New $1.2 Billion Startup Aims to Genetically Engineer Superior Military Dogs

A new startup has secured $200 million in funding to solve a critical shortage in U.S. military working dogs. The company, Warhound, emerged from stealth on Thursday with a valuation of $1.2 billion. Its backers include major venture firms like Sequoia and 8VC, as well as In-Q-Tel, a venture arm supported by U.S. intelligence agencies.

The primary driver for this venture is a significant gap in the current supply chain. According to the company, over 80 percent of working dogs used by the U.S. military are imported from Europe. Furthermore, fewer than half of these imported animals are fit for service upon arrival. This reliance on foreign sources has created a dwindling supply of capable canines for dangerous tasks such as bomb detection and search operations.

Warhound intends to use genetic engineering to create a new type of dog specifically suited for demanding missions. The team, led by Colossal Biosciences, is studying top-performing breeds like the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd. By analyzing cell lines from these animals, the company plans to edit their genes. The goal is to enhance traits like speed, agility, and olfactory sensitivity while removing genetic predispositions to common health issues such as hip dysplasia, poor eyesight, and cancer.

The project is a partnership between Colossal Biosciences and Anduril, a technology company. While Colossal handles the biological engineering, Anduril will provide the hardware and software that the dogs will wear. This gear includes protection vests and goggles equipped with data sensors. These tools are designed to improve situational awareness for both the animals and their human handlers. As one of the founders noted, the technology sits on top of the dog rather than inside it, aiming to make the animals safer and more effective in the line of duty.

The first batch of these engineered dogs is expected to be cloned and incubated soon, with births anticipated early next year. The company hopes these animals will begin service within two years. Viagen, another company owned by Colossal, will handle the cloning process using technology that has a high success rate. This same technology is currently used in Colossal’s efforts to protect endangered species.

In terms of governance and welfare, Warhound is working with the American Humane Society to certify its training programs. The partnership aims to ensure that the dogs are treated humanely throughout their service lives. The company also hopes that retired dogs will enter the Society’s reunification program, which helps find homes for former military working dogs. The American Humane Society stated that it looks forward to working with the team to ensure ethical treatment of the animals.

The project was sparked by a meeting between Ben Lamm of Colossal and Palmer Luckey of Anduril about a year ago. Luckey is a partner in the venture but does not own equity, while Colossal holds equity and licenses its technology. Warhound plans to sell these dogs to first responders, police forces, and various military service groups. While pricing has not yet been determined, the company has briefed numerous government groups on its plans. Each dog will undergo standard military training and be managed by the agency that purchases it.