# Ascend Group Co.

Ascend Group Co. is an Asset Manager based in Seattle, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Asset Manager
- **Headquarters:** Seattle, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Seattle, WA, United States
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** ascend.vc
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/ascend-venture-capital

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Ascend Group Co. is a pre-seed venture capital firm founded by Kirby Winfield, a four-time operator turned investor. Winfield previously raised venture capital for two startups, took them both public via IPO, and experienced two acqui-hires. The firm does not disclose its founding year or wealth origin; it operates as a single investment vehicle, not a family office. Ascend invests across three thematic buckets under the label "SaaS 3.0" — vertical AI agents and applications, Gen AI 2.0 (horizontal AI infrastructure), and frontier AI applied to the physical world's hardest problems. Check sizes range from $250,000 to $750,000. Portfolio companies include Clarity (AI/cybersecurity), Hedgehog (open source edge compute), Overland AI (off-road autonomy for defense), Recurent (EV battery reports), and Wrench (mobile auto repair). The firm's geographic focus is primarily Seattle-area founders, with additional offices listed in Bellevue, New York, and Bangkok. Ascend lists 70+ portfolio companies on its site. The team includes Winfield, Partner and Chief of Staff Jen Haller, Associate Nate Bek, and Analyst Thomas Stahura. The firm does not disclose AUM, total deployment, or professionals count. No recent operational event within the last 24 months is publicly documented. Adjacent structures such as a philanthropic foundation or operating company are not mentioned. The firm's structural differentiator is its tight geographic focus on the Pacific Northwest startup ecosystem, coupled with a narrow pre-seed stage mandate. Winfield's personal experience as both a venture-backed operator and investor allows the firm to offer hands-on tactical support — talent introductions, customer connections, and access to downstream Silicon Valley capital — that is rare for a pre-seed shop outside the Bay Area.

## Sectors

- AI/ML
- Enterprise Software
- ClimateTech
- Cybersecurity
- FinTech
- Digital Health
- Robotics & Automation

## Offices

- Bellevue
- New York
- Bangkok

## People

- Kirby Winfield — Founding General Partner
- Jen Haller — Partner and Chief of Staff
- Nate Bek — Associate
- Thomas Stahura — Analyst

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Ascend Group Co.?

Kirby Winfield serves as Founding General Partner and leads investment decisions. The four-person team also includes Partner Jen Haller, Associate Nate Bek, and Analyst Thomas Stahura (per firm website).

### How does Ascend source proprietary deal flow?

Ascend focuses on Seattle-area pre-seed startups. Winfield sources deals through his local operator network and four prior startup exits. The firm also runs an email list for events and deal-flow sharing (per the 'About' page).

### Does Ascend participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

Based on its website, Ascend only does direct pre-seed investments. It does not mention fund-of-funds or secondaries activity.

### What investment stages does Ascend typically target?

The firm targets only pre-seed stage. Preferred check size is $250,000 to $750,000 (per the 'About' page).

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- [Network 1 Financial Securities](https://altss.com/profile/network-1-financial-securities)
- [Brookhaven Bio](https://altss.com/profile/brookhaven-bio)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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