Maritime engineering and ship repair firm, Fairlead, Portsmouth, Va., has launched a corporate venture capital arm aimed at supporting the U.S. maritime industrial base through targeted investments in technology and manufacturing.
According to a company press release issued May 6, Fairlead Ventures will invest in early- and growth-stage companies working in areas such as naval architecture, shipyard digitization, propulsion systems, logistics optimization, and autonomous technologies. The new venture is intended to support the modernization of shipbuilding infrastructure and reduce construction timelines, with a broader goal of enhancing domestic maritime capacity, Fairlead said.
Fairlead noted the effort aligns with national security and industrial policy objectives and is meant to bolster resilience in defense manufacturing and expand the commercial viability of advanced maritime platforms. The company said the venture arm will focus on dual-use technologies and supply chain innovation.
Company officials said the move reflects an effort to respond to geopolitical pressures, strained industrial capacity, and changing global supply chains.
Fairlead Ventures is expected to begin making investments in the third quarter of 2025. Priority will be given to technologies that align with Department of Defense modernization goals, shipyard capability restoration, and commercial maritime decarbonization, according to the press release.
