Shield AI
San Diego, US · Founded 2015 · Delaware corporation · 40 known investors
Shield AI develops AI pilot systems for military applications including aircraft, drones, ships, satellites, and submarines. The company serves the U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations.
AI & Machine LearningDefense Tech
Founders & leadership
Shield AI was founded in 2015 by Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, and Andrew Reiter.
AR
Andrew ReiterinCo-Founder
KA
Kingsley AfemikheExecutive
Board
KD
Keith DunleavyBoard director
AB
Andrew BerlinBoard director
PL
SZ
DG
Daniel Gwakin𝕏Board directorManaging Partner, Head of Point 72 Private Investments at Point72 Ventures
GC
SM
Investors · 40
645 VenturesNew York · $1M – $5M
Advaita CapitalBoston
Altra VentureNew York City · $500K – $25M
Andreessen HorowitzMenlo Park · $500K – $50Mvia Peter Levine · board
Beyond CapitalSan Diego
Booz Allen Ventures
Brave CapitalSan Rafael
Breyer CapitalAustin · $500K – $10M
Brighter CapitalCupertino · $25K – $100Kvia Yun-Fang Juan · inferred
Center15 CapitalLos Angeles
Chaos VenturesNew York
Cortado VenturesOklahoma City
Craft VenturesSan Francisco · $50K – $50M
Dorm RoomBrooklyn · $90K – $250K
Founder CollectiveCambridge
HomebrewBurlingame · $100K – $500K
Inflection VenturesNew Yorkvia Kabe Roashan · inferred
JuniperoMiami
K2 GlobalSingapore
Kinled HoldingHong Kongvia Patrick Aisher · inferred
Level VenturesSunny Isles Beachvia Sari Azout · inferred
Manhattan WestLos Angeles
Nearingpoint Venture Partners Inc.Torontovia Saurabh Khandelwal · inferred
Point72 VenturesNew York · $1M – $75M
R7 PartnersChicago · $100K – $5M
Riot VenturesVenice · $3M
Riverbend CapitalWashington
Rosecliff VenturesNew York City · $500K
Stack CapitalToronto
WealthUnion$10K
WP Global PartnersChicago · $5M – $25M
Advent InternationalreportedBoston · $1.1B
Blackstonereported
Bloomberg BetareportedSan Francisco · $25K – $1M
DisruptivereportedDallas
E1 VenturesreportedSan Franciscovia Ana Levine · inferred
Inertia VenturesreportedNew York · $2M
Prime Movers LabreportedJackson · $2M – $30Mvia Gaetano Crupi · board
SnowpointreportedPalm Beach
SnowPoint Venturesreported · 2 sourcesWest Palm Beachvia Doug Philippone · board
Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$3B disclosed across 9 of 11 rounds · 2016–2026
- Undisclosed amountSeries GApr 2026Source ↗
- $2BraisedMar 2026 · 2 sourcesSource ↗
- Undisclosed amountSeries GMar 2026Source ↗
▶$591.8MraisedMay 2026 · 32 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$591.8MraisedMay 2026 · 32 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Keith DunleavyDirector
- Andrew BerlinDirector
- Brandon TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Peter LevineDirector
- Shivon ZilisDirector
- Kingsley AfemikheExecutive Officer
- Gary SteeleExecutive Officer, Director
- Daniel GwakDirector
- Ryan TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Gaetano CrupiDirector
- Stephen MarcusDirector
- Doug PhilipponeDirector
- Greg SmithDirector
- Offering amount
- $591.8M
- Amount sold
- $591.8M
- First sale
- Feb 2025
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$281.3MraisedJan 2024 · 21 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$281.3MraisedJan 2024 · 21 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Brandon TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Andrew BerlinDirector
- Daniel GwakDirector
- Shivon ZilisDirector
- Doug Stiles PhilipponeDirector
- Peter LevineDirector
- Stephen MarcusDirector
- Gaetano CrupiDirector
- Ryan TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $305M
- Amount sold
- $281.3M
- Proceeds to insiders
- $2M
- First sale
- Sep 2023
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$73MraisedMay 2022 · 11 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$73MraisedMay 2022 · 11 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Brandon TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Robert Stiles Harward, Jr.Director
- Daniel GwakDirector
- Peter LevineDirector
- Doug PhilipponeDirector
- Satya PatelDirector
- Ryan TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $150M
- Amount sold
- $73M
- Proceeds to insiders
- $600K
- First sale
- May 2022
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$52.9MraisedNov 2020 · 13 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$52.9MraisedNov 2020 · 13 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Ryan TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Brandon TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Peter LevineDirector
- Satya PatelDirector
- Daniel GwakDirector
- Robert Stiles Harward, Jr.Director
- Offering amount
- $75M
- Amount sold
- $52.9M
- First sale
- Oct 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$22.2MraisedAug 2019 · 6 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$22.2MraisedAug 2019 · 6 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Ryan TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Brandon TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Satya PatelDirector
- Peter LevineDirector
- Robert Stiles Harward, Jr.Director
- Offering amount
- $25M
- Amount sold
- $22.2M
- First sale
- Aug 2019
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$10MraisedDec 2018 · 5 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$10MraisedDec 2018 · 5 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Brandon TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Ryan TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Robert Stiles Harward, Jr.Director
- Satya PatelDirector
- Andrew ReiterExecutive Officer
- Peter LevineDirector
- Offering amount
- $10M
- Amount sold
- $10M
- First sale
- Dec 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$10.5MraisedMar 2017 · 11 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$10.5MraisedMar 2017 · 11 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Satya PatelDirector
- Brandon TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Peter LevineDirector
- Ryan TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Brian LoseyExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $10.5M
- Amount sold
- $10.5M
- Proceeds to insiders
- $1M
- First sale
- Mar 2017
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$2.6MraisedMay 2016 · 19 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$2.6MraisedMay 2016 · 19 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Andrew ReiterExecutive Officer
- Brandon TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Ryan TsengExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $2.6M
- Amount sold
- $2.6M
- Proceeds to insiders
- $200K
- First sale
- May 2016
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2015
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Founder mafia
The Shield AI mafia →9 people who came through Shield AI went on to found or lead other companies.
Jesse RobbinsAngel InvestorFounded Chef +1David FrankelSeed InvestorFounded Founder CollectiveKingsley AdvaniInvestorFounded AllocationsDavid Zhi LuoZhangSoftware Engineering and ML InternFounded Bronco AIHarsha GundalaAutonomyFounded MoonshineWyatt LansfordMachine Learning Research EngineerFounded PallyAnshul AhluwaliaAutonomy Engineer InternFounded Surtr Defense SystemsCameron FioreSoftware Engineer - Planning and ControlsFounded Surtr Defense SystemsSam JonesProduct & EngineeringFounded Method Security
Competitors · 2
by search overlapInterestingengineering171 shared keywordsInteresting Engineering is an online media publication covering news and analysis on engineering, science, and technology topics including nuclear energy, semiconductors, robotics, quantum computing, and defense. It offers articles, columns, case studies, and research along with a subscription for ad-free access.
Breakingdefense122 shared keywordsBreaking Defense is a digital news publication covering defense industry, military technology, and national security developments, serving defense professionals, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. It publishes reporting and analysis on topics such as naval systems, drones, air defense, and defense procurement across the US, Europe, and Asia.
Companies competing with Shield AI for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Non-dilutive funding · 5 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase II | 2022 | $1.8M |
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase II | 2021 | $749.4K |
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase I | 2021 | $49.6K |
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase II | 2020 | $1.5M |
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase I | 2020 | $43.7K |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
In the news
Shield AI Completes Acquisition of Aechelon Technology - intelligence360intelligence360.news · Jul 2026
Shield AI Just Raised $2B and Doubled Its Valuation in a Yeartechlife.blog · Mar 2026Frequently asked questions
- What does Shield AI do?
- Shield AI develops AI pilot systems for military applications including aircraft, drones, ships, satellites, and submarines. The company serves the U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations.
- Who founded Shield AI?
- Shield AI was founded by Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, Andrew Reiter in 2015.
- Who are Shield AI's investors?
- Shield AI's investors include 645 Ventures, Advaita Capital, Altra Venture, Andreessen Horowitz, Beyond Capital, Booz Allen Ventures, Brave Capital, Breyer Capital and 32 more.
- How much funding has Shield AI raised?
- Shield AI has disclosed $3B raised across 9 of its 11 known rounds.
- Where is Shield AI headquartered?
- Shield AI is headquartered in San Diego, US.