Validus AI Partners
Category: AI in Government / Public Sector
A strategic advisory firm specializing in enterprise AI governance, risk management, and ISO 42001 certification readiness. Validus AI Partners was founded in 2025. The company is led by Eric Dabols. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Team size: 2-10. Latest round: Bootstrapped.
- Founded
- 2025
- Headquarters
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
- Team size
- 2-10
Value proposition
Bridges the gap between AI experimentation and regulated defensibility by operationalizing ISO 42001, NIST AI RMF, and EU AI Act compliance through proprietary frameworks (AAIF™, AIMS) — enabling enterprises to scale AI safely and audit-ready.
Products and solutions
AI Governance & Risk Management (ISO 42001, NIST AI RMF), Regulatory Advisory (EU AI Act, Colorado SB 205), Audit & Assurance (algorithmic bias audits, model validation, drift detection), Fractional CAIO (Chief AI Officer on retainer), ISO 42001 Certification Bridge program, AAIF™ (Applied AI Framework), AIMS (AI Management System), Executive Sprint for Enterprise AI Governance, 5-Step AIMS Validation Playbook
Unique value
Validus AI Partners is the exclusive home of the AAIF™ (Applied AI Framework) and AIMS (AI Management System) — battle-tested methodologies built by practitioners who have built, broken, and rescued AI systems in Fortune 100 environments, translating over a decade of ISO auditing experience into modern AI governance.
Target customer
Enterprise and mid-market organizations in regulated industries; Pharma & Life Sciences, Insurance & Financial Services, CPG & Retail, Investment & Venture Capital firms; CIOs, Compliance Directors, CISOs in the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas
Industries served
Pharma & Life Sciences, Insurance & Financial Services, CPG & Retail, Investments & Venture Capital
Technology advantage
Proprietary AAIF™ (Applied AI Framework) with maturity models, risk scoring algorithms, and Human-in-the-Loop architectures; ISO/IEC 42001 Senior Lead Implementer certified leadership; NIST AI RMF deep expertise; "Compliance as Code" governance approach; exclusive integration of Data As A Product IP
How they differentiate
Unlike Big Four consulting firms that sell theoretical compliance, Validus provides hands-on "muscle memory" from real-world AI system building and governance at Fortune 100 scale. The founder's dual competency in management system auditing (ISO 9001/GMP) and AI data product management enables a unique practitioner-led approach. The proprietary AAIF™ and AIMS frameworks provide structured, repeatable methodologies rather than generic consulting.
Main competitors
Echelon Risk + Cyber (AI governance for regulated industries), Wavestone (full AI value chain consulting), Big Four firms (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG) AI governance practices
Key partnerships
Partners with a network of technology and strategy firms to help clients navigate AI transitions (exact partners not publicly named), Waukesha County Technical College (Advisory Board for AI Data Specialist Program), Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI) affiliation via WCTC partnership
Major milestones
December 2025: Formation announced and acquisition of the Applied AI Framework (AAIF) and Data As A Product, LLC, January 2026: Principal Eric Dabols achieves ISO/IEC 42001 Senior Lead Implementer Certification (PECB certified), February 2026: Release of Q1 2026 Executive Summary "Democratizing AI for Strategic Advantage", April 2026: Launch of Enterprise AI Governance Executive Sprint for mid-market
Market positioning
Boutique strategic advisory firm focused on the emerging AI governance and compliance market segment, positioned as an accessible alternative to Big Four/Accenture/McKinsey for mid-market enterprises while offering deeper practitioner expertise than generalist consultancies.
Geographic focus
Primarily United States (Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas), with global reach through ISO 42001 and EU AI Act advisory services
Patents and IP
Proprietary AAIF™ (Applied AI Framework) with registered maturity models, risk scoring algorithms, and Human-in-the-Loop architectures — acquired from Data As A Product, LLC
About Eric Dabols
Sr. Manager of AI Data Products at The Home Depot (current); over a decade of management system auditing experience (ISO 9001, GMP); Adjunct Instructor for AI Data Specialist Program at Waukesha County Technical College; Stanford Continuing Studies education; founded Data As A Product, LLC prior to Validus AI Partners
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Official website: https://validusaipartners.com