Pear VC
In short: Pear VC is an early-stage venture firm with offices in San Francisco and Menlo Park. DII reports that it took part in the funding round for Known, a voice AI dating app that charges per date. It is one of several Silicon Valley investors backing AI-led matchmaking.
Key facts
| Type | Investor |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Website | pear.vc |
| Founded | Pear's website says the firm was founded in 2013 and has offices in San Francisco and Menlo Park [Pear VC official website, 2013] |
| Fact | Pear is an early-stage venture firm that backs founders at the earliest stages [Pear VC official website, 2026] |
| Funding | Pear VC took part in Known's $9.7 million funding round with Forerunner, NFX and Coelius Capital [Dating Industry Insights, December 2025] |
| Founded | Founded in 2013 as Pejman Mar Ventures and renamed Pear VC in 2016 [Wikipedia, 2013] |
| Founder | Founded by Pejman Nozad and Mar Hershenson [Wikipedia, 2013] |
| Headquarters | Headquartered in Menlo Park, California [Wikipedia, 2026] |
| Funding | Investor in Known, the voice dating app that has raised about $10M from Forerunner Ventures, NFX and Pear VC [Dating Industry Insights, 6 May 2026] |
| Funding | Pear VC listed among Known's investors with Forerunner, NFX and Coelius Capital [VCBacked, December 2025] |
About Pear VC
Pear VC, which uses the name Pear on its website, is an early-stage venture capital firm with offices in San Francisco and Menlo Park, California. Its website says it was founded in 2013 and backs founders at the earliest stages, offering support with hiring, customers and fundraising. Its website lists past partnerships with DoorDash and Gusto.
In dating, DII reports that Pear VC was one of the investors in Known, a San Francisco voice AI dating app. In a story published in December 2025, DII said Known raised $9.7 million from Forerunner, NFX, Pear VC and Coelius Capital. Known uses a long voice AI interview to make introductions instead of swipeable profiles, and charges for each date rather than for a subscription. A later DII story put the round at about $10 million and referred to the investor as Pair VC, which appears to be a misspelling.
DII has not reported any other dating investments by Pear VC. Its involvement in Known places it among the venture firms backing new AI-led approaches to dating in 2025 and 2026.
Dating industry investments
- Known, Funding, 2025-12
Also mentioned in
Questions about Pear VC
What is Pear VC?
An early-stage venture capital firm with offices in San Francisco and Menlo Park, founded in 2013 according to its website.
Has Pear VC invested in dating?
DII reports it took part in the funding round for Known, a voice AI dating app.
What does Pear VC do?
Pear VC is an early-stage venture firm with offices in San Francisco and Menlo Park. DII reports that it took part in the funding round for Known, a voice AI dating app that charges per date. It is one of several Silicon Valley investors backing AI-led matchmaking.
Where is Pear VC based?
Pear VC is based in San Francisco, United States.
When was Pear VC founded?
Pear VC was founded in 2013.
Also known as: Pair VC, Pear, Pejman Mar Ventures.