Overland AI
Overland AI develops autonomous ground vehicles and software that enable military and defense organizations to operate fleets of off-road vehicles without GPS or direct operator control. Its technology allows a single operator to coordinate multiple vehicles for tasks such as logistics, frontline missions, and counter-drone air defense, with systems adaptable to various vehicle types and payloads. The company's mission is to transform land operations and enhance safety by delivering advanced ground autonomy solutions that keep warfighters out of harm’s way.
Facts
- HQ
- Seattle-area
- 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
Is this your organization? Claim it
Overland AI Raises $100M Led by 8VC to Expand ULTRA Autonomous Vehicles for U.S. Military
Seattle-based Overland AI raised $100 million led by 8VC to meet military demand for its ULTRA autonomous ground vehicles, expanding its technology for off-road, GPS-denied environments. The company, spun out of the University of Washington in 2022, partners with various U.S. military divisions and has raised over $140 million to date.
Microsoft's private OpenAI emails and Satya Nadella’s new AI catchphrase
Newly unsealed court documents reveal the behind-the-scenes history of Microsoft and OpenAI · including a surprise: Amazon Web Services was the Silicon Valley AI lab's original partner. Plus, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella debuts a new AI catchphrase at Davos, startup CEO Dave Clark gets attention for his "wildly productive weekend," Elon Musk talks aliens, and the latest on physical AI startups in the Pacific Northwest, including Overland AI and AIM Intelligent Machines. With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop; edited by Curt Milton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Seattle Startup Overland AI Partners with CAL FIRE to Test Autonomous 4-Wheelers for Wildfire Response
Seattle startup Overland AI is partnering with CAL FIRE to test its self-driving 4-wheelers for wildfire resupply and logistics, marking the technology's first use in civilian firefighting applications beyond its military background. Overland AI, founded in 2022, has existing contracts with U.S. defense agencies and recently raised $32 million to expand production capabilities.
Seattle’s UW research, Amazon alumni and military adjacency fuel startups building high-stakes, regulation-ready AI for biotech, finance and government
A Seattle high-school intern argues that strict school AI rules illuminated why AI must be disciplined in high-stakes domains, and describes how Seattle's research institutions (notably UW and the David Baker ecosystem), Amazon alumni, and military adjacency produce founders building accountable, regulation-ready AI for biotech, finance, and government.
GeekWire 200 Q2 2025 Lists Top 10 Fast-Growing Pacific Northwest Startups in AI, Robotics, Energy, and More
The GeekWire 200 ranking highlights the fastest-growing private tech startups in the Pacific Northwest, emphasizing innovators in AI, robotics, energy, and more for Q2 2025. This quarterly list, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, tracks regional tech development and emerging companies.
Overland AI Announces It Will Showcase Two ULTRA Autonomous Vehicles at Maneuver Warfighter Conference
Overland AI posted that it will attend the Maneuver Warfighter Conference and showcase two of its ULTRA autonomous vehicles, inviting attendees to visit their booth.
Seattle Lags Behind San Francisco in Top AI Startup Funding Deals in 2025 Despite Strong Talent Pool
Despite Seattle's strong AI talent and institutions, no Seattle-area startups rank among the top 100 AI funding deals in 2025, as investors favor San Francisco-based companies for large funding rounds. The city has potential but currently lacks a defining AI startup comparable to Anthropic or OpenAI.
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 capital…
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…
People
See all 6-
Byron Boots Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Officer, Director
-
Stephanie Bonk Founder, Co-Founder, President, Executive Officer, Director
-
Austin Guyette Seed Investor
