Defense Tech Funding: Warhound Secures $200 Million for Genetic Canine Program

A $200 million capital injection has been secured by Warhound, a startup dedicated to breeding and cloning genetically modified dogs for the United States military.

The venture represents a significant crossover between the biotech and defense sectors, bringing together two prominent figures in the technology world. Ben Lamm, a key figure at Colossal Biosciences, and Palmer Luckey, the founder of Anduril and former head of Oculus VR, are driving the initiative. While both are involved in the business, the ownership structure is nuanced. Lamm sits on the board and Colossal Biosciences holds equity in the company, whereas Luckey is a partner but neither he nor Anduril holds a direct stake. David Spirk, who most recently worked at Palantir, serves as the chief executive officer.

The company’s strategy relies on leveraging existing high-performance genetics. Warhound has already begun editing the genes of cell samples taken from its first group of donor dogs. These samples were sourced from top-performing military, police, and first responder dogs across the United States. The breed mix includes mostly Belgian Malinois, along with some labradors and shepherds. The biological work will be handled by scientists at Colossal Biosciences, who will modify the animals' genes before cloning them.

The initial research phase focuses on improving the health baseline of these animals. The primary goal is to lower the odds that the dogs develop health problems common to their breeds, such as hip dysplasia and certain cancers. Lamm indicated to TechCrunch that further enhancements could follow this foundational work. Potential future genetic changes might make the animals faster and more agile, or sharpen their sense of smell, although these are not part of the immediate plan.

Anduril’s role in the partnership is focused on equipment rather than biology. The company will not be designing cyborg dogs, at least for now. Instead, Anduril will design the tools and the software that runs them. These systems are intended to protect the animals while they work in the field. Examples of the hardware being developed include goggles, vests, and body armor.

The founders bring distinct track records to the table. Luckey’s defense company, Anduril, partnered with OpenAI in 2024 to develop artificial intelligence for the Pentagon. It has more recently won a US Army contract to build the service's next-generation battlefield intelligence system alongside Palantir. Lamm’s Colossal Biosciences is known for several de-extinction efforts, including one that claims to have revived the dire wolf and another that seeks to bring back the woolly mammoth.

Warhound expects the first batch of its genetically engineered dogs to be born in early 2027. Once born, the animals will be trained for the kinds of jobs working dogs already perform. These roles include detecting bombs and assisting in search-and-rescue operations, ensuring the new cohort can integrate into existing military workflows.