We Started a Manufacturing Company So My Brother Could Grow a Beard
Slice of Manufacturing Team
07/31/2025
Simplifying global sourcing in a world that’s anything but simple
Twelve years ago, Dave Evans and his brother Nate decided to challenge the way the world makes things. The result was Fictiv — a global manufacturing company helping teams go from prototypes to production without the usual headaches of sourcing custom parts.
From CNC machining to injection molding and 3D printing, Fictiv is the middleman you actually want in your supply chain, taking care of logistics across four countries so hardware teams can focus on building.
Two brothers, one global supply chain
Dave’s career began at Ford, designing dashboards and infotainment systems. But it wasn’t long before the Stanford-trained mechanical engineer realized the biggest bottleneck wasn’t in design. It was in manufacturing.
In 2013, he and Nate, a former investment banker who now speaks fluent Mandarin and has, Dave concedes, grown the better beard, launched Fictiv to modernize sourcing. The trust between them, Dave says, has been key: “We’re total opposites, but we got to focus on the business problem from day one.”
Why Fictiv works
Before Fictiv, sourcing custom mechanical parts meant endless spreadsheets, phone calls, and delays. Most supply chains still run on decades-old systems. “You couldn’t buy toilet paper in 2020,” Dave points out. “That’s how fragile the system is.”
Fictiv cuts through the chaos. With operations in the US, China, India, and Mexico, the company gives teams the ability to scale production globally without starting from scratch in every region.
A customer story, Rhode Island style
One example Dave is especially excited about: a company called Regent Craft, building all-electric seaplanes in Rhode Island. Fictiv helps them manufacture key parts, bringing futuristic flight to life while supporting local jobs in a place you’d never expect to be a hub for next-gen aviation.
Who it helps
Fictiv is a lifeline for any company juggling global manufacturing, especially those in clean energy, medical devices, defense, and advanced robotics. Think startups building EVs, scale-ups in medtech, or hardware teams making smart devices in small-town America.
These teams don’t just need parts. They need predictability. Fictiv gives them both.
The bottom line
Fictiv didn’t start with a plan to survive tariffs, pandemics, or geopolitical shocks. But by focusing on trust, agility, and technology that actually works, they’re helping companies navigate all three.
And if you ever forget this is a family business at heart, just remember. It all started with two brothers, a shared mission, and a very competitive beard rivalry.
