Our Team

Dirk McDermott
MANAGING PARTNER
Industry Experience

With over 30 years in energy technology and services, Dirk McDermott has been a driving force in investment and innovation. A trained geoscientist, Dirk's extensive experience spans operating, investing, and board governance, including over 100 financings and 30 board roles.

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Sean Ebert
Senior Partner
Industry Experience

Sean Ebert started with Altira in 2008 and has over 30 years in the oil & gas and energy sectors. Sean has held key consulting and operational leadership roles, shaping portfolio strategies and guiding capital investments.

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J.P. Bauman
Partner
Industry Experience

J.P. Bauman has over 20 years experience investing in and growing technology and software companies across the industrial sector. His expertise spans hands-on portfolio company board and business-building roles, to deal sourcing, due diligence and structuring.

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Purcell Allen
Office Manager
Industry Experience

Purcell Allen brings 25 years of expertise in operations and administration, with a deep understanding of human resources, program management, and trade show/event production.

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Get the Latest Industry
News & Updates.

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October 31, 2024

IOTA Software Inc. Announces $10.4 Million Series A2 Funding Led by Altira Group

Altira Group Leads $10.4M Series A2 Funding for IOTA Software to Advance Data Visualization in Industrial and Energy Sectors.

iotasoft.com

October 9, 2024

Optimizing Operations and Reducing Downtime

Overcoming business challenges in the energy industry—such as cybersecurity threats, a complex regulatory environment, inflation, and supply chain bottlenecks—requires thinking...

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September 9, 2024

Exploring the Importance of Adaptability and Innovation in Navigating Changing Landscapes

Twenty years ago, the energy industry looked much different than it does today; the same could be said for the next 20 years. Emerging markets need reliable, renewable, low-carbon energy sources to propel their growth as the global economy gravitates toward sustainable energy solutions. Geopolitical instability also threatens grid centralization, requiring businesses to consider decentralizing their assets.

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August 7, 2024

Seeq Announces $50 million Series D Funding Round Led by Sixth Street Growth

SEATTLE – August 6, 2024 – Seeq, a leader in industrial analytics, AI, and monitoring, announced today it has closed a $50...

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August 1, 2024

Empowering Entrepreneurs in Energy: Lessons from Altira’s Success Stories

Addressing the complex challenges inherent to the energy industry and identifying value-generating opportunities in the sector requires an innovative, forward-thinking approach.

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June 27, 2024

Seeq Drives Innovation with Generative AI

Learn how Seeq is leveraging GenAI to add new capabilities that will empower users to improve manufacturing processes.

Seeq.com

Let’s talk

Ready to accelerate your energy journey? Contact us to explore how Altira can be your partner in innovation.

Contact us
Dirk McDermott

MANAGING PARTNER

Industry Experience

With over 30 years in energy technology and services, Dirk McDermott has been a driving force in investment and innovation. A trained geoscientist, Dirk's extensive experience spans operating, investing, and board governance, including over 100 financings and 30 board roles.

Notable Directorships

  • Infrastructure Networks
  • FlexGen Power Systems
  • ResFrac
  • MicroSeismic (Sold to TA Associates)
  • RigNet (NASDAQ: RNET)
  • Canyon Offshore

Background

  • Aspect Management, Co-Founder
    • Managed the oil and gas portfolio for General Atlantic Partners, overseeing General Atlantic Resources, Sanderford Offshore, and Brigham Oil & Gas.
    • Founded, funded, and managed early-stage oil and gas technology companies that pioneered the use of 3-D seismic technology, including Aspect Energy, Southtech Exploration, MB Exploration, Coherence Technology, Geographix, and Interactive Seismic Imaging.
  • The Louisiana Land and Exploration Company (LL&E), Chief Geophysicist
    • Over a decade of technical, operational, and leadership experience in global exploration and production projects.

Involvement

  • Founding Director, Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA)
  • Former Chairman, Stanford Petroleum Investment Committee
  • Colorado Governor’s Canada Trade Ambassador & Venture Capital Advisory groups
  • Former Trustee & Treasurer, Graland Country Day School
  • Vice Chairman, High Line Canal Conservancy

Education

  • MBA, Stanford University
  • MS Geophysics, Stanford University
Sean Ebert

Senior Partner

Industry Experience

Sean Ebert started with Altira in 2008 and has over 30 years in the oil & gas and energy sectors. Sean has held key consulting and operational leadership roles, shaping portfolio strategies and guiding capital investments.

Notable Directorships

  • Infrastructure Networks
  • ThoughtTrace (Sold to Thompson Reuters in 2022)
  • TransZap/Oildex (Chairman, Sold to Accel-KKR in 2014)
  • Syntex Management Solutions (Sold to IHS in 2010)
  • Austin Geomodeling (Sold to SeisWare in 2015)

Background

  • Booz Allen, Principal
    • Focused on advising oil and gas companies and private equity firms on portfolio strategy, new business model development, and capital investment decisions
    • Winner of Booz Allen’s Professional Excellence Award (highest professional honor)
  • Foresight Weather, CEO
    • Managed P&L through a successful product development phase and go-to-market initiative focused on load management and power/gas trading
    • Managed pursuit of private and venture investment
  • El Paso Energy, Project Engineer
    • Managed due diligence process for pipeline system acquisitions
    • Responsible for pipeline design, construction, and operational management for natural gas network

Education

  • MBA, University of Texas
  • BS Civil Engineering, University of Texas
J.P. Bauman

Partner

Industry Experience

J.P. Bauman has over 20 years experience investing in and growing technology and software companies across the industrial sector. His expertise spans hands-on portfolio company board and business-building roles, to deal sourcing, due diligence and structuring.

Notable Directorships

  • IOTA Software
  • Seeq (Partial sale to Sixth Street Partners in 2024)
  • FlexGen (Partial sale to Apollo Group in 2021)
  • ThoughtTrace (Sold to Thomson Reuters in 2022)
  • Premier Oilfield Equipment (Sold to Kaiser in 2017)

Background

  • Perseus LLC, Vice President
    $2 billion private equity / venture capital firm specializing in energy tech.
  • One Equity Partners, Associate
    $4 billion private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase.
  • JPMorgan Chase, Banking Analyst

Involvement

  • Co-founded or advised numerous start-ups
  • Advisory Board, Calgary Propel Energy Technology Forum
  • Committee Member, Colorado Oil & Gas Challenge

Education

  • MBA, University of Chicago
  • BA Economics, University of Chicago
Purcell Allen

Office Manager

Industry Experience

Purcell Allen brings 25 years of expertise in operations and administration, with a deep understanding of human resources, program management, and trade show/event production.

Background

  • Sisvel US, Operations & Administration Manager / Trade Shows & Events
    • Managed operations and coordinated trade shows and events.
  • Malcom P. McLean Foundation, Director
    • Oversaw foundation operations and programs.
  • Tuscaloosa County Drug Court, Director
    • Directed programs and initiatives within the drug court system.

Education

  • BA in Early Childhood Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill