Shayan Zadeh

Entrepreneur, Innovation, and Turnaround Executive

Shayan Zadeh is a well-known serial entrepreneur who has a proven track record of founding, building, managing, and turning around multiple companies across various industries.

Most notably, Shayan successfully revitalized Pier 1 and Dressbarn, two established retail brands, pulling them out of bankruptcy and propelling them back onto a growth trajectory.

At Pier 1, a Texas-based online retailer specializing in imported home furnishings, Shayan spearheaded the acquisition of its Intellectual Property post-bankruptcy and orchestrated the relaunch as an e-commerce platform, driving the brand to an impressive $130 million in sales run-rate within just 3 months.

Similarly, in the case of Dressbarn, a venerable women's clothing retailer, Shayan led the acquisition of its IP and oversaw its reemergence in the market, achieving a remarkable $65 million in sales run-rate alongside multiple quarters of 100% growth under his direction.

Prior to these successes, Shayan co-founded Zoosk, a prominent online dating platform, where he served as CEO, securing substantial venture capital funding, reaching over $200 million in annual revenue, and culminating in its acquisition for $258 million.

Shayan's educational background includes a Master's in Computer Science from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business. He also holds a BSc from Sharif University of Technology.

Recognized for his achievements, Shayan has been honored with inclusions in the 40 Under 40 list by the San Francisco Business Times and the Alumni Hall of Fame by the University of Maryland. His ventures have received prestigious accolades like 'The Next Big Thing' by The Wall Street Journal and 'Inc5000' by Inc Magazine.

Beyond his entrepreneurial pursuits, Shayan serves as an angel investor and advisor to several startups, including Huma, Sherbit, PaperKarma, and Identified. In his leisure time, he enjoys activities like bicycling, tennis, and spending time with his Doberman Pinschers, Ivy & Duke.