Travis Putnam is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Navitas Capital. Current and previous investments include HqO, Orchard, Matterport, Bowery, Sweeten, Truss, Gridium, Honest Buildings (Procore), and PlanGrid (Autodesk). Travis holds a degree in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in Finance.
Louis Schotsky is a Managing Partner at Navitas Capital. Prior to joining Navitas, Louis spent over a decade at Equity Residential in operations and investments and time as a technology and management consultant at Andersen Consulting and The Boston Consulting Group respectively. Louis holds a degree in Philosophy and Economics from Trinity College and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Michael Spies is a Venture Partner at Navitas Capital. In his 30 years at Tishman Speyer, Michael led its businesses in Europe and India, created and headed Global Innovation, and was Chair of the Investment Committee. He serves on the boards of or as an advisor to numerous startups within and outside the Navitas portfolio. He is a Global Governing Trustee of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), serves on the board of TechnoServe, a non-profit organization reducing poverty in the developing world, and is also on the Advisory Board of the Taubman Center for State and Local Government at the Harvard Kennedy School. Michael has a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a master’s in City & Regional Planning from the Harvard Kennedy School.
Gary Dillabough is Venture Partner at Navitas Capital. Gary’s previous investments and board roles include View, Comfy (Siemens), Honest Buildings (Procore) and SCL Elements (Schneider Electric). Prior to Navitas, Gary was a Managing Partner at the Westly Group, where he led the Smart Buildings and Energy Efficiency practice. Prior to joining Westly, Gary served in numerous roles at eBay for 10 years, including General Manager of Sustainability. Prior to eBay, Gary served in management roles at Visto Corporation (now Good Technology), ImproveNet, and Media Arts Group. Gary received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Steve Swerdlow is a Senior Advisor to Navitas Capital. During his 31 years at CBRE, he held multiple executive leadership positions, including Group President, CEO of APAC, and COO of the Americas. Before CBRE, he served as a development officer for Hines and was a corporate attorney at Barrett Smith. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and a law degree from the NYU School of Law.
Jim Pettit is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Navitas Capital. He currently serves as either a board director or observer on a number of boards, including Aquicore, Cherre, and Optimum Energy. Prior to co-founding Navitas, Jim was a Principal at Bancroft Capital, a real estate investment firm located in California, and a Managing Partner at J.P. Morgan (Hambrecht & Quist). Jim received a bachelor’s degree from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley with an emphasis on Finance and Real Estate.
Jenny Song is a Principal at Navitas Capital. Prior to joining Navitas, Jenny served as a Broad Resident (a two-year fellowship in urban education leadership) at Noble Charter Schools, a charter management organization in Chicago, where she founded an ed-tech arm of the organization. Jenny started her career with Bain & Company, the management consulting firm, where she advised clients on strategic projects from marketing and sales to due diligence and M&A. Jenny holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University, a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago, and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Mike Heller is a Senior Associate at Navitas Capital. Prior to joining Navitas, Mike led strategy and growth for TRUX, a construction logistics software platform and marketplace. Mike began his career at EY-Parthenon, a management consulting firm, where he advised clients on commercial due diligence and growth strategy. Mike received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a secondary field in Government from Harvard College.
Madison Gesser is an Associate at Navitas. Prior to joining the firm, Madison was a Real Estate Summer Analyst at the Blackstone Group and interned with one of Navitas’ portfolio companies, PeerStreet. Madison received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California in Economics and Finance.
Leo Wing is an Analyst at Navitas Capital. Prior to joining Navitas, Leo was an Associate in the technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) practice of L.E.K. Consulting, a global strategy consulting firm. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and English Literature from Northwestern University.
Amy Persohn is the Chief Operating Officer of Navitas Capital. Prior to joining Navitas, Amy served as the Chief Operating Officer of Deutsche Bank’s Global Real Estate and Infrastructure Securities business. Before Deutsche Bank, Amy was a Vice President in Morgan Stanley’s real estate investment banking group. Amy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame.
“PlanGrid has some pretty high profile investors, but none have been more helpful in connecting us to forward thinking builders than Navitas.”
Ryan Sutton-Gee. Cofounder & CEO at PlanGrid
“In a sea of me-too investors, Navitas stands as an independent thinker with deep and knowledgeable convictions about the market. We met at formation stage, and they have been the ideal partner to help us build Gridium from concept to rapid revenue growth.”
Tom Arnold, CEO, Gridium
“Jim and Travis have deep knowledge and contacts in the built space, and they truly go the extra mile for their portfolio companies.”