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Shield AI's Overview

Total employees887
HeadquartersSan Diego
Founded2015

Shield AI is an artificial intelligence company focused on building AI pilots for aircraft. Their mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. The company develops Hivemind, an AI pilot that enables teams of intelligent aircraft to operate autonomously in high-threat environments without relying on GPS, communications, or a human pilot. Key products include the V-BAT unmanned aircraft system, known for its vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities and long endurance, powered by Hivemind.

Where is Shield AI's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the central hub for leadership, research and development (R&D), engineering, software development (especially for Hivemind AI), hardware integration (like V-BAT), and corporate operations (finance, HR, marketing, legal).

Notable Features:

The headquarters likely features state-of-the-art R&D labs, engineering workspaces, potential areas for hardware testing and integration, and modern collaborative office spaces designed to foster innovation.

Work Culture:

Characterized by a mission-driven environment focused on national security, attracting talent passionate about AI, robotics, and defense. Often described as fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative, emphasizing engineering excellence and solving complex technical challenges.

HQ Significance:

San Diego's proximity to military bases, a strong aerospace and defense industry cluster, and a rich pool of tech talent makes it a strategic location for Shield AI's R&D, testing, and customer engagement.

Values Reflected in HQ: The focus on advanced R&D facilities reflects the core value of innovation. The collaborative spaces likely mirror a value of teamwork, and the mission-driven culture permeates the environment, aligning with their goal of protecting service members.

Location:

While primarily US-focused with key operations supporting the Department of Defense, Shield AI's technology, particularly the V-BAT platform powered by Hivemind, has been deployed or demonstrated with international allies and partners. Their global presence supports these international customers, potential foreign military sales (FMS), and participation in international defense exercises and demonstrations.

Street Address:

3480 Kurtz St

City:

San Diego

State/Province:

CA

Country:

USA

Shield AI's Global Presence

Dallas, TX, USA

Address: [Specific address not publicly listed, likely near defense/aerospace hubs]

Leverages Texas's strong aerospace and defense manufacturing ecosystem and talent pool.

Washington, D.C. Metro Area (e.g., Arlington, VA), USA

Address: [Specific address not publicly listed, likely near government/defense centers]

Facilitates close engagement with key government customers, policymakers, and defense industry partners located in the capital region.

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Address: [Specific address not publicly listed, likely near robotics/AI hubs]

Taps into a leading academic and research hub for artificial intelligence and robotics talent.

Buying Intent Signals for Shield AI

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of Shield AI

As of April 2025, Shield AI' leadership includes:

Ryan Tseng - Co-Founder & CEO
Brandon Tseng - Co-Founder, President & Chief Growth Officer
Andrew Reiter - Co-Founder & CTO
Chris Cappa - Chief Financial Officer
Brett Darcey - Chief Revenue Officer
Nathan Michael - Chief Technology Officer (following acquisition of MartinUAV)
Megan Milam - Chief People Officer

Investors of Shield AI

Shield AI has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)
U.S. Innovative Technology Fund (USIT)
Riot Ventures
Disruptive
Homebrew
Point72 Ventures
Snowflake Ventures
Breyer Capital
SVB Capital

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire2
Exits0

Shield AI has seen some executive transitions over the past year, reflecting growth and integration following acquisitions. Notably, roles like Chief Revenue Officer and Chief People Officer have seen appointments, indicating scaling efforts. No major, high-profile exits were prominently reported recently, suggesting relative stability at the top leadership level.

New Appointments:

Chris Cappa, Chris Cappa joined Shield AI as CFO, bringing extensive financial leadership experience from public and private tech companies.
Megan Milam, Megan Milam was appointed as Chief People Officer to lead HR strategy and talent management during a period of growth.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by Shield AI

Discover the tools Shield AI uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Shield AI Email Formats and Examples

Shield AI commonly uses the first name initial followed by the last name format for their professional email addresses.

[first_initial][last]@shield.ai

Format

rtseng@shield.ai

Example

85%

Success rate

News and media

Shield AI BlogMay 2, 2024

Shield AI Selected for AFWERX Strategic Funding Increase (STRFI) Program

Shield AI announced its selection for the STRFI program, securing potential funding up to $60 million to accelerate the integration of its Hivemind AI pilot and V-BAT drones into Air Force operations....more

C4ISRNetDecember 13, 2023

Shield AI lands deal to bring AI pilots to F-16 fighters

Shield AI secured a contract with the US Air Force to integrate its AI pilot technology onto F-16 fighter jets, marking a significant step towards autonomous combat aircraft capabilities....more

Shield AI Press ReleaseNovember 9, 2023

Shield AI Closes $200 Million Series F Funding Round Co-led by U.S. Innovative Technology Fund and Riot Ventures

Shield AI announced the closing of a $200 million Series F funding round, bringing the company's valuation to $2.7 billion. The funding aims to scale the deployment of its AI pilot, Hivemind, for aircraft....more

Defense NewsAugust 23, 2023

Brazil buys Shield AI drones in South America first

The Brazilian Army acquired Shield AI's V-BAT unmanned aircraft systems, marking the first sale of this platform in South America. The drones will be used for surveillance and reconnaissance missions....more

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