James Scapa

James Scapa is a seasoned technology executive and entrepreneur with over 40 years of experience driving innovation, business growth, and cultural leadership. As the founder and former Chairman and CEO of Altair (Nasdaq: ALTR), a global leader in computational intelligence software, James guided the company through decades of expansion - serving over 16,000 customers and building a workforce of more than 3,000 employees across 79 offices in 28 countries.

Under his leadership, Altair’s solutions were adopted across diverse industries including automotive, aerospace, government and defense, finance, energy, electronics, life sciences, architecture, and construction. In March 2025, Altair was acquired by Siemens, marking a major milestone in the company’s journey.

Following the acquisition, James co-founded Escape Investment Management, a family office focused on investing in cutting-edge technology innovation.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University and a MBA from the University of Michigan.