Colossal Biosciences founder Ben Lamm and Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey have emerged from stealth as Warhound, securing $200 million in funding to engineer genetically enhanced war dogs for the U.S. military and law enforcement. The Series A round values the company at $1.2 billion, backed by investors including In-Q-Tel, Sequoia, and 8VC. Warhound aims to address the dwindling supply of fit working dogs, noting that over 80% of U.S. military working dogs come from Europe and less than half are service-ready.
By leveraging Colossal's gene-editing technology, the company plans to enhance health, longevity, and sensory capabilities like olfactory sensors for bomb detection. The initiative will focus on top-performing breeds, specifically Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds, editing cell lines to create dogs optimized for demanding missions. Anduril will supplement these genetic enhancements with hardware, including sensor-equipped bulletproof vests and eye goggles to improve handler situational awareness.
The first cloned dogs are expected to be born early next year and enter service within two years. Partnering with Viagen for cloning technology, Warhound targets sales to first responders and defense groups. Lamm emphasizes that making dogs healthier and safer will ultimately better protect human handlers in the line of duty.
Source: TechCrunch Venture · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing