape, focusing on pre-seed, seed, and Series A funding. The firm has successfully seeded companies that now boast a combined valuation exceeding $300 billion, showcasing its ability to identify and nurture high-potential startups. Pear VC's portfolio includes 256 companies, among which are five unicorns and six IPOs, demonstrating its effectiveness in fostering growth and innovation. The firm is recognized for its operational support, providing resources such as talent recruiting, fundraising mentorship, and go-to-market strategies to its portfolio companies. Pear VC is also known for its PearX accelerator program, which focuses on pre-seed companies, offering structured mentorship and investments ranging from $250,000 to $2 million in batches of 20 companies per year. This hands-on approach allows Pear VC to build deep partnerships with founders, ensuring they receive the guidance and support necessary to achieve product-market fit and scale effectively.
Pear VC's investment focus is primarily on early-stage companies, specifically in the pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages. The firm invests between $250,000 and $6 million, with a sweet spot around $2 million. While Pear VC maintains a sector-agnostic approach, it possesses deep expertise in several key areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), biotech, climate tech, fintech, and healthcare. This diverse focus allows Pear VC to back a wide range of innovative startups that are poised to disrupt their respective industries. The firm seeks to partner with exceptional founders who demonstrate significant potential and ambition. By investing in small batches of 20 companies each year, Pear VC ensures that it can provide tailored support and resources to each startup, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages growth and innovation. The firm’s commitment to operational support, including mentorship in fundraising and market strategies, further enhances its ability to help founders navigate the challenges of building successful companies.
Pear VC boasts a robust portfolio of 256 companies, which includes five unicorns and six IPOs. Notable investments include Vanta, Addepar, and Viz.ai, all of which have achieved significant market success. The firm has also facilitated several high-profile acquisitions, including DoorDash, Guardant Health, and Dropbox, highlighting its ability to identify and nurture companies with substantial growth potential. In the past year alone, Pear VC has made 33 investments, with the latest being Polynomic in December 2025. The firm’s strategic focus on sectors such as AI, biotech, and climate tech has enabled it to support companies that are not only innovative but also impactful in their respective fields. With a strong track record of successful exits and a commitment to fostering the next generation of industry leaders, Pear VC continues to be a vital player in the venture capital ecosystem.
Pejman Nozad - Co-founder and General Partner, Pejman has extensive experience in venture capital and has been instrumental in building Pear VC's reputation in the industry.
Mar Hershenson - Co-founder and General Partner, Mar brings a wealth of knowledge in technology and entrepreneurship, focusing on supporting early-stage founders.
To pitch Pear VC, founders should visit their website and submit their pitch materials through the provided application form. The firm values warm introductions but is open to cold applications as well. A well-prepared pitch should include details about the business model, market opportunity, and the founding team.
Pear VC operates the PearX accelerator program, which focuses on pre-seed companies. This program offers investments ranging from $250,000 to $2 million and provides structured mentorship in batches of 20 companies per year. The accelerator aims to support early-stage founders in achieving product-market fit and developing effective go-to-market strategies.
Pear VC has been actively engaging with the startup community, recently announcing the opening of applications for their PearX accelerator program. Additionally, they have made 33 investments in 2025, with the latest being Polynomic in December 2025. The firm continues to share insights through blog posts, discussing startup funding strategies and their latest investment activities.
Pear VC primarily invests in pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages. This focus allows the firm to support early-stage companies as they develop their products and market strategies.
Founders interested in pitching Pear VC should prepare a comprehensive presentation that outlines their business model, market opportunity, and team. The firm prefers to engage with exceptional founders who demonstrate significant potential.
Pear VC has a sector-agnostic approach but has deep expertise in areas such as AI, biotech, climate tech, fintech, and healthcare. This diverse focus allows them to back a wide range of innovative startups.
The typical check size for Pear VC ranges from $250,000 to $6 million, with a sweet spot around $2 million. This flexibility allows them to tailor their investments to the needs of each startup.
Pear VC primarily invests in companies based in the United States. Their focus on the U.S. market allows them to leverage local networks and resources effectively.
Founders can apply to Pear VC through their website, where they can submit their pitch materials. The firm values warm introductions but also accepts cold applications.
Pear VC offers extensive operational support to its portfolio companies, including talent recruiting, fundraising mentorship, and guidance on go-to-market strategies. Their PearX accelerator program also provides structured mentorship for pre-seed companies.
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