We see the company before it starts fundraising.
Equitas Investments invests in validated, high-conviction companies at the convergence of AI, advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure – sourced through the Equitas ecosystem, not the open market.
THE HIDDEN ADVANTAGE
Most investors meet a company on the day it opens a funding round. We often meet it years earlier.
TYPICAL INVESTOR
First Contact
Company opens a round
EQUITAS INVESTMENTS
First Contact
Company begins working with Equitas Group
12–24 months of runway most investors never see
Investment Decision
Made with 12–24 months of context
WHY IT MATTERS
Earlier access changes what we know, who we know, and what we pay
Better Information
We see real traction, product data, and team performance validated through NAVIGATE — not projections in a pitch deck.
Better Access
Relationships built through our ecosystem development partners earn us the first conversation, often before a company has decided to raise.
Better Economics
Earlier visibility means we can engage before competitive rounds compress valuations and terms.
WHERE WE INVEST
Companies building at the edge of AI and physical industry
We back founders with 10+ years of relevant operating experience, building post-revenue businesses with a clear path to institutional customers.
AI & Computation
Applied AI platforms with governance built in from the start.
Advanced Manufacturing
Industry 4.0, robotics and industrial automation.
Digital Twins and Simulation
Operational modeling for complex physical systems.
Secure Data Infrastructure
Zero-trust systems and data provenance platforms.
Intelligent Infrastructure
AI-enabled logistics, energy and civic systems.
Workforce Enablement
Platforms bridging human capability and automation.
HOW IT WORKS
Not a venture studio – a validation-first path to capital
01
A Company Arrives
Through Equitas Group’s advisory relationships, university partnerships or government networks.
02
The Ecosystem Engages
Equitas Group and Equitas Technologies support strategy, pilots, and technical development.
03
Navigate Validates
Technical, commercial, and governance review before any capital is discussed.
04
We Invest
With a level of insight no cold outreach could produce.
LEADERSHIP
Operators, not first-time managers
Derek Willis
Founder & General Partner
Derek spent 17 years at the South Carolina Research Authority, where he was the highest-returning portfolio manager in the history of its Industry Partnership Fund. He has directed early-stage capital into more than 100 companies and previously served as a General Partner at Etowah Capital Partners.
James McCormack, CFA
Founder & General Partner
Jim spent five years at Goldman Sachs Asset Management as a Vice President and Portfolio Manager overseeing multi-asset portfolios, and co-founded Silverview Capital Partners, an SEC-registered investment adviser. He holds the CFA charter and has two decades of institutional investment experience.
Building something at the edge of AI and industry?
If your company is post-revenue and working at the intersection of our focus areas, we’d like to hear from you.