Paul Sciarra

Paul Sciarra. He is an American entrepreneur and investor best known as a co-founder of the visual discovery engine Pinterest. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Sciarra worked in finance and at a startup before collaborating with Ben Silbermann and Evan Sharp to launch the platform. Following his departure from Pinterest, he has pursued a career in venture capital, co-founding the investment firm Sciarra Ventures and serving as an executive chairman at Hims & Hers.

Early life and education

Paul Sciarra was born on October 16, 1982, in New York City. He attended the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy for his secondary education. For his undergraduate studies, Sciarra enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in Political Science and graduated in 2004. During his time at the university, he was actively involved with the Philomathean Society, one of the oldest collegiate literary societies in the United States.

Career

After completing his degree, Sciarra began his professional career in the finance sector in New York City. He later transitioned to the technology industry, taking a role at the startup Kohort, a platform designed for professional group collaboration. This experience in the early-stage tech environment provided crucial insights into product development and company building. His career trajectory shifted significantly when he reconnected with a former classmate, setting the stage for his most notable entrepreneurial venture.

Pinterest

In 2009, Sciarra co-founded the company that would become Pinterest alongside Ben Silbermann and, later, Evan Sharp. The concept originated from Silbermann's earlier project, Tote, a mobile catalog application. Sciarra served as the company's first CEO, focusing on early business strategy, fundraising, and operational development. The platform officially launched in closed beta in 2010, quickly gaining traction for its unique, visually-oriented pinboard interface. Under the leadership of Sciarra and his co-founders, Pinterest secured early funding from prominent venture capital firms like FirstMark Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners. Sciarra stepped down from his executive role in 2012, prior to the company's significant user growth and its eventual initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2019.

Post-Pinterest ventures

Following his departure from Pinterest, Sciarra moved into venture capital and angel investing. He co-founded the investment firm Sciarra Ventures, which focuses on early-stage technology companies. He has served as an executive chairman at the direct-to-consumer health brand Hims & Hers, helping guide the company through its SPAC merger and public listing. His investment portfolio and advisory roles span a diverse range of startups, including the real estate platform Compass, the financial technology company Petal, and the design software firm Figma. Sciarra remains an active figure in the Silicon Valley investment community.

Personal life

Sciarra maintains a relatively private personal life. He is married and resides in San Francisco, the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area tech scene. His philanthropic interests include support for educational initiatives and the arts. Sciarra is also a noted collector of contemporary art and has been involved with institutions like the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Category:American technology company founders Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni