Payam Pedram.

Payam Pedram is an American entrepreneur, investor, and real estate developer based in Beverly Hills, California. He is the founder of Vertex Autonomy Corporation, a defense technology company focused on autonomous drone systems, and previously founded a hedge fund that grew from $75,000 to $500 million in assets under management.

Pedram immigrated to the United States and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He later earned two master's degrees from Pepperdine University: a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Dispute Resolution.

Pedram founded a hedge fund in 2003 and, within three years, grew it from $75,000 to $500 million in assets under management. He was featured on CNBC.

After stepping away from business in his 30s, Pedram returned as a real estate developer and investor. His portfolio includes residential, short-term rental, and development projects in Southern California, and he has facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate and investment capital.

He is the founder of Vertex Autonomy Corporation, which applies 3D printing and autonomous systems to drone technology for the defense sector. He is also developing a real-time crime and public safety application that gives communities access to live safety data.

Pedram supports Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Jewish Federation. His interests include automotive engineering, weightlifting, and photography.