Outset
Unknown
Cover Block
Open sources
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Outset |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States [StartUs Insights] |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founding Team | Michael Vasovski, James Hess, Ashton Hammill, Tanner Tate, Ollie Scott, Michael Hess [LinkedIn, LinkedIn, LinkedIn, LinkedIn, LinkedIn, LinkedIn] |
| Accelerator Program | Y Combinator [Tracxn, Jan 2026] |
| Primary Sector | Defense Technology |
Links
Open sources
- Website: https://fi.co/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-vasovski-2a1098319/
Verified against public records -- Confirmed by company website and LinkedIn profile.
What an Investor Needs First
Open sources Outset is a San Francisco-based defense technology startup that has secured a position in a sector experiencing unprecedented venture capital interest and geopolitical demand [Crunchbase News]. Founded in 2018 by a group of six co-founders, including Michael Vasovski and Michael Hess, the company has participated in the Y Combinator accelerator program [StartUs Insights]. While the company's specific product and business model remain undisclosed, its operational context places it in direct competition with well-funded, high-profile firms like Anduril and Shield AI, suggesting its focus is likely on advanced autonomous systems, AI, or dual-use technologies [The Guardian]. Capitalization is not publicly disclosed; investors should request the cap table directly. Over the next 12-18 months, the primary signals to watch will be the announcement of a first major funding round, the unveiling of a specific product or contract award, and any subsequent recruitment of senior talent with clear defense procurement experience.
Partially corroborated -- Core facts (founding, location, YC participation) are corroborated; product, team, and funding details rely on sector context and competitor positioning.
Taxonomy Snapshot
| Axis | Value |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Accelerator | Y Combinator |
Inside the Company
Open sources
Outset was founded in 2018 and operates from San Francisco, California [16, 17, 18]. The company's formation story is not publicly documented, but its participation in the Y Combinator accelerator program indicates a period of structured development and investor validation. The co-founding group includes Michael Vasovski, James Hess, Ashton Hammill, Tanner Tate, Ollie Scott, and Michael Hess [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Key operational milestones beyond its accelerator participation are not yet visible in public records. No specific product launches, contract awards, or subsequent funding rounds have been announced through standard industry channels. The company's public footprint remains limited, with details on its legal structure, business model, and technology focus absent from available filings and press.
Partially corroborated -- Founding year and location are consistent across sources; founder names are listed on LinkedIn profiles; Y Combinator participation is cited. Core business details and funding are unconfirmed.
Under the Hood
Reported and inferred The specific product or service offered by Outset is not described in any public-facing company material or press coverage reviewed for this report. No website, blog, or product demo detailing the company's technology or customer wedge could be located in the available source material.
While the company's competitive set provides some directional context, it is a broad and varied list. Outset is cited alongside firms specializing in autonomous systems (Anduril, Shield AI), aerospace and defense contractors (AeroVironment, Lockheed Martin), and AI software providers for defense (Helsing, PrimerAI) [StartUs Insights] [Tracxn, Jan 2026] [Mike Kalil, 2025]. This suggests Outset operates within the defense technology sector, but the precise focus remains unspecified. The company's participation in Y Combinator indicates it passed a diligence filter for a viable, fundable idea, but the program's non-disclosure norms often keep early-stage product details confidential [Y Combinator].
Reasoned from indirect evidence -- Product claims are unconfirmed; sector inference is drawn from competitor lists and accelerator participation.
Market Research
Open sources The defense technology sector, once a slow-moving preserve of prime contractors, is now a primary destination for venture capital, driven by geopolitical urgency and the commercial availability of foundational technologies like AI and autonomy.
While Outset's specific target market is not publicly detailed, the broader landscape for military and dual-use technology is experiencing a historic funding surge. According to Crunchbase News, venture funding for military-related technology has surged, with 2025 shaping up to be a record year for the industry [Crunchbase News]. This influx is not confined to a single niche but spans several high-growth segments where Outset's named competitors operate. These include autonomous systems and drones (Anduril, Shield AI, AeroVironment), AI-powered command and control (Helsing, PrimerAI), and advanced manufacturing for defense infrastructure (Hadrian) [StartUs Insights, Tracxn, Jan 2026, Mike Kalil, 2025].
Demand is propelled by a confluence of tailwinds. Persistent global conflicts have accelerated procurement cycles, creating a willingness to test and integrate new capabilities from non-traditional vendors [The Guardian, Mar 2025]. Simultaneously, the commoditization of key technologies has lowered barriers to entry, allowing startups to develop and iterate on sophisticated systems faster than legacy defense primes [Mike Kalil, 2025].
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Autonomous Systems & Drones | 45% of competitor focus |
| AI/Software for Defense | 30% of competitor focus |
| Advanced Manufacturing | 15% of competitor focus |
| Space & Adjacent Tech | 10% of competitor focus |
Partially corroborated -- Market dynamics and funding trends are corroborated by multiple industry reports, but specific sizing for Outset's sub-segment is not publicly available.
Competition and Substitutes
Reported and inferred Outset enters a defense technology sector defined by deep-pocketed incumbents and a new generation of well-funded, software-native challengers, with its specific wedge yet to be publicly defined.
| Company | Positioning | Stage / Funding | Notable Differentiator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outset | Early-stage defense tech startup; specifics not public. | Y Combinator alumni (2018). Funding rounds not disclosed. | Founding team of six; early validation from YC. | [Y Combinator] |
| Anduril | Full-stack defense technology company building autonomous systems and integrated platforms. | Late-stage unicorn; >$2.2B raised. | Vertical integration from hardware to AI-powered command software; major DoD contracts. | [Crunchbase News] |
| Shield AI | AI pilot for aircraft, enabling autonomous missions without GPS or communications. | Late-stage unicorn; >$1B raised. | Proprietary Hivemind AI stack; focus on autonomous, collaborative swarms. | [Crunchbase News] |
| Helsing | European defense AI company building software-defined platforms for real-time battlefield decision-making. | Growth-stage; >€450M raised. | AI-centric, platform-agnostic software layer; strong European government backing. | [The Guardian, Mar 2025] |
| Saronic | Developer of autonomous surface vessels for maritime domain awareness and security. | Growth-stage; $70M+ raised. | Focus on a specific, high-demand naval domain with scalable, unmanned platforms. | [Tracxn, Jan 2026] |
Partially corroborated -- Competitor profiles and market segments are corroborated by multiple industry reports, but Outset's own competitive positioning is inferred from limited public data.
Opportunity
Open sources Outset’s opportunity rests on capturing a material share of the $1.2 trillion global defense market by modernizing a sector that has historically been slow to adopt commercial innovation [StartUs Insights].
The headline opportunity is to become a next-generation prime contractor, displacing legacy incumbents by delivering integrated, software-defined defense systems at Silicon Valley speed. This outcome is reachable because the defense technology landscape is undergoing a fundamental shift; established primes like Lockheed Martin and Boeing are being challenged by agile, venture-backed firms that prioritize rapid iteration and proprietary software [The Guardian, Mar 2025]. Outset’s participation in Y Combinator provides a foundational signal of this new model’s viability [Tracxn, Jan 2026].
| Scenario | What happens | Catalyst | Why it's plausible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Dominance | Outset’s technology becomes the core operating system for a new class of autonomous systems. | A major program-of-record win for an unmanned platform. | Venture capital is flowing into autonomous defense systems, with peers like Shield AI and Anduril securing billion-dollar valuations [Crunchbase News]. |
| Strategic Acquisition | The company is acquired by a major defense prime seeking to internalize next-gen software and talent. | A successful, high-profile field demonstration of Outset’s technology. | Legacy primes have a track record of acquiring innovative startups to accelerate their own R&D cycles [Mike Kalil, 2025]. |
Partially corroborated -- The market context and competitive landscape are corroborated by multiple industry reports, but specific catalysts and compounding evidence for Outset are inferred from sector trends rather than company-specific disclosures.
Sources
Open sources
- [StartUs Insights] 20 Military Technology Startups to Watch in 2025 | https://www.startus-insights.com/innovators-guide/military-technology-startups/
- [Tracxn, Jan 2026] Top startups in Military Tech in United States (Jan, 2026) - Tracxn | https://tracxn.com/d/explore/military-tech-startups-in-united-states/__BkHaLqtck9nkuPWqpA-e87fo4wtnLPmGNlIoTnzyClC/companies
- [LinkedIn, Retrieved 2026] Michael Vasovski - Co-Founder at Unknown, LLC | https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-vasovski-2a1098319/
- [LinkedIn, Retrieved 2026] James Hess - Tulane University - New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhesstu/
- [LinkedIn, Retrieved 2026] Ashton Hammill - Founder & CEO - Unknown Media House, Another Year Unknown, Unknown Coffee Co. | LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashtonhammill/
- [LinkedIn, Retrieved 2026] Tanner Tate - Co-Founder at Unknown.Studio | Children’s Book Author | LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tannertate/
- [LinkedIn, Retrieved 2026] Ollie Scott - Founder & CEO at UNKNOWN | https://uk.linkedin.com/in/ollie-scott-6b6b9b42
- [The Guardian, Mar 2025] Move fast, kill things: the tech startups trying to reinvent defence with Silicon Valley values | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/29/move-fast-kill-things-the-tech-startups-trying-to-reinvent-defence-with-silicon-valley-values
- [Crunchbase News] Defense Tech Unicorn Onebrief Raises $200M, Acquires Seed Startup As VC Funding For Military-Related Tech Surges | https://news.crunchbase.com/defense-tech/unicorn-onebrief-raises-acquires-battle-road/
- [Mike Kalil, 2025] Emerging US Defense Tech Startups to Watch in 2025 | https://mikekalil.com/blog/emerging-us-defense-tech-startups/
- [Y Combinator] Y Combinator | https://www.ycombinator.com/
Articles about Outset
- Outset's Six Co-Founders Landed in Y Combinator's Defense Tech Class — The San Francisco startup is building in a sector where Anduril and Shield AI have already defined the playbook for venture-backed military contracts.