Endurance Energy
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Electric Power Generation
- Founded
- 2025
- Employees
- 40
- Stage
- Seed
EP12: Kirby Winfield - Founders first VC
## Key Points ### Keywords venture capital, investment strategies, AI technology, founder insights, decision-making frameworks, early stage investing, capital allocation, startup funding, Overland AI, Kirby Winfield ### Summary In this conversation, Martin Tobias interviews Kirby Winfield, a seasoned venture capitalist and founder, discussing his journey in venture capital, particularly focusing on his investment in Overland AI. Kirby shares insights into his decision-making frameworks, the importance of founder evaluation, and the evolution of his investment strategies over the years. He emphasizes the need for confidence in capital allocation and highlights common pitfalls that investors face in early-stage ventures. The discussion culminates…
Endurance Energy to Deploy 100-kW Geothermal Generator to Oregon Seafloor in September
Seattle startup Endurance Energy will deploy a 100-kilowatt geothermal generator to an undersea hydrothermal vent off Oregon in September to test whether undersea volcanoes can supply reliable, emissions-free baseload power.
Seattle’s ‘Third Act’: VCs Say Local Superstars Are Deep-Tech Startups Building Rockets, Geothermal Plants and Autonomous Vehicles
Two Seattle venture capitalists argue that the city’s next wave of superstar startups are already here but focus on deep tech—intelligent machines and physical products like rockets, geothermal plants and autonomous off-road vehicles—rather than pure software. They frame this shift as Seattle’s "Third Act," building on maritime/aerospace roots (Act I) and the software/cloud boom (Act II) to combine hardware and software using local infrastructure and talent.
Endurance Energy to Deploy 100 kW 'Adélie' Generator to Oregon Undersea Volcano on Sept. 7
Seattle startup Endurance Energy is preparing to deploy Adélie, a 100-kilowatt underwater geothermal generator, to an undersea volcano off Oregon on Sept. 7, aiming to tap 750°F hydrothermal fluids and scale undersea geothermal power. Founded by ex-SpaceX engineer Andrew Redd in January 2025, the company operates from a newly expanded 25,000-square-foot Seattle facility and has completed four prior ocean-floor deployments.
Ascend series: Seattle’s ‘Third Act’ — physical AI startups on Lake Union signal a shift toward software-enabled hardware
The piece reports from Lake Union to argue Seattle is entering a third industrial era—'physical AI'—where hardware-enabled intelligent machines mix with legacy maritime and aerospace industries, exemplified by startups like Overland, Anduril, Brinc, and Endurance Energy. The authors say Seattle has the talent, infrastructure, and institutions to lead but needs more risk-taking, investor capital for hardware, and pro-innovation policy to fully capitalize on this shift.
Helion’s $465M Series G Values Everett Fusion Firm Above $15B, Tops Seattle-Area 2Q VC Deals
Everett fusion-energy company Helion led greater Seattle-area 2Q venture capital deals with a $465 million Series G that valued it above $15 billion, making up nearly one-third of the region’s $1.5 billion in 2Q funding amid a year-over-year decline from $2.3 billion in 2Q 2025.
Kirby Winfield | Ascend
Winfield is a four-time operator (two IPOs, two acquisitions) who spent two years as investor-in-residence at the Allen Institute for AI before launching Ascend in 2019. That background drives a blunt thesis most polished VCs won't say out loud: pre-seed money from finance-trained "quants" is dangerous, because the people writing first checks need to understand the zero-to-one journey, not underwrite growth. He frames his own value as narrow and purpose-built for the first check, and tells founders that if they don't want to take his call again after the first meeting, they shouldn't take his money. His sharpest point is…
Kirby Winfield | Ascend
Winfield is a four-time operator (two IPOs, two acquisitions) who spent two years as investor-in-residence at the Allen Institute for AI before launching Ascend in 2019. That background drives a blunt thesis most polished VCs won't say out loud: pre-seed money from finance-trained "quants" is dangerous, because the people writing first checks need to understand the zero-to-one journey, not underwrite growth. He frames his own value as narrow and purpose-built for the first check, and tells founders that if they don't want to take his call again after the first meeting, they shouldn't take his money....
Seattle's Endurance Energy Raises $54M to Develop Deep-Sea Geothermal Power, Targets Grid Delivery in Two Years
Seattle startup Endurance Energy, led by former SpaceX engineer Andrew Redd, raised $54 million to develop deep-sea geothermal power technology and plans to deliver electricity to the grid within two years. The company aims to produce gigawatt-scale energy by deploying its 100-kilowatt generator 'Adelie' to the Juan de Fuca ridge this fall.
SendCutSend Raises $110M Led by Stripe Founders and Sequoia at $1B Valuation for Custom Metal Manufacturing
SendCutSend, an on-demand custom metal manufacturing startup founded in 2018, raised $110 million in funding led by Stripe founders and Sequoia Capital at a $1 billion valuation after previously bootstrapping. The boost in orders from AI-related industries motivated the company to accept venture capital backing.
Endurance Energy Operates from Seattle’s Lake Union Waterfront to Advance Subsea Geothermal Renewable Energy
Endurance Energy is based on Seattle's north Lake Union waterfront, enabling direct loading of seafloor drills and prototype generators onto vessels. The company embraces the Seattle maritime heritage and the potential of subsea geothermal renewable energy.
Endurance Energy Bases Subsea Geothermal Operations in Seattle’s North Lake Union Waterfront Hub
Endurance Energy is based on the waterfront of north Lake Union in Seattle, leveraging its maritime location to load seafloor drills and prototype generators for offshore operations. The company's work in subsea geothermal energy aligns well with Seattle's maritime heritage and vibrant local talent.
YEPS 2025 (Seattle Tech Week) - The Investor-Founder Playbook: Building Unbreakable Alignment
YEPS 2025 (Seattle Tech Week) - The Investor-Founder Playbook: Building Unbreakable Alignment - Bill McAleer, Co-Founder & Managing Director @ Voyager, Firm has $550 million under management and he has experience on 28 public and private boards, with 18 exits for over $5 billion - Kirby Winfield, Founder and General Partner @ Ascend (Emerging fund) - Susanna Niu, CEO of Meeboss (2nd-time founder, 1 exit) Matt McKinney, Head of Growth @ ArcBlock - Susan Paley, Parnter @ Conduit Venture Lab (Emerging fund) Young Entrepreneurs & Professionals Summit (YEPS) 2025 Wednesday, July 30 2025 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Microsoft Reactor…
Kirby Winfield: Founding GP@Ascend on Enterprise AI & Defense Tech
Kirby Winfield is the founding GP of Ascend, a pre-seed VC fund focused on enterprise AI. The fund's flagship investment is Overland AI, which powers autonomous ground navigation for the US Defense ecosystem. Prior to Ascend, Kirby's career as a tech founder included two IPOs and two venture backed exits.Topics: Enterprise AI Investment Thesis:Defense Tech InnovationBuilding Defensible AI Startups#AIStartups #TechExits #VentureCapital #AIInvestment
Kirby Winfield: Founding GP@Ascend on Enterprise AI & Defense Tech
Kirby Winfield is the founding GP of Ascend, a pre-seed VC fund focused on enterprise AI. The fund's flagship investment is Overland AI, which powers autonomous ground navigation for the US Defense ecosystem. Prior to Ascend, Kirby's career as a tech founder included two IPOs and two venture backed exits. Topics: - Enterprise AI Investment Thesis: - Defense Tech Innovation - Building Defensible AI Startups #AIStartups #TechExits #VentureCapital #AIInvestment
Humanizing Your Brand with Kirby Winfield
What does it take for a venture capitalist to build a successful brand strategy that resonates with founders and investors alike? In this episode, host Lindsay Pedersen sits down with Kirby Winfield, the founding general partner at Ascend, to explore the importance of defining and embodying a brand identity in the world of venture capital. Kirby shares insights on the value of authenticity, problem-driven processes, and the power of being intentional in shaping a brand that stands out in a competitive market. Define Your Brand Early: It's crucial to define your brand early on to...
8 tips for how to pick great Pre-Seed Founders by Kirby Winfield from Ascend.vc
Kirby's original post https://www.linkedin.com/posts/winfield_preseed-investing-is-easy-a-dont-activity-7186077270862659584-J1J4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
What's happening at the seed stage? Featuring Jenny Fielding, Kirby Winfield, and Nate Williams
Follow me @samirkaji for my thoughts on the venture market, with a focus on the continued evolution of the VC landscape.This week we're doing another special roundtable discussion with a focus on the seed stage market. Joining us are Jenny Fielding of Everywhere Ventures, Kirby Winfield of Ascend, and Nate Williams of UNION Labs.This whole conversation was focused on seed stage investing. We spent most of our time discussing how the market reset affects seed-stage decision-making, fund sizing, and reserve strategies. We also touched on what they are seeing and hearing from LPs...
Ignite VC: Shaping the Future of Startups and Venture Capital with Kirby Winfield of Ascend VC | Ep41
In this episode of the Ignite podcast, Kirby Winfield, founding general partner of Ascend VC, shares his journey from a marketing executive in early internet startups to a seasoned venture capitalist. Kirby's narrative begins with his roots in Seattle, detailing his initial foray into the startup world with GoToNet and his subsequent ventures, including Marchex and Dwellable, highlighting the lessons learned from each. He candidly discusses the challenges and personal sacrifices involved in the startup ecosystem, such as the impact on his health and family life, which led to a significant personal and professional recalibration. Kirby's transition to venture...
Ignite VC: Shaping the Future of Startups and Venture Capital with Kirby Winfield of Ascend VC| Ep41
In this episode of the Ignite podcast, Kirby Winfield, founding general partner of Ascend VC, shares his journey from a marketing executive in early internet startups to a seasoned venture capitalist. Kirby's narrative begins with his roots in Seattle, detailing his initial foray into the startup world with GoToNet and his subsequent ventures, including Marchex and Dwellable, highlighting the lessons learned from each. He candidly discusses the challenges and personal sacrifices involved in the startup ecosystem, such as the impact on his health and family life, which led to a significant personal and professional recalibration. Kirby's transition to venture capital…
Kirby Winfield on Growth of Seattle's Venture Ecosystem
Kirby Winfield speaks about his experience being an operator in Seattle over the past 30 years, how the venture ecosystem has evolved throughout the years and some similarities and differences between the venture landscape in the 90s/early 2000s and today. Kirby Winfield is a Seattle-based founder, operator and now investor. From 1996-2015, Kirby led 4 startups, either as a co-founder and/or executive from start to exit (2 IPOs and 2 acquisitions). He then began angel investing and in 2019 he launched Ascend VC, which is now the most active pre-seed VC firm in the Pacific Northwest investing out of their…
Kirby Winfield, Founding GP at Ascend VC
In today's episode of Category Visionaries, we speak with Kirby Winfield, Founding GP at Ascend VC, about his love for angel investing and the passion he feels in providing founder-friendly venture capital with genuine value to add to their partners’ offerings. By leaning into projects they have a genuine love for and interest in, Ascend gives so much more than just capital, forging a unique identity among a crowded field of VC firms through real commitment and support to turn business aspirations into commercial reality. We also speak about Kirby’s background in the startup space and taki...
EP 38: AI, Content & ChatGPT w/ Stew Fortier of type.ai and Kirby Winfield of Ascend.VC
We have two fantastic guests joining us today. First up, Kirby Winfield, an investor in AI-based companies. He has his own fund and a residency at the Allen Institute for AI in Seattle. Our second guest is Stew Fortier, an entrepreneur who has focused on content-related businesses, such as Foster and Well Said Labs. Currently, he is the co-founder and CEO of type.ai. Together, we explore the potential of AI-generated content, its implications for businesses, and how it can enhance customer experience. Kirby and Stew share their expertise and insights on the evolution of AI chat and its impact on…
What's next in the Silicon Valley Bank saga
Startups and investors cheered the U.S. government's promise this weekend to fully protect deposits after the Silicon Valley Bank collapse. But the move left many unresolved questions and challenges for the U.S. financial system and the tech industry. Our guests on this episode of the GeekWire Podcast discuss their recent experiences and offer their informed opinions on what could come next. Speaking with GeekWire co-founder John Cook are: Kirby Winfield, founding general partner of Seattle venture capital firm Ascend; and Aviel Ginzburg, general partner at Seattle VC firm Founders’ Co-op. They both reflect on what happened last week, explaining how…
Building Startup ecosystems, the solo GP life, and lessons from the dotcom bubble with Kirby Winfield of Ascend.Vc
The road of a solo GP is full of highs and lows, and today’s guest Kirby Winfield has been through all of it. After working in the 90s tech and startup scene in Seattle, Kirby went on to found Ascend VC as a solo GP. We talk about his biggest lessons, the best advice he’s gotten, and dig into some of the stories from the trenches as an emerging manager.About Kirby Winfield:Kirby Winfield is currently the Founding General Partner at Ascend.vc, a pre-seed stage venture fund investing in marketplace, e-commerce/DTC, and B2B...
People
-
Kirby Winfield First Check
