EdgeRunner AI has raised $17.5 million to develop air-gapped, on-device AI for military and enterprise use.

The funding includes a $12m Series A round led by Madrona Ventures.

Founded in 2024 by Tyler Saltsman and Colton Malkerson, EdgeRunner AI uses open-source Large Language Models (LLMs) optimized for local devices to develop hyper-personalized, on-device AI assistants that operate without internet connectivity in challenging environments.

The company emerged from stealth in July 2024 and has since partnered with the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Intel.

“Our mission is to build domain-specific AI agents that increase the probability of our warfighters winning the fight and bringing them home,” says Saltsman, co-founder and CEO at EdgeRunner AI. “With this new funding, we will grow our team, invest in product development, and execute on our vision.”