EdgeRunner AI Secures $12 Million Series A to Advance On-Device AI Agents for Military and Enterprise
EdgeRunner AI has closed a $12 million Series A funding round led by Madrona Ventures, with participation from Four Rivers Ventures, HP Tech Ventures, and Alumni Ventures. This latest investment brings the company’s total funding to $17.5 million.
Specializing in on-device, air-gapped AI agents, EdgeRunner delivers AI solutions tailored for military and enterprise use cases that operate without internet connectivity. Their platform is built to support mission-specific tasks, providing a hyper-personalized AI assistant for users in environments where connectivity is limited or unavailable.
What EdgeRunner AI Offers
The platform runs multiple open-source Large Language Models (LLMs) locally on devices such as AI PCs and edge computing units. This setup enables features like chat, Q&A, summarization, translation, transcription, code generation, and multi-document retrieval from PDFs, Word, and PowerPoint files.
It also supports text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and integrates with popular tools including Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace, and Slack. Occupation-specific adapters cater to various military roles like logistics, maintenance, and acquisitions, ensuring responses are accurate and contextually relevant.
By running AI models locally, EdgeRunner offers advantages in energy efficiency, cost, data privacy, and security—critical factors for operations in Denied, Disrupted, Intermittent, and Limited (DDIL) connectivity environments.
Strategic Partnerships and Market Access
EdgeRunner AI has entered a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop AI agents customized for Air Force occupational specialties. This collaboration aims to enhance AI capabilities specifically for warfighter needs.
The company was also recently designated as an “Awardable” vendor for the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace, making its platform accessible for critical DoD missions.
Use of Funds and Company Growth
The new capital will be used to expand EdgeRunner’s team and accelerate product development. This investment follows a $5.5 million seed round led by Four Rivers Ventures in June 2024, reflecting the company’s quick growth trajectory.
Leadership Update
Matt McIlwain, Managing Director at Madrona Ventures, will join EdgeRunner AI’s board of directors, bringing valuable industry experience to support the company’s next phase.
Key Insights from Leadership
- Tyler Saltsman, Co-Founder & CEO: “Our mission is to build domain-specific AI agents that increase the probability of our warfighters winning the fight and bringing them home. With this new funding, we will grow our team, invest in product development, and execute on our vision.”
- Colton Malkerson, Co-Founder & COO: “Madrona has been a partner to us since day one and we’re thrilled they are leading our Series A. We’re fortunate to have Matt McIlwain join our board as he brings deep industry experience that will help take EdgeRunner to the next level.”
- Matt McIlwain, Managing Director, Madrona Ventures: “Tyler and Colton bring an incredible combination of experience—deep service within the U.S. military and federal government—paired with talent, demonstrated by years of building and applying world class AI technology at AWS and beyond. That gives them unmatched insight into what the warfighter needs today, and what the absolute cutting edge of technology can provide. EdgeRunner’s mission—delivering secure, intelligent, air-gapped AI to support those who serve—is one we’re honored to back.”
For product development professionals interested in AI applications tailored to secure, offline environments, EdgeRunner AI’s approach highlights the value of domain-specific agents that prioritize reliability and privacy. Their model of running advanced AI locally can inspire similar strategies in other industries facing connectivity or security constraints.
Explore more about AI tools and training to support your product development journey at Complete AI Training.
Your membership also unlocks:
