Federal Agencies Back $200M Round for Genetically Engineered Working Dogs

A venture backed by intelligence agencies is entering the market to develop canines engineered for the U.S. military, law enforcement, and emergency response teams. Warhound, which emerged from stealth Thursday, announced it has secured $200 million in funding to finance its operations. The capital round includes contributions from Sequoia, 8VC, Corner Ventures, and In-Q-Tel, a venture firm supported by the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies. Following the financing event, the company's valuation has been established at $1.2 billion.

The entity aims to address a supply issue regarding working animals. The company reports that more than 80% of the U.S. military's working dogs are sourced from Europe, while fewer than half of those imported animals are fit for service. Consequently, the domestic supply of working dogs is dwindling. The organization intends to engineer animals with traits suitable for demanding missions to counter this reliance on foreign sources.

The partnership combines biological engineering with defense technology. Colossal Biosciences' Ben Lamm and Anduril's Palmer Luckey conceived the plan to create animals with enhanced health, longevity, speed, and agility. Lamm noted that many dogs fail training due to inherited conditions such as poor eyesight, cancer, hip dysplasia, or muscle atrophy. The team has analyzed cell lines from top-performing breeds, specifically the Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd, and stored them in a biobank. The organization will edit these genes to remove problematic traits and add performance-enhancing ones to create “a new type of dog.”

The animals do not yet exist. Lamm stated that the first batch of dogs is currently being cloned and incubated, with births anticipated early next year. Service could ideally begin within two years. Viagen, a company owned by Colossal, will handle the cloning process, utilizing technology with a high success rate.

In addition to biological modifications, the venture will equip the canines with hardware. Anduril will supply software and equipment, including protection vests and goggles, to aid handlers with situational awareness. Lamm cited examples such as bulletproof vests equipped with data sensors that transmit information back to handlers to assist them in understanding current situations. He emphasized that these additions will make dogs safer and healthier “on top of the dog, not in the dog,” and believes these enhancements will better protect the dogs’ human handlers.

The business model will target first responders, the Department of Defense, military service groups, and police forces. The organization has not yet determined pricing. Regarding governance, Lamm said the company has briefed many government groups about the business. He added that each dog will be trained like any military working dog and managed by whoever buys it.

The company is operating under the guidance of the American Humane Society to help certify the training program for the new dogs. The organization aims to ensure the animals are treated humanely. Regarding equity, Lamm stated that Luckey is a partner in the venture but owns no equity in it, while Colossal owns equity in the business and supports it by licensing its technology.