Overland AI
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle
- Sectors
- Defense and Space Manufacturing
- Founded
- 2023 Seattle business license
- Type
- Corporation Seattle business license
- Employees
- 144
- Registered name
- Overland AI Inc Seattle business license
- Stage
- Growth
- Total raised
- $122.3M SEC Form D filings Total of this company's SEC Form D filings
- Last round
- $80M · Nov 2025 SEC Form D
- Founders
- Byron Boots, Stephanie Bonk, Greg Okopal
GeekWire Revamps 200 Seattle-Area Startup Ranking with AI for Q2 2025
The GeekWire 200 ranking of Seattle-area startups has been revamped for Q2 2025 using AI tools to better highlight fast-growing companies and emerging leaders. Presented by JPMorganChase, the updated ranking combines data and editorial insight to provide a comprehensive view of the Pacific Northwest tech startup ecosystem.
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
Seattle VC Firm Ascend Raises Third Fund to Back Early-Stage AI Startups After $25M Second Fund in 2023
Seattle venture capital firm Ascend is raising its third fund to invest in early-stage tech startups focused on vertical AI and infrastructure, following a $25 million second fund in 2023. Founder Kirby Winfield launched Ascend in 2019 and the firm primarily supports Seattle-area founders with investments ranging from $250,000 to $750,000.
Seattle Startup Overland AI Opens 22,000 Sq Ft Factory to Manufacture Autonomous Military Ground Vehicles, Employing 20 by Year-End
Seattle startup Overland AI opened a 22,000 sq ft factory to manufacture autonomous off-road ground vehicles, aiming to boost production and employ 20 people by year-end. The company, founded in 2022 and backed by $32 million in funding, develops technology for the U.S. military and works closely with the University of Washington and the Department of Defense.
GeekWire 200 Q1 2025: Highspot Leads as Helion Rises to No. 2 After $425M Funding; Truveta, Statsig, Protect AI Also Advance
The GeekWire 200 Q1 2025 update highlights rapidly growing Pacific Northwest tech startups, with Highspot retaining No. 1 and Helion rising to No. 2 after a $425 million funding round. Other notable movers include Truveta, Statsig, Protect AI, Carbon Robotics, and Stoke Space, reflecting dynamic shifts in the regional tech landscape.
Seattle Startup Overland AI Raises $32M Series A to Develop Off-Road Autonomous Tech for U.S. Military
Seattle startup Overland AI raised $32 million in a Series A funding round led by 8VC to advance its off-road autonomous driving technology for the U.S. military. The company, founded in 2022, has contracts with the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and DARPA to develop systems enabling robotic vehicles to operate in complex terrain without GPS or human drivers.
GeekWire 200 Updates Top Pacific Northwest Tech Startups Featuring Chainguard's $140M Raise and $1.1B Valuation
The GeekWire 200 ranking updates the top privately held tech startups in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, highlighting companies like Chainguard that raised $140 million and reached a $1.1 billion valuation. The list spans various industries and regions including Oregon and British Columbia, emphasizing the area's strong B2B enterprise software and consumer tech sectors.
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...
UW Spinout Overland AI Raises $10M to Develop Off-Road Autonomous Tech for U.S. Military
Seattle startup Overland AI raised $10 million to advance its off-road autonomous driving technology, which is being developed for U.S. military use. The company recently secured a potential $18.6 million contract with the U.S. Army to develop its OverDrive platform for robotic combat vehicles.
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
2024 GeekWire Awards on May 9 in Seattle to Honor Over 50 Pacific Northwest Tech Innovators
The 2024 GeekWire Awards event will be held on May 9 in Seattle to honor top innovators and leaders in tech from the Pacific Northwest, with over 50 finalists across multiple categories. Tickets are limited and the ceremony features awards, a dinner, and entertainment.
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…
CoMotion Highlights 10 UW Startups Led by Healthcare and $92,500 Ag Tech Prize Winner
The article highlights various news stories about CoMotion and University of Washington (UW) spinoffs and innovations, including 10 new startups mainly focused on healthcare and an ag tech startup that won a $92,500 prize in the UW Dempsey competition.
Ascend.vc’s Kirby Winfield Highlights AI Investing Strategy and Pacific Northwest Startup Growth on Shift AI Podcast
Kirby Winfield, founding general partner at Ascend.vc, discusses his shift from entrepreneur to Seattle-based AI-focused venture capitalist and shares insights on AI investing, emphasizing use cases solving real problems efficiently. Ascend.vc positions itself as a prolific pre-seed investor in the Pacific Northwest, focusing on applied AI as a next-generation vertical software.
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…
UW Professor Byron Boots Launches Overland AI to Develop Off-Road Autonomous Vehicles for Complex Terrain
University of Washington professor Byron Boots leads Overland AI, a Seattle startup developing off-road autonomous vehicle technology to improve safety and address labor shortages in challenging terrains. The company, co-founded by UW RACER team members and registered in January 2023, has raised undisclosed funding and maintains close ties to DARPA's RACER program.
Byron Boots Launches Overland AI to Develop Off-Road Autonomous Vehicles in Seattle
Byron Boots announced the launch of Overland AI, a Seattle-based company focused on off-road autonomous vehicle technology, aiming to innovate robotics capabilities.
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...
#17 Founding Partner of Ascend.vc: Kirby Winfield on all things Venture | Startup Project by Nataraj
In this Episode of Startup project (https://thestartupproject.io/) , Nataraj talked to Kirby Winfield, Founding GP of Ascend.vc (pre-seed fund based in Seattle). Prior to founding Ascend.vc, Kirby was part of founding teams at Go2Net (GNET), Marchex (MCHX), Dwellable (Acquired by Home Away (AWAY)) & AdXpose (Acquired by comScore (SCOR)). Full conversation includes: - Through line of a successful career - How can companies strategize for an exit? - The why behind starting a pre-seed fund? - Helping startups from zero to one - Price discovery of startups in current private markets Follow Kirby on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/winfield/. Checkout Ascend.vc for…
People
See all 4-
Byron Boots Founder, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Executive Officer, Director
-
Stephanie Bonk Founder, Co-Founder, President, Executive Officer, Director
-
Jonathan Fink Executive Officer
