Warhound Raises $200 Million to Clone Military Dogs and Equip Them With Anduril Gear
A Sequoia-led seed round values a company with no dogs yet at $1.2 billion, betting that cloned, gene-edited working dogs wired into Anduril's kit can replace the Pentagon's European supply.
A Sequoia-led seed round values a company with no dogs yet at $1.2 billion, betting that cloned, gene-edited working dogs fitted with Anduril's protective kit can replace the Pentagon's European supply.
Warhound emerged from stealth Oct. 22 with a $200 million seed round to produce cloned, gene-edited military working dogs, the company said in its launch release. The round valued the business at $1.2 billion, Axios reported.
Colossal Biosciences CEO Ben Lamm and Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey conceived the venture, per the release. CEO David Spirk is a Marine Corps veteran and the Pentagon's first chief data officer. Sequoia Capital led the round, joined by In-Q-Tel and Lux Capital.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Warhound?
A Texas-based defense startup conceived by Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey and Colossal Biosciences CEO Ben Lamm that plans to clone and gene-edit military working dogs, per its Oct. 22 launch release. It raised a $200 million seed round at a $1.2 billion valuation, Axios reported.
Who invested?
Sequoia Capital led the round. The release lists In-Q-Tel, ARK Invest, Franklin Templeton, 8VC, USIT, Bob Nelsen, Breyer Capital, CAZ Investments, Neogenesis, Builders VC and Lux Capital among the backers.
What does Anduril contribute?
Protective vests, eye and ear protection, and sensors integrated with its EagleEye system that send data back to handlers, per the release and Lamm's TechCrunch interview. Anduril and Luckey hold no equity in Warhound, Lamm told Wired.
Why does the Pentagon need a domestic dog supply?
More than 80% of U.S. military working dogs are bought in Europe and fewer than half pass the roughly three-year pipeline, according to Warhound's release. A 2022 GAO report put the share of Air Force-procured dogs from German or Dutch breeders at about 85%.
When will the first dogs arrive?
The first puppies are expected in the first quarter of 2027, and Lamm told TechCrunch he hopes the first dogs enter service within about two years. Warhound has no signed customers and no set price yet, he told Fortune.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.