New Delhi: A startup cofounded by US entrepreneurs Palmer Luckey of Anduril fame and Ben Lamm of de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences has raised $200 million to develop “genetically enhanced” working dogs for the US military, law enforcement agencies and emergency responders. Warhound is a Texas-based company that emerged from stealth—some companies deliberately keep their existence or products secret in early days—on 22 October.
The venture is expected to bring together biotechnology associated with Colossal Biosciences and defence technology developed by Anduril to establish a domestic supply of working dogs in the US. In a launch announcement, Warhound said it wants to reduce US dependence on foreign breeders, particularly the shrinking European supply chain.
The Financial Times reported that the funding round valued the company at $1.2 billion. Sequoia, Lux Capital, Franklin Templeton and In-Q-Tel are among their key investors.
Warhound said animal welfare forms a central part of its programme, adding that the American Humane Society would provide guidance and certify its training programmes. The arrangement is also intended to support the reunification of retired military working dogs with their former handlers and facilitate adoption, it added.
“Our long-term goal is simple: healthier dogs, better-prepared teams, and more service members and first responders coming home safely,” Warhound CEO David Spirk said, as quoted in the announcement.
Spirk, a former US Marine Corps intelligence specialist and the first chief data officer at the US Department of Defense, has earlier served as a senior counsellor at Palantir Technologies, the US-based data-software major.
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Ben Lamm and his genetic tech
According to Warhound’s launch announcement, it was conceived by Luckey and Lamm several years ago following a conversation at US engineer-entrepreneur Peter Diamandis’ Moonshots summit, an innovation conclave.
Warhound plans to use biotechnology licensed from Colossal Biosciences to “clone and genetically enhance working dogs”.
Lamm’s Colossal Biosciences works on species restoration, critically endangered species protection and the repopulation of critical ecosystems that support the continuation of life on Earth.
According to Warhound’s launch announcement, the programme will combine genetic technology and biobanking—collection of biological material from animals—with training and animal-care arrangements.
Its launch announcement states that more than 80 per cent of US military working dogs are acquired from Europe, and that fewer than half of the canines procured are ultimately deemed fit for service training.
Lamm, who will serve on the Warhound board, said the programme will apply Colossal’s research in genetics, cloning and animal biology to improve the prospects of working dogs. “Every day, we ask dogs to put their lives on the line to protect ours,” Lamm said, according to the company’s launch announcement. Existing approaches to breeding and training, he added, meant too many dogs never making it through the process.
“If we’re going to ask man’s best friend to protect America, we owe it to them to use every tool at our disposal to protect them, too,” he said.
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Luckey and his defence tech
Warhound also plans to equip its dogs with technology developed by Anduril, the defence technology company co-founded by Palmer Luckey.
Anduril develops autonomous systems to help the US and its allies maintain an advantage in military operations. According to Warhound’s announcement, the partnership will provide cybernetic equipment (artificial or biomechanical equipment that integrates with or replaces biological systems), software and battlefield situational-awareness capabilities for working dogs and their handlers, including eye and ear protection.
Luckey will not hold an equity stake in Warhound or take a day-to-day role in its operations. “Man’s best friend deserves man’s best tech,” The Financial Times quoted Luckey as saying.
Edited by Sunanda Ranjan