Shield AI
San Diego, US · Founded 2015 · Delaware corporation · 47 known investors
Find your way into Shield AI
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Ask Rodolfo Elias Dieck to introduce you to Kingsley Afemikhe
You →Rodolfo · together at XOS Trucks →Kingsley
Ask Jamie Chen to introduce you to Andrew Reiter
You →Jamie · together at Boston Dynamics →Andrew
Ask Sam Okafor to introduce you to Brandon Tseng
You →Sam · together at Shield AI →Brandon
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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.
Founders & leadership
Shield AI was founded in 2015 by Brandon Tseng, Ryan Tseng, and Andrew Reiter.




Board



Investors · 47
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Funding
SEC filings, press & company announcements$7B disclosed across 11 rounds · 2016–2026
▶$591.8MraisedMay 2026 · 32 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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 →12 people who came through Shield AI went on to found or lead other companies.
Related companies · 1
Companies working in the same space as Shield AI.
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 raises $165M at a $2.3B valuation to fund its military AI pilotstechcrunch.com · Jun 2022Frequently 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 515 Ventures, 645 Ventures, Advaita Capital, AF WPartners, Alpha Partners, Altra Venture, Andreessen Horowitz, Beyond Capital and 39 more.
- How much funding has Shield AI raised?
- Shield AI has disclosed $7B raised across 11 rounds.
- Where is Shield AI headquartered?
- Shield AI is headquartered in San Diego, US.







































