EQUIAM
ActiveVenture Capital
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Financial History
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Leadership Team
Key people at EQUIAM.
Key people at EQUIAM.
EQUIAM is a San Francisco-based investment firm specializing in systematic, data-driven direct secondary transactions in the private market, primarily targeting Series B to pre-IPO companies. Their mission centers on leveraging proprietary data and automation to identify high-potential private companies with clear liquidity paths, enabling efficient, risk-adjusted investments that provide liquidity solutions to sellers without competing with large primary investors. EQUIAM focuses on sectors such as technology, fintech, and infrastructure, impacting the startup ecosystem by offering liquidity options that support growth and capital recycling in late-stage private markets[1][2][5][6].
Founded in 2018 by Ziad Makkawi, who has decades of experience in venture capital and asset management, and John Zic, the firm evolved from traditional growth investing to a systematic model that combines large-scale data ingestion with detailed position analysis. This approach was developed to address inefficiencies in private market investing by using over 20 proprietary signals and access to comprehensive company financials. Early traction included building and selling Algebra Capital ($1.5B AUM) and leveraging expertise from previous roles at JP Morgan, Lehman Brothers, and Forge, which helped shape EQUIAM’s unique investment process[1][3][5].
EQUIAM rides the trend of increasing demand for liquidity in late-stage private markets, where companies stay private longer and traditional exit routes are less frequent. Their timing is critical as the private market grows more complex and data-rich, enabling systematic secondary investments to thrive. Market forces such as the rise of venture-backed unicorns, extended private lifecycles, and the need for flexible liquidity solutions favor EQUIAM’s model. By providing a scalable, data-driven approach to secondary transactions, they influence the ecosystem by enhancing capital efficiency and supporting the maturation of private companies toward IPO or acquisition[1][2][4].
Looking ahead, EQUIAM is expanding its Private Tech 30 Fund II, targeting the most liquid, high-quality companies with shorter IPO horizons (12-36 months), signaling a focus on faster liquidity and lower risk. Trends shaping their journey include increasing reliance on data analytics in private markets, growing secondary market activity, and evolving investor appetite for diversified private equity exposure. Their influence is likely to grow as they refine their systematic approach and deepen partnerships for data sourcing, maintaining a competitive edge in private market investing[2][4]. This positions EQUIAM as a key player in transforming how late-stage private investments are sourced, priced, and executed.
Key people at EQUIAM.
