Overland AI is a Seattle-based defense technology company specializing in advanced off-road ground autonomy solutions for military and national security applications. Founded in 2022, the company’s mission is to transform land operations by delivering dependable, AI-powered autonomous vehicle technologies to the U.S. military and partner nations. Overland AI’s systems are designed to operate in complex, GPS-denied, and communication-degraded environments, enabling tactical units to conduct missions with greater safety, flexibility, and operational reach. The company’s technologies have been validated by DARPA and are actively deployed in programs with the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Special Operations Command, and the Defense Innovation Unit.
Leadership
Byron Boots, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer: A leading expert in machine learning and robotics, Boots is the Amazon Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Washington and previously held research roles at NVIDIA and Georgia Tech. He holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University and has received multiple awards for his work in robotics and AI.
Stephanie Bonk, Co-Founder & President: Bonk is a Wharton MBA with experience in product management at Apple and strategic roles at the University of Washington’s Robot Learning Laboratory, where she helped spin out Overland AI.
Jon Fink, Chief Technology Officer: Fink has over a decade of experience at the Army Research Laboratory, leading foundational research in single and multi-agent autonomy. He holds a PhD in Electrical and Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.
Greg Okopal, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer: Okopal brings deep expertise in operations and engineering, contributing to the company’s rapid prototyping and deployment of autonomous systems.
Core Technologies
OverDrive Autonomy Stack: A modular, vehicle-agnostic software platform enabling fully autonomous off-road navigation, even in GPS- and comms-denied environments. It leverages advanced onboard sensing (LiDAR, stereo cameras), machine learning, and robust perception to handle complex terrain at operational speeds.
SPARK Autonomy Upfit: A hardware and software retrofit kit that instantly transforms existing military vehicles into autonomous platforms. SPARK integrates OverDrive with minimal vehicle modification, preserving manual control and enabling rapid fleet upgrades.
OverWatch C2 Interface: An intuitive command-and-control system that allows a single operator to coordinate and control swarms of autonomous ground vehicles, supporting tactical swarming, advanced mission planning, and real-time adaptation in contested environments.
ULTRA Autonomous Tactical Vehicle: An in-house developed, fully autonomous, modular ground vehicle designed for multi-mission roles such as reconnaissance, logistics, counter-UAS, and humanitarian aid. ULTRA features a 1,000-pound payload, 35 mph top speed, and 100-mile range, and is designed to operate without GPS or pre-mapped routes.
Key Capabilities
GPS- and Communications-Denied Operations: Systems are engineered for reliable autonomy in environments where traditional navigation and communication are compromised.
Modular, Multi-Mission Platforms: Vehicles and autonomy kits are payload-agnostic, supporting ISR, breaching, logistics, counter-UAS, and more.
Vehicle-Agnostic Integration: OverDrive and SPARK can be deployed on a wide range of platforms, including General Dynamics SMET, Textron Ripsaw, Polaris RZR, and in-house ULTRA vehicles.
Tactical Swarming and Fleet Control: OverWatch enables a single operator to manage and coordinate multiple autonomous vehicles for complex mission sets.
Field-Tested and Validated: Technologies have been rigorously tested in DARPA programs, Project Convergence Capstone, and with multiple branches of the U.S. military.
Investors
8VC (lead Series A)
Point72 Ventures
Overmatch Ventures
Shasta Ventures
Ascend
Osage University Partners
Caprock
Voyager Capital
Cubit Capital
Overland AI has raised $32 million in Series A funding (January 2025), following a $10 million seed round. The company is privately held. Recent valuation details are not publicly disclosed, but the company is considered a leading defense autonomy startup.
Notable Clients
U.S. Army: $18.6 million contract for the Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program, supporting the Ground Vehicle Autonomous Pathways (GVAP) initiative.
U.S. Marine Corps: Integration of OverDrive autonomy stack in the NMESIS missile launcher program.
DARPA: Technology validated and tested through the DARPA RACER program.
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU): Partner in autonomous vehicle development and deployment.
XVIII Airborne Corps: Partnership for the Sandhills Project, focusing on robotic breaching solutions.
Department of Defense (CDAO): OverDrive autonomy stack listed as “awardable” in the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace for rapid procurement by DoD agencies.
