Divot #3: From $700 to Silicon Valley’s #1 Seed Investor – Pejman Nozad’s Unbelievable Journey
10 snips
Mar 19, 2025 Pejman Nozad, a powerful force in Silicon Valley and Forbes' #1 seed investor, recounts his incredible journey from washing cars with just $700 to investing in billion-dollar startups like Dropbox. He shares invaluable insights on building relationships in the venture capital world and outlines the strategies for identifying unicorn startups. Pejman also reflects on the lessons learned from a $500 million investment mistake involving Facebook. His story is a testament to resilience, networking, and the belief that anyone can break into the startup scene.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Immigrant to Investor
- Pejman Nozad arrived in the U.S. with $700 and no English, initially washing cars and sleeping in an attic.
- He transitioned from selling rugs to becoming a top Silicon Valley investor through networking and leveraging connections.
Rugs to Riches
- Pejman got a rug sales job despite no experience, eventually connecting with VCs and founders through his work.
- By strategically offering rug washing services, he built relationships and gained insights into the tech world.
Dropbox Deal
- Pejman, after years of investing and selling rugs, recognized the Dropbox founders' potential at a YC demo day.
- He leveraged his connections to secure their first major investment from Sequoia Capital.