Igniting Innovation to Advance the Future of Defense

About Us

At Novatus Capital, we're building a better path to bring innovative technologies to market.

Through our proprietary DAI methodology, we identify, capitalize, and accelerate dual-use innovations that serve both commercial and defense needs. Our veteran team brings together industry leaders, government experts, successful entrepreneurs, and capital markets professionals to help companies build sustainable business models leveraging both commercial and defense opportunities.

We've developed a systematic approach for evaluating and accelerating innovations, creating a direct path for transformative technologies to reach the warfighter. Our ecosystem of defense technology incubators, accelerators, and strategic partners ensures early-stage companies can navigate the complex defense landscape and scale their impact.

Igniting Innovation to Advance the Future of Defense

About Us

At Novatus Capital, we're building a better path to bring innovative technologies to market.

Through our proprietary DAI methodology, we identify, capitalize, and accelerate dual-use innovations that serve both commercial and defense needs. Our veteran team brings together industry leaders, government experts, successful entrepreneurs, and capital markets professionals to help companies build sustainable business models leveraging both commercial and defense opportunities.

We've developed a systematic approach for evaluating and accelerating innovations, creating a direct path for transformative technologies to reach the warfighter. Our ecosystem of defense technology incubators, accelerators, and strategic partners ensures early-stage companies can navigate the complex defense landscape and scale their impact.

Igniting Innovation to Advance the Future of Defense

About Us

At Novatus Capital, we're building a better path to bring innovative technologies to market.

Through our proprietary DAI methodology, we identify, capitalize, and accelerate dual-use innovations that serve both commercial and defense needs. Our veteran team brings together industry leaders, government experts, successful entrepreneurs, and capital markets professionals to help companies build sustainable business models leveraging both commercial and defense opportunities.

We've developed a systematic approach for evaluating and accelerating innovations, creating a direct path for transformative technologies to reach the warfighter. Our ecosystem of defense technology incubators, accelerators, and strategic partners ensures early-stage companies can navigate the complex defense landscape and scale their impact.

Leadership Team

Leadership Team

Jay Gibson

Executive Chairman & CEO

The Honorable Jay Gibson is a private sector leader and C-suite executive across multiple industries, including aerospace and defense. He served as the first Chief Management Officer of the DoD, Assistant Secretary (CFO) of the Air Force, and in several other senior defense leadership roles. Jay has a unique perspective of both the US Government and Private Sector needs for National Security & Defense innovation. He will lead the overall strategic and operational direction of Novatus Capital and the Fund.

Jay Gibson

Executive Chairman & CEO

The Honorable Jay Gibson is a private sector leader and C-suite executive across multiple industries, including aerospace and defense. He served as the first Chief Management Officer of the DoD, Assistant Secretary (CFO) of the Air Force, and in several other senior defense leadership roles. Jay has a unique perspective of both the US Government and Private Sector needs for National Security & Defense innovation. He will lead the overall strategic and operational direction of Novatus Capital and the Fund.

Jay Gibson

Executive Chairman & CEO

The Honorable Jay Gibson is a private sector leader and C-suite executive across multiple industries, including aerospace and defense. He served as the first Chief Management Officer of the DoD, Assistant Secretary (CFO) of the Air Force, and in several other senior defense leadership roles. Jay has a unique perspective of both the US Government and Private Sector needs for National Security & Defense innovation. He will lead the overall strategic and operational direction of Novatus Capital and the Fund.

Brandon Newell

Head of Dual - Use Technology

As a Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, Brandon led, advised, and/or collaborated with nearly all defense innovation organizations.  His final position was as NavalX SoCal Tech Bridge Director, serving as government champion for a host of industry partners across the horizontals of Autonomy, Connected, and Electric, including Anduril, Verizon, Robotic Research, and Qualcomm to name a few. He is a recognized expert in de-risking product, product market fit and go to market strategy through methodologies developed by DCI Next under Brandon’s leadership.

Brandon Newell

Head of Dual - Use Technology

As a Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, Brandon led, advised, and/or collaborated with nearly all defense innovation organizations.  His final position was as NavalX SoCal Tech Bridge Director, serving as government champion for a host of industry partners across the horizontals of Autonomy, Connected, and Electric, including Anduril, Verizon, Robotic Research, and Qualcomm to name a few. He is a recognized expert in de-risking product, product market fit and go to market strategy through methodologies developed by DCI Next under Brandon’s leadership.

Brandon Newell

Head of Dual - Use Technology

As a Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, Brandon led, advised, and/or collaborated with nearly all defense innovation organizations.  His final position was as NavalX SoCal Tech Bridge Director, serving as government champion for a host of industry partners across the horizontals of Autonomy, Connected, and Electric, including Anduril, Verizon, Robotic Research, and Qualcomm to name a few. He is a recognized expert in de-risking product, product market fit and go to market strategy through methodologies developed by DCI Next under Brandon’s leadership.

William Greenwalt, Ph.D.

Chairman, Investment Committee

Bill is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he focuses on the expansion of America’s defense industrial base and defense management issues. Issues include technology-transfer reform, defense acquisition and procurement, technology policy and innovation, and the civil-military integration of the U.S. and allied commercial and defense industrial bases. Dr. Greenwalt is also a founder of the Silicon Valley Defense Group. He served as deputy under secretary of defense for industrial policy, he advised on defense acquisition, technology and logistics and was a senior staff member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

William Greenwalt, Ph.D.

Chairman, Investment Committee

Bill is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he focuses on the expansion of America’s defense industrial base and defense management issues. Issues include technology-transfer reform, defense acquisition and procurement, technology policy and innovation, and the civil-military integration of the U.S. and allied commercial and defense industrial bases. Dr. Greenwalt is also a founder of the Silicon Valley Defense Group. He served as deputy under secretary of defense for industrial policy, he advised on defense acquisition, technology and logistics and was a senior staff member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

William Greenwalt, Ph.D.

Chairman, Investment Committee

Bill is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he focuses on the expansion of America’s defense industrial base and defense management issues. Issues include technology-transfer reform, defense acquisition and procurement, technology policy and innovation, and the civil-military integration of the U.S. and allied commercial and defense industrial bases. Dr. Greenwalt is also a founder of the Silicon Valley Defense Group. He served as deputy under secretary of defense for industrial policy, he advised on defense acquisition, technology and logistics and was a senior staff member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Nate Hartley

COO/Fund Manager

Nate Hartley is a former US Army intelligence officer with 25 years of experience in international capital markets. He started his career at Credit Suisse First Boston and later at Barclays, holding senior positions in trading and treasury roles including as business line treasurer for the Emerging Markets group of Barclays’ investment bank, a $60 billion dollar balance sheet business. He later spent seven years as the CEO of Advance Global Capital, a UK-based alternative investment fund which has been named as one of IA50s top 50 international impact investment funds of its size every year since 2017. He has also held roles as the CFO of Crowdz and Head of North America for Channel Capital Advisors.

Nate Hartley

COO/Fund Manager

Nate Hartley is a former US Army intelligence officer with 25 years of experience in international capital markets. He started his career at Credit Suisse First Boston and later at Barclays, holding senior positions in trading and treasury roles including as business line treasurer for the Emerging Markets group of Barclays’ investment bank, a $60 billion dollar balance sheet business. He later spent seven years as the CEO of Advance Global Capital, a UK-based alternative investment fund which has been named as one of IA50s top 50 international impact investment funds of its size every year since 2017. He has also held roles as the CFO of Crowdz and Head of North America for Channel Capital Advisors.

Nate Hartley

COO/Fund Manager

Nate Hartley is a former US Army intelligence officer with 25 years of experience in international capital markets. He started his career at Credit Suisse First Boston and later at Barclays, holding senior positions in trading and treasury roles including as business line treasurer for the Emerging Markets group of Barclays’ investment bank, a $60 billion dollar balance sheet business. He later spent seven years as the CEO of Advance Global Capital, a UK-based alternative investment fund which has been named as one of IA50s top 50 international impact investment funds of its size every year since 2017. He has also held roles as the CFO of Crowdz and Head of North America for Channel Capital Advisors.

Managing Partners

Managing Partners

Scott Frayser

Head of Capital Markets Execution

Scott has 30+ years of experience in capital markets transactions, including M&A, direct private equity investing, technology venture capital investing and acceleration. He has founded multiple financial advisory and technology companies, including interim C-level participation in multiple commercialization ventures from technology/IP created by the Air Force Research Labs.  Scott was the former East Coast Managing Director of Wells Fargo’s M&A Advisory Services Group and a co-founder of Matrix Capital Market Group, a leading lower middle market M&A firm. Scott will provide the Fund strategic advisory services around prospect origination, due diligence, vetting, CFO augmentation, valuation, investment term structure and execution of follow-on capital markets access.

Scott Frayser

Head of Capital Markets Execution

Scott has 30+ years of experience in capital markets transactions, including M&A, direct private equity investing, technology venture capital investing and acceleration. He has founded multiple financial advisory and technology companies, including interim C-level participation in multiple commercialization ventures from technology/IP created by the Air Force Research Labs.  Scott was the former East Coast Managing Director of Wells Fargo’s M&A Advisory Services Group and a co-founder of Matrix Capital Market Group, a leading lower middle market M&A firm. Scott will provide the Fund strategic advisory services around prospect origination, due diligence, vetting, CFO augmentation, valuation, investment term structure and execution of follow-on capital markets access.

Scott Frayser

Head of Capital Markets Execution

Scott has 30+ years of experience in capital markets transactions, including M&A, direct private equity investing, technology venture capital investing and acceleration. He has founded multiple financial advisory and technology companies, including interim C-level participation in multiple commercialization ventures from technology/IP created by the Air Force Research Labs.  Scott was the former East Coast Managing Director of Wells Fargo’s M&A Advisory Services Group and a co-founder of Matrix Capital Market Group, a leading lower middle market M&A firm. Scott will provide the Fund strategic advisory services around prospect origination, due diligence, vetting, CFO augmentation, valuation, investment term structure and execution of follow-on capital markets access.

David Petrie

Strategic Partnerships, Ecosystem Expansion & Capital Markets

David has over 25 years of experience as a seasoned global banking Executive working as the Global Head of the USD Investment and Liquidity portfolios for both Barclays and Deutsche Bank. Following his work at large banks he has worked extensively in the venture driven technology investment and accelerator markets. David and his partners have spent the last several years building domain driven ecosystems where maximum leverage is sourced across domains, partners, innovation, capital and acceleration. In his role with the Fund, David will continue to intentionally expand the National Security ecosystem that engages both prospective company founders, commercial opportunities, and alternative capital providers - all to the benefit of the National Security Fund's investment performance as measured by a safer nation and money on money multiples.

David Petrie

Strategic Partnerships, Ecosystem Expansion & Capital Markets

David has over 25 years of experience as a seasoned global banking Executive working as the Global Head of the USD Investment and Liquidity portfolios for both Barclays and Deutsche Bank. Following his work at large banks he has worked extensively in the venture driven technology investment and accelerator markets. David and his partners have spent the last several years building domain driven ecosystems where maximum leverage is sourced across domains, partners, innovation, capital and acceleration. In his role with the Fund, David will continue to intentionally expand the National Security ecosystem that engages both prospective company founders, commercial opportunities, and alternative capital providers - all to the benefit of the National Security Fund's investment performance as measured by a safer nation and money on money multiples.

David Petrie

Strategic Partnerships, Ecosystem Expansion & Capital Markets

David has over 25 years of experience as a seasoned global banking Executive working as the Global Head of the USD Investment and Liquidity portfolios for both Barclays and Deutsche Bank. Following his work at large banks he has worked extensively in the venture driven technology investment and accelerator markets. David and his partners have spent the last several years building domain driven ecosystems where maximum leverage is sourced across domains, partners, innovation, capital and acceleration. In his role with the Fund, David will continue to intentionally expand the National Security ecosystem that engages both prospective company founders, commercial opportunities, and alternative capital providers - all to the benefit of the National Security Fund's investment performance as measured by a safer nation and money on money multiples.

Goutam Gandhi

Technology Analysis and Global Markets Connections

Goutam is a seasoned business and technology executive with over 25 years in global banking and technology, leading large scale digital transformations, M&A, Payment and enterprise risk management at Bank of America, Wells Fargo, SAP, the Federal Reserve and others. He has developed significant trusted relationships with state and federal government leaders. He holds 5 patents and is on a technology board to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Goutam will be involved in sourcing innovative disruptive technologies and global strategic partners and capital providers.

Goutam Gandhi

Technology Analysis and Global Markets Connections

Goutam is a seasoned business and technology executive with over 25 years in global banking and technology, leading large scale digital transformations, M&A, Payment and enterprise risk management at Bank of America, Wells Fargo, SAP, the Federal Reserve and others. He has developed significant trusted relationships with state and federal government leaders. He holds 5 patents and is on a technology board to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Goutam will be involved in sourcing innovative disruptive technologies and global strategic partners and capital providers.

Goutam Gandhi

Technology Analysis and Global Markets Connections

Goutam is a seasoned business and technology executive with over 25 years in global banking and technology, leading large scale digital transformations, M&A, Payment and enterprise risk management at Bank of America, Wells Fargo, SAP, the Federal Reserve and others. He has developed significant trusted relationships with state and federal government leaders. He holds 5 patents and is on a technology board to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Goutam will be involved in sourcing innovative disruptive technologies and global strategic partners and capital providers.

Billy Snider

Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Development

Billy has over 15 years selling into both government and commercial markets for fast growing tech startups and established Fortune 500 companies. He was an early hire for the Lyft Business team, where he led the Government and Non-Profit vertical. He secured a $186M Blanket Purchase Agreement with the Federal government and negotiated the first rideshare contract with the Department of Defense. He held senior roles at EMC and Investment Banking at Consilium Partners and is a strategic advisor to several early stage startups. His focus for the Fund is originating strategic pipelines and partnerships for funding candidates and developing the overall fund ecosystem.

Billy Snider

Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Development

Billy has over 15 years selling into both government and commercial markets for fast growing tech startups and established Fortune 500 companies. He was an early hire for the Lyft Business team, where he led the Government and Non-Profit vertical. He secured a $186M Blanket Purchase Agreement with the Federal government and negotiated the first rideshare contract with the Department of Defense. He held senior roles at EMC and Investment Banking at Consilium Partners and is a strategic advisor to several early stage startups. His focus for the Fund is originating strategic pipelines and partnerships for funding candidates and developing the overall fund ecosystem.

Billy Snider

Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Development

Billy has over 15 years selling into both government and commercial markets for fast growing tech startups and established Fortune 500 companies. He was an early hire for the Lyft Business team, where he led the Government and Non-Profit vertical. He secured a $186M Blanket Purchase Agreement with the Federal government and negotiated the first rideshare contract with the Department of Defense. He held senior roles at EMC and Investment Banking at Consilium Partners and is a strategic advisor to several early stage startups. His focus for the Fund is originating strategic pipelines and partnerships for funding candidates and developing the overall fund ecosystem.

Portrait of a person in a pink sweater against a light background

Edward Parker

Strategic Partnerships and Capital Development

Ed has extensive investment banking experience in London and Hong Kong working with Cazenove & Co, Salomon Bros, and Citigroup. He is well connected with global Family Offices with relationships created through his involvement in veteran organizations in the UK and US. He served in the British Army during the 1980’s and 1990’s and co-founded UK veteran charity, Walking with the Wounded. He will support the Fund with his skills in venture capital, financial advisory, strategy, investments, public-private partnership and his investor network.

Portrait of a person in a pink sweater against a light background

Edward Parker

Strategic Partnerships and Capital Development

Ed has extensive investment banking experience in London and Hong Kong working with Cazenove & Co, Salomon Bros, and Citigroup. He is well connected with global Family Offices with relationships created through his involvement in veteran organizations in the UK and US. He served in the British Army during the 1980’s and 1990’s and co-founded UK veteran charity, Walking with the Wounded. He will support the Fund with his skills in venture capital, financial advisory, strategy, investments, public-private partnership and his investor network.

Portrait of a person in a pink sweater against a light background

Edward Parker

Strategic Partnerships and Capital Development

Ed has extensive investment banking experience in London and Hong Kong working with Cazenove & Co, Salomon Bros, and Citigroup. He is well connected with global Family Offices with relationships created through his involvement in veteran organizations in the UK and US. He served in the British Army during the 1980’s and 1990’s and co-founded UK veteran charity, Walking with the Wounded. He will support the Fund with his skills in venture capital, financial advisory, strategy, investments, public-private partnership and his investor network.

Technological Dominance is the New Battleground

Our Principles

Our Principles

01

Warfighter-Centricity

Every decision we make is laser-focused on delivering mission-critical capabilities to those who defend our nation. In an era where economic security equals national security, we ensure innovations reach the frontlines at speed.

01

Warfighter-Centricity

Every decision we make is laser-focused on delivering mission-critical capabilities to those who defend our nation. In an era where economic security equals national security, we ensure innovations reach the frontlines at speed.

01

Warfighter-Centricity

Every decision we make is laser-focused on delivering mission-critical capabilities to those who defend our nation. In an era where economic security equals national security, we ensure innovations reach the frontlines at speed.

02

Fierce Dedication

We are operators, not observers. Our proprietary DAI process reflects our unwavering commitment to systematic evaluation, precision execution, and accelerated outcomes.

02

Fierce Dedication

We are operators, not observers. Our proprietary DAI process reflects our unwavering commitment to systematic evaluation, precision execution, and accelerated outcomes.

02

Fierce Dedication

We are operators, not observers. Our proprietary DAI process reflects our unwavering commitment to systematic evaluation, precision execution, and accelerated outcomes.

03

Ecosystem Approach

We harness the collective power of defense innovators, industry leaders, and strategic partners through an extensive network including Tech Bridges, DIU, NSIN, and AFWERX.

03

Ecosystem Approach

We harness the collective power of defense innovators, industry leaders, and strategic partners through an extensive network including Tech Bridges, DIU, NSIN, and AFWERX.

03

Ecosystem Approach

We harness the collective power of defense innovators, industry leaders, and strategic partners through an extensive network including Tech Bridges, DIU, NSIN, and AFWERX.

Let’s bring your vision to life

Extreme close-up black and white photograph of a human eye

Contact us

Let’s bring your vision to life

Extreme close-up black and white photograph of a human eye

Contact us

Let’s bring your vision to life

Extreme close-up black and white photograph of a human eye

Contact us