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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

ABOUT ASCEND

PRE-SEED FOR THE NEXT

GENERATION OF TECHNOLOGY

We back founders early and put everything and everyone we know behind them.

BUILT BY FOUNDERS,

FOR FOUNDERS

We expect a lot from founders. You should expect the same from us.

Kirby Winfield built and exited four technology companies before starting Ascend. He built the firm around the support he valued as a founder.

We invest early and stay close. Our team brings operating experience, honest advice, and introductions that help founders make their next move.

Where we invest

We back founders across AI, software, and frontier technology — from intelligent infrastructure to robotics and autonomy. We look for hard problems and founders who know how to turn new technical possibilities into something people need.

MEET ASCEND

Operators, investors, and partners from the first check forward.

Kirby Winfield

Founding General Partner

An operator turned investor, Kirby draws on four company exits to help founders navigate the decisions ahead.

Email: kirby at ascend dot vc

Jen Haller

Partner & Chief of staff

Jen brings experience growing Seattle startups, including helping Ascend portfolio company Attunely scale through its Series A.

Email: jen at ascend dot vc

Nate Bek

Principal

Nate focuses on inception-stage defense, robotics, applied AI, and AI infrastructure. Previously, he covered startups and venture capital at GeekWire.

Email: nate at ascend dot vc

FROM SEATTLE,

WITH LOVE

Built here. Connected everywhere.

Seattle is home. Our relationships span its technology companies, startup community, and growing fields of AI, cloud, aerospace, and robotics.

We invest across the U.S. and bring that network with us.

FROM SEATTLE,

WITH LOVE

Built here. Connected everywhere.

Seattle is home. Our relationships span its technology companies, startup community, and growing fields of AI, cloud, aerospace, and robotics.

We invest across the U.S. and bring that network with us.

FROM SEATTLE,

WITH LOVE

Built here. Connected everywhere.

Seattle is home. Our relationships span its technology companies, startup community, and growing fields of AI, cloud, aerospace, and robotics.

We invest across the U.S. and bring that network with us.

THE OFFICE

SOUNDTRACK

The Pacific Northwest, on repeat.

EXPLORE THE PLAYLIST

MAKING NEWS

Ideas, perspectives, and stories from our community.

Seattle's Third Act

Lake Union is a small lake that tells a big story.

Seattle

FEATURED / Seattle

Seattle's Shadow C-Suite

A non-exhaustive list of C-Suite execs at tech giants headquartered elsewhere — who call the Emerald City home.

Seattle

FEATURED / Seattle

Mapping Cascadian Dynamism

It’s hard to label what’s forming across the Pacific Northwest. These companies don’t fit neatly into a single category. Some are building tactical autonomy…

Seattle

FEATURED / Seattle