Shervin Pishevar

Shervin Pishevar – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Learn about Shervin Pishevar, the Iranian-American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and early backer of Uber and Hyperloop. Explore his life story, business impact, controversies, most memorable quotes, and lessons from his journey.

Introduction

Shervin Kordary Pishevar (born March 24, 1974) is a multi-faceted figure in Silicon Valley: an entrepreneur, super angel investor, venture capitalist, and philanthropist. Hyperloop One—a bold vision for next-generation transportation.

Yet his career also includes public controversy, legal disputes, and debates about reputation and accountability. In sum, Pishevar’s life offers both inspiration and caution—particularly in the volatile world of tech, capital, and public scrutiny.

Early Life and Family

Shervin Pishevar was born in Tehran, Iran on March 24, 1974.

When Shervin was still young, his family emigrated to the United States.

Youth and Education

In the U.S., Pishevar attended Montgomery Blair High School, a math and science magnet school.

For college, he matriculated at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in molecular and cellular biology. Berkeley Scientific, a peer-reviewed undergraduate research journal—the first of its kind in the U.S.

Pishevar also undertook graduate coursework in health economics at Berkeley’s School of Public Health. JAMA on documentation protocols for torture (the Istanbul Protocol).

These early achievements reflect not only intellectual curiosity but a readiness to cross disciplinary boundaries—between science, policy, and entrepreneurship.

Career and Achievements

Early Ventures: WebOS, HyperOffice, SGN

Rather than follow a medical path, Pishevar pivoted early into technology and startups. WebOS, which sought to deliver browser-based, windowed interfaces—a bold early concept of software delivered over the internet. HyperOffice.

In the early 2000s, he co-founded Seges Capital (tied to Vanderbilt’s endowment) and Ionside Interactive, advancing products in AI/graphics on emerging platforms. Webs Inc. (formerly Freewebs), raising capital and scaling its social publishing platform.

Pishevar went on to lead SGN (Social Gaming Network) in 2008 as CEO, raising tens of millions in funding and eventually exiting (acquired by MindJolt in 2011).

Role in Venture Capital & Angel Investing

In 2011, Pishevar joined Menlo Ventures as a Managing Director. Uber and became a board observer. Warby Parker, Machine Zone, Tumblr, Slack, and more.

In 2013, Pishevar left Menlo to form Sherpa Capital, co-founded with Scott Stanford (formerly of Goldman Sachs).

Hyperloop One & Transportation Vision

Pishevar was also one of the co-founders of Hyperloop One, conceived to realize Elon Musk’s hyperloop concept of high-speed tube travel.

However, in late 2017, Pishevar resigned from both Sherpa Capital and Hyperloop One amid sexual misconduct allegations (which he denies).

Historical Context & Major Turning Points

• Cross-disciplinary roots: Pishevar’s combination of science, health policy, and tech foresight placed him at an intersection unusual for many Silicon Valley investors.

• Uber rise & influence: His early backing and advocacy for Uber positioned him among influential voices shaping the ride-sharing revolution.

• Hyperloop ambition: He was among the first to try turning concept into action—technology meets large scale infrastructure vision.

• Controversy & accountability: The sexual misconduct allegations and his resignation from major ventures underscore how public figures are increasingly held to scrutiny beyond just financial and technological success.

• Public activism & policy influence: Pishevar engaged with global entrepreneurship, the Open Mesh Project during the Arab Spring, and advocated for the Startup Visa Act in the U.S.

Legacy and Influence

Shervin Pishevar’s legacy is complex and multifaceted.

• Catalyst of startup ecosystems: He helped many early companies get capital, connections, and visibility.

• Visionary in transport/tech: His promotion of hyperloop and infrastructure innovation continues to inspire technologists and investors.

• Model and caution in public leadership: His rise—and fall—offer lessons about reputation, power, and responsibility in the digital age.

• Philanthropy and giving back: He co-founded 1% of Nothing, aimed at channeling startup success toward social causes, and he established the Cyrus Prize, giving grants to Iranian inventors.

While his recent years have been quieter, many in tech still regard his earlier bets, advocacy, and network influence as part of the modern Silicon Valley story.

Personality and Talents

Shervin Pishevar is often described as:

• Bold and visionary: He does not shy away from big, audacious ideas (e.g. connecting cities via hyperloop).

• Connector and networker: He built relationships across startups, governments, and media.

• Resilient and outspoken: He is willing to engage publicly, sometimes controversially, on issues of politics, transparency, and enterprise.

• Emotional storyteller: His communications often appeal to narrative, mission, and identity beyond spreadsheets.

• Creative & reflective: He has spoken about the arts, soul, and the need to nourish more than just the “business self.”

At the same time, his career illustrates the risk of leading with charisma and influence: scrutiny, accountability, and personal conduct matter in every realm.

Famous Quotes of Shervin Pishevar

Here are selected quotations that reflect his worldview, ambition, and challenges:

“This is the beginning, and the dawn of a new era of transportation.”

“In my own life, I had gone from Maryland State Honors Chorus … writing and singing my own songs to a musical silence. It seemed the busier my work life would get, the less I had to feed the other parts of my own soul, including the arts.”

“If there’s a car company, and you have another car company, you don’t stop building your car and company because there are others.”

“We’re not thinking about the past, we’re full steam ahead on the future.”

“I have found that nurturing our creative side feeds all aspects of one’s life and those around us in a positive way.”

“The biggest advice is never, ever, ever give up. That’s just – no matter what – don’t give up.”

“Hyperloop can improve life dramatically for the 16 million people in the greater Moscow area … Our longer term vision is … a cargo Hyperloop that whisks freight containers from China to Europe in a day.”

These quotes show a blend of technical ambition, self-awareness, and motivation.

Lessons from Shervin Pishevar

1. Think beyond incremental innovation
   Pishevar bet on moonshots (Hyperloop) and high-impact infrastructure, not just incremental startup tweaks.

2. Invest in people and networks
   Many of his successes came by facilitating connections and backing teams, not just ideas.

3. Maintain creative balance
   His reflections show he regarded art, emotion, and soul as essential to sustainable performance.

4. Embrace accountability
   Success magnifies scrutiny—leading publicly demands integrity, clarity, and humility.

5. Be resilient in adversity
   Navigating controversy or resistance is part of high-leverage leadership—and clarity of values is critical.

6. Vision requires execution
   Bold dreams only matter when paired with steps, teams, and follow-through.

Conclusion

Shervin Pishevar’s story is not a simple hero’s arc. It is one of extraordinary ambition, influence, and also turbulence. From a child immigrant to a Silicon Valley power broker, he shaped and funded many of the startups that define our everyday digital life. His belief in bold ideas—transportation, tech platforms, social change—left a mark on a generation of founders and investors.

At the same time, his controversies remind us that influence carries responsibility, and that the fragile boundary between aspiration and accountability is part of the modern leader’s terrain.