WASHINGTON – On April 10 at 12:40 p.m., the Howard University School of Business will host a fireside chat with Bita Sarah Pishevar-Haynes, PhD and Shervin Pishevar of the Pishevar Institute (Pi Institute)/Pishevar Haynes Family Foundation. The event will take place in the School of Business auditorium. 

The talk will be moderated by Cathy House, professor of management and organizational behavior, and will focus on questions posed by Howard University Students on the topic: “Leading through Entrepreneurship.” In 2021, the Pishevar family pledged a $3 million endowment to establish the Dr. Abraham Pishevar Endowed Chair in Finance and Entrepreneurship, named in honor of Abraham Pishevar, PhD. Pishevar is an alumnus of Howard (PhD ‘94) and renowned television and radio executive during the Shah Reza Pahlavi era in his native country Iran.  

“America represents a life-changing opportunity to reside in a country where a person can realize her or his full potential. We are grateful for every opportunity that coming to the U.S. has afforded us. A pivotal milestone in our family history was when Howard University welcomed our father into the doctoral program as he rebuilt his life in America,” said Pishevar. “It is for this reason we want to pay it forward to ensure that Howard students, faculty, and administrators are supported to continue to shine with their standards excellence, to build the generational wealth, knowledge and celebrate their history of inclusivity, diversity, and belonging.”  

The Pishevar Pi Institute/Pishevar-Haynes Foundation amplifies excellence among the underrepresented by leveraging tech to increase access to STEAM, education, wellness, economic resources & a cleaner planet. It is emblematic of the Pishevar family's commitment to empowering generations of Howard’s future entrepreneurs. The foundation actively works to increase access to opportunities for people in underrepresented groups. The Pishevar Family Office focuses on creating, supporting and investing in tech companies centered on matters of health science, wellness, environment, transportation, community, culture and arts.  

Pishevar-Haynes represents a unique intersection as a CEO, licensed cross-culturally trained behavioral clinical psychologist, international tech operator, Venture Partner/Investor, tenured professor, and philanthropist. She’s been awarded noteworthy achievements and awards in sectors that span tech startups, Ed tech, behavioral health, academic and more.  

She has collaborated with top tech founders, C-Suite executives, collaborated with Fortune Top 20 CEOs and world-class athletes,; guided investors and stakeholders from strategy to execution, ; and coached individuals and teams toward maximizing human potential and organizational development and change management. 

Pishevar is a serial entrepreneur and seasoned investor, with over 25 years of experience as a business executive who has built and advised numerous successful technology companies. He is a co-founder and manager of Sofreh Capital (Pishevar Family Office), and Managing Member of The Edison Companies, LLC.  

Pishevar was co-founder of Sherpa Capital (now ACME Capital) and Managing Partner of Menlo Ventures. Additionally, he is a four-time recipient of the Forbes’ Midas List recognition as a the Top 100 venture investors in the world by returning 88.3% IRR and returning over $2.9 Billion to Limited Partners.  

Shervin is an active angel investor with investments in more than 100 privately held companies.  

In 2016, Shervin was selected as an Ellis Island Medal of Honor award winner. He was appointed by the 44th President Barack H. Obama to serve on the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FFSB).  He was also chosen by the U.S. Government as an Outstanding American by Choice as one of the only 100 naturalized Americans to be chosen since the beginning of the award. He has served as one of the 10 members of the UN Foundation’s Global Entrepreneurs Council, as an entrepreneurial ambassador in several state department delegations to the Middle East and Russia. Shervin also was a keynote speaker at President Obama’s Summit on entrepreneurship in Algeria. 

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