Ascend Ventures

About The Fund

Ascend Ventures is a pre-seed venture capital firm that primarily invests in innovative companies within the software, business solutions, retail and e-commerce, AI and big data, and cloud services industries, focusing on supporting woman-focused initiatives as well. With a geographical focus on the Seattle area, Ascend Ventures aims to invest in AI infrastructure and what they term 'SaaS 3.0': AI-native vertical software applications that are set to disrupt the B2B software status quo. The firm is led by Kirby Winfield, Founding General Partner, along with his team which includes Associate Nate Bek, and Partner and Chief of Staff Jen Haller, who collectively provide robust support to portfolio founders from the idea stage to seed, Series A, and beyond by connecting them with customers, talent, and Silicon Valley venture capital. Ascend Ventures' investment strategy entails a preferred check size ranging from $250,000 to $750,000, with an investment sweet spot around $500,000. Their specialty lies in pre-seed and seed investments where they not only provide capital but also contribute to building the Ascend network by throwing parties, sharing deal flow, helping companies find talent, and sending occasional news updates. The team is composed of individuals with diverse backgrounds ranging from startup reporting and entrepreneurship to civic involvement and political organizing, all bringing unique skills and experiences to foster the growth of their investments and to find new innovative startups to back.