A new billion dollar startup plans to build genetically modified dogs for the U.S. military

A newly revealed startup called Warhound has secured $200 million in funding to develop genetically engineered dogs for the U.S. military and law enforcement. The company, which emerged from stealth mode on Thursday, was valued at $1.2 billion following the investment round. Backers for the venture include Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel, a firm supported by U.S. intelligence agencies. The project is a collaboration between Ben Lamm of Colossal Biosciences and Palmer Luckey of Anduril.

The initiative addresses a growing concern in the defense sector. More than 80 percent of working dogs currently used by the U.S. military are imported from Europe. Additionally, fewer than half of these imported animals are considered fit for service. This reliance on foreign sources has led to a dwindling domestic supply. Warhound aims to change this dynamic by creating a new type of dog specifically designed for demanding missions.

The concept began about a year ago when Lamm met Luckey at a conference. They discussed the challenges facing military working dogs, including high rates of failure during training due to inherited health issues like poor eyesight or cancer. Lamm began researching how these dogs are bred and identified top performing breeds such as the Belgian Malinois and the German Shepherd. His team collected cell lines from these animals to create a biobank. The plan is to edit these genes to improve health, longevity, and specific skills like speed and olfactory sensitivity for bomb detection.

Anduril will play a crucial role by providing software and hardware to support the dogs. This equipment includes protection vests and goggles designed to improve situational awareness for both the animal and its handler. Lamm described the gear as enhancements that sit on top of the dog rather than being part of its biology. For example, bulletproof vests could include data sensors that transmit real time information back to handlers. This technology is intended to make the dogs safer and healthier, which in turn protects the human teams that work with them.

Colossal Biosciences, known for its work in de-extinction, will license its technology to Warhound. The company also owns Viagen, which will handle the cloning process. Lamm noted that Viagen has a high success rate in cloning and is already used to help protect endangered species. The first batch of dogs is currently being cloned and incubated, with births expected early next year. If all goes well, these animals could begin service within two years. Luckey serves as a partner in the venture but does not hold equity, while Colossal maintains an ownership stake.

Warhound has not yet determined pricing for the new dogs but expects to sell them to first responders, the Department of Defense, and police forces. The company stated that it has briefed various government groups about the project. To ensure welfare standards, Warhound is working under the guidance of the American Humane Society to certify its training program. The Society aims to help ensure these animals are treated humanely throughout their service. There is also a hope that retired dogs will enter the Society’s reunification program to find homes. The American Humane Society expressed its support for the collaboration, stating it looks forward to working with the team to ensure humane treatment.

The project represents a significant shift in how military assets are developed. By combining genetic engineering with advanced wearable technology, Warhound hopes to create a more reliable and effective force for dangerous tasks. While the dogs do not exist yet, the company believes this approach will solve the current supply issues and improve the performance and safety of working dogs in the line of duty.