Shervin Pishevar

Shervin Pishevar is an Iranian-American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and philanthropist, born on March 24, 1974. He is notably recognized for his role as a lead investor and strategic advisor at Uber, where he served as a board observer from 2011 to 2015. Pishevar was instrumental in Uber's early funding rounds, including its Series B investment.1

Career Highlights

• Venture Capital: Pishevar is a co-founder and managing director of Sherpa Capital, a venture capital firm that has invested in several high-profile companies, including Airbnb, GoPuff, and Slack. He previously held a position as a managing director at Menlo Ventures, where he led investments in notable startups like Warby Parker and Tumblr.14

• Hyperloop One: He co-founded Hyperloop One, which aims to revolutionize transportation, and served as its executive chairman. The company later rebranded to Virgin Hyperloop One after receiving significant investment from the Virgin Group.13

• Angel Investing: Over his career, Pishevar has made over 100 angel investments, supporting various startups across different sectors, including Dollar Shave Club and TaskRabbit.45

Controversies

Pishevar's career has not been without controversy. In late 2017, he faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct from several women, including inappropriate behavior and harassment. These allegations led to significant media coverage and scrutiny of his professional conduct.2 In December 2017, he resigned from both Virgin Hyperloop One and Sherpa Capital amid these accusations, which he has publicly denied, claiming they are part of a smear campaign against him.12

Recognition

Pishevar has been recognized for his contributions to entrepreneurship and venture capital, including being named an Outstanding American by Choice by the U.S. Government in 2012 and receiving the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2016.1

Overall, Shervin Pishevar's career reflects a blend of significant entrepreneurial achievements and notable controversies, marking him as a prominent yet polarizing figure in the tech industry.