Join Us for an Exclusive Dinner Exploring Defense Tech & AI Innovation

We are hosting an intimate VIP dinner on April 17 in Seattle, gathering a select group of defense-tech leaders and AI practitioners for a candid, no-pitch discussion. Our focus: real-world deployment of AI and related technologies in DoD, national security, and large-scale federal environments.

Jay Wisham, US Army Colonel and former head of the Army Applications Laboratory, now Chief Strategy Officer at defense tech breakout Overland AI, will join.

This exclusive dinner, sponsored and moderated by Ascend, is designed for active builders, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs deeply involved in— or seriously exploring—defense-focused AI solutions.

☝️ Apply Now - Limited to 25 Attendees ☝️

What to Expect

This VIP dinner is invite-only and curated for 25 hand-selected members of our AI and Defense Tech community. Rather than superficial networking, it’s a moderated discussion where everyone in the room is immersed in the technical and operational challenges of bringing AI to life in high-stakes defense contexts.

• Deep, Technical Focus: No fluffy predictions—just concrete insights on DoD/national security AI implementations at scale.
• Interactive Format: We’ll emphasize dialogue with the audience—think one big conversation rather than a stale “talk at you” panel.
• Practical Lessons Learned: Hear directly from those tackling the stringent compliance, security, and operational hurdles unique to defense tech.
• Networking with Peers: Connect with defense innovators, AI engineers, and entrepreneurs solving big challenges in national security.

Key Details

• Date: April 17, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Location: (Four-star dinner venue in a private room - To be disclosed upon registration confirmation)

Who Should Attend?

• Defense-Tech Professionals actively working on AI initiatives for DoD, defense contractors, or federal agencies.
• AI Builders & Innovators focused on advanced AI/ML, large-scale deployments, and secure environments.
• Startup Founders & Execs developing cutting-edge solutions for national security or dual-use commercial-defense products.

This dinner is purposefully curated to maintain a high technical and strategic bar, ensuring a truly valuable discussion for all in attendance.

Potential Topics & Speakers

We’ll be shaping the conversation around real-world deployments and technical problem-solving in secure and regulated environments. If you have a wishlist of specific agencies, contractors, or tech partners you’d like to invite—or if you have suggestions for speakers who bring unique defense-tech AI insights—please let us know!

(Some potential defense-tech guest perspectives we’re exploring include experts in DoD innovation units, mission-critical AI deployments, federal healthcare data security, and more.)

Our Sponsor: Ascend

Ascend is a pre-seed venture capital firm investing in AI infrastructure and what we call SaaS 3.0—AI-native vertical software applications disrupting the status quo in B2B software. Ascend’s team is dedicated to backing founders who are reshaping the technological landscape and pushing boundaries in AI innovation. For those solving mission-critical defense challenges, Ascend provides both the capital and strategic partnerships to fuel next-generation solutions.

Learn More about Ascend

Why This Dinner Is Different

Unlike large meetups or conferences, our VIP Dinner is a focused, in-depth event. Expect:

• An Intimate Atmosphere: Candid, off-the-record conversations where you can delve into genuine challenges.
• Valuable Connections: Share insights and build relationships with a select cohort of defense-tech innovators.
• Immediate Action Items: Walk away with fresh ideas and practical strategies to apply in your own projects.

RSVP Now!

Space is extremely limited—apply early to secure your spot. Come prepared to share your experiences, ask tough questions, and leave with tangible takeaways for your defense-tech journey.

We can’t wait to see you at the table for an evening of impactful conversation and collaboration!

📊 AI Tinkerers Seattle Stats

• Attendees (All Events): This elite community of 5,285 technical professionals consists of 84% AI/ML specialists and 74% full-stack infrastructure engineers. Representing tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, members actively build production-grade agentic workflows, LLMs, and cloud-native systems. Notably, over 30% of the membership are startup founders or CTOs, driving rapid, real-world AI implementation and collaborative open-source innovation.
• Companies Represented: Featuring tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google, alongside high-growth AI innovators and startups such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Anduril, Snowflake, Figma, OpenPipe, Fixie.ai, and more