Heavy Chain

Engineering, LLC

TECHNICAL OPERATING PARTNER · MASTER BUILDER

Twenty years leading engineering. Still building in production every day.

Heavy Chain is an engineering leadership and AI modernization firm led by Jason Vertrees, PhD. We work directly with software companies and startups to untangle complex architectures and ship faster with AI—and partner with private equity funds to sharpen deal sourcing, run technical due diligence, and support their portfolio teams.

Jason Vertrees, PhD · Principal

About the Founder

Jason Vertrees with his family — founder of Heavy Chain Engineering

Jason Vertrees, PhD

Founder • Technical Operating Partner

For over twenty years, I've built software and led engineering, product, and go-to-market teams across demanding technical domains—from scientific computing and vertical SaaS to serving as CTO and Head of Technology at a $1B AUM investment firm. Operating on both sides of the table taught me what investors actually need to see and what engineering teams actually need to ship.

Over the last several years, I've focused on building and shipping production systems with AI every single day—testing where agentic workflows genuinely accelerate a team and where they create fragile mess. I started Heavy Chain to bring that hands-on engineering leadership directly to software companies and private equity portfolios.

That commitment to craftsmanship is personal. In the summer of 1999, I worked as a software intern at Panasonic in Osaka. Opening my first Japanese bank account required a personal hanko (判子)—a carved seal representing individual identity and unforgeable accountability. That summer sparked a lifelong study of the language and a deep respect for Japanese culture, their people, and engineering rigor. On a recent trip to Tokyo, I had this custom seal hand-carved. It grounds Heavy Chain in that same standard of individual craft and fiduciary permanence.

Family keeps me grounded and focused on building solutions that truly matter—with accountability, discipline, and pride in the craft.

Jason Vertrees, PhD · Background

Track Record & Background

INSTITUTIONAL CAPITAL & PE OPERATIONS

PE Technical Operating Partner & Former $1B AUM CTO

Currently Technical Operating Partner at Greenridge Growth Partners · Former CTO & Head of Technology ($1B AUM)

I currently serve as Technical Operating Partner at Greenridge Growth Partners, supporting deal sourcing, technical diligence, and portfolio companies. Previously, I served as CTO and Head of Technology at a $1B AUM investment management firm—operating directly on the capital-allocation and governance side of the table.

COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE & DEPTH

PhD in Computational Biophysics

Classical Computer Science, Numerical Algorithms & Early AI

Alongside my doctorate in computational biophysics, I trained in classical computer science, numerical algorithms, and advanced mathematics—working with early AI and machine learning methods back in the 1990s. That deep mathematical and systems foundation shapes how I evaluate and build AI systems today.

PRODUCTION BUILDER & PRACTITIONER

20+ Years Leading Engineering & GTM

Active Daily Practitioner Shipping Production Code

I do not deliver slide-deck consulting. I write production code daily, architect autonomous agent harnesses, and embed directly with engineering teams to install proven systems.

Deal Teams · Portfolio Companies

The Dual Operating Flywheel

FOR PRIVATE EQUITY SPONSORS

Deal Teams & Value Creation

Technical Due Diligence & Sourcing Leverage

Before an acquisition, deal teams face severe information asymmetry: targets make unsupported claims about proprietary AI, conceal architectural debt, and rely on single key engineers. We conduct deep technical due diligence grounded in commit histories and systems reality. We translate engineering risk into balance-sheet exposure and deliver an actionable 100-day value creation plan for Day One.

Core Mandate

Pre-acquisition codebase archaeology & AI diligence
IC technical conviction & Day-One value roadmaps
EBITDA protection: faster delivery without headcount bloat
Sourcing leverage via operational modernization

FOR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

PortCo CEOs & Engineering Leaders

Architecture Governance & Execution Velocity

Lower middle-market vertical SaaS companies ($10M–$50M in annual recurring revenue) must scale roadmap delivery without diluting product focus or adding headcount. As a retained technical operating partner, we embed alongside engineering leadership. We establish senior architectural governance and install AI-native engineering systems so your existing team ships with compounding speed.