Our Story

Founded by Wall Street Veteran Gary Shields, Avtech Ventures was founded in 2001 to lead the VC and P/E investments of Ted Waitt, Founder of Gateway Computers, and his family office, Avalon Capital. The three funds that achieved outstanding returns among all US based venture capital firms.   Since its formation, the firm has invested directly in more than 50 companies holding board positions in more than 20, and has provided advisory services to dozens of companies. Leveraging our Founder's senior investment banking experience with major firms including LF Rothschild, Robertson Stephens, The Chicago Corporation and Credit Lyonnais, we possess the experience and deep expertise to deliver world class advice to every one of our portfolio companies. Our direct investments and advisory transactions through the years comprise hundreds of transactions totaling billions of dollars at every stage from seed to exit. Gary Shields carries out his formal investment banking activity as Chairman and Managing Partner at Nassau Street Partners, one of the most innovative and fastest growing investment banks on Wall Street. Nassau Street Partners provides world class M&A and institutional capital formation to companies around the world.