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Warhound raises $200 million to genetically engineer working dogs

TechCrunch reports Warhound, tied to Ben Lamm and Palmer Luckey, emerged from stealth with a $200 million round to clone and gene-edit dogs for military and police work [2].

What's new
  1. Times of India is now reporting this
  2. New headline Was: “A startup called Warhound is genetically engineering dogs for the military”
  3. Our desk filed its story
  4. Engadget and Wired are now reporting this
  5. New headline Was: “Warhound raises $200 million to breed gene-edited military working dogs”
2 earlier updates
  1. New headline Was: “Warhound raises $200M to engineer war dogs and arm them with Anduril gear”
  2. Our desk filed its story

Warhound, a new company tied to Colossal Biosciences cofounder Ben Lamm and Anduril founder Palmer Luckey, left stealth this week with $200 million in funding to clone and genetically edit dogs for military, police and emergency work1,2,3.

TechCrunch reported the round included In-Q-Tel, Sequoia and 8VC and valued the company at $1.2 billion2. Wired and Engadget also reported the $200 million figure1,3. Times of India, citing Fortune, described Warhound as Texas-based4.

Lamm told TechCrunch he met Luckey about a year ago and that the pair discussed working dogs used by the U.S. military2. Times of India, citing Fortune, said the United States has relied on European breeders for some of those animals4.

According to TechCrunch, the company is taking cell lines from top working breeds, including the Belgian Malinois and German shepherd, and plans gene edits aimed at health, longevity, speed, agility and smell2. Engadget said scientists would first try to reduce conditions such as hip dysplasia and some cancers, and that Lamm told Wired editing of donor-dog cell samples had already started1.

TechCrunch reported Anduril would provide software and hardware such as protection vests and goggles, and that Lamm said Luckey does not own equity and is a partner2. Engadget said Colossal holds equity, Lamm is on the board, and David Spirk, who most recently worked at Palantir, is CEO1,2.

Lamm told TechCrunch another Colossal-owned company, Viagen, would help clone the dogs, that a first batch is expected to be born early next year, and that animals could enter service within two years2. He said pricing is not set and that the company has briefed government groups2.

Outlets did not report a completed military contract or independent verification of the science1,2,3,4.

Sources

  1. EngadgetA startup called Warhound is genetically engineering dogs for the military
  2. TechCrunchWarhound raises $200M to engineer war dogs and arm them with Anduril gear
  3. WiredCool, Cool, Cool, Palmer Luckey Made a Genetically Modified Military Dog Startup
  4. Times of IndiaPalmer Luckey’s plan to fix the US military’s ‘dog problem’

How it’s being reported

4 sources