Early Life
Paul Sciarra was born around 1981 and grew up in New York. He attended Yale University from 1999 to 2003, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. During his time at Yale, he met Ben Silbermann, who would later become his co-founder at Cold Brew Labs, a mobile app developer. After graduating from Yale in 2003, Sciarra entered the venture capital industry by joining Radius Ventures, a New York-based firm specializing in healthcare and life sciences investments, around 2005.
Rise to Success
In 2008, Sciarra and Ben Silbermann co-founded Cold Brew Labs. Their work with Cold Brew Labs led to the creation of Pinterest. Sciarra, along with Silbermann and Evan Sharp, launched Pinterest in 2010. Initially serving as President and CEO, Sciarra played a crucial role in developing and securing funding to propel the platform's growth. In 2012, he transitioned from his executive role but continued as an advisor. In 2014, he became the executive chairman of Joby Aviation, an electric aircraft company, after making its first outside investment. He has been instrumental in leading the company through significant funding rounds and its 2021 public listing via SPAC merger.
Key Business Strategies
At Pinterest, Sciarra's initial focus was on business development and securing funding to support the platform's growth. As executive chairman of Joby Aviation, he focuses on the company’s product, organizational development, business development, and fundraising.
Philanthropy
Paul Sciarra and his wife, Jennifer, signed the Giving Pledge in May 2019, committing to donate a majority of their wealth to charitable causes. Sciarra is known for his focus on sustainable technology and innovation, particularly in electric aviation. His philanthropic activities have remained largely under the radar, with his wealth notably increasing due to Joby Aviation's 2021 public listing and strong stock performance.