Independent U.S. not-for-profit venture firm backing tech for intelligence
A wave of multi-million-dollar rounds in robotics and AI-enabled hardware signals a push to bring ‘physical AI’ into real-world production. Companies from Multiply Labs to FieldAI and SiMa.ai are racing to scale their robot-centric platforms, with strategic rounds aimed at forging scalable, cost-effective manufacturing and autonomous systems.
A Texas-based startup, Warhound, backed by investors including In-Q-Tel and Sequoia, has raised $200 million to develop genetically engineered military working dogs. Led by Palmer Luckey and Ben Lamm, the project aims to reduce Europe’s role as a supplier of combat dogs and create domestically bred, enhanced canines equipped with protective gear and sensor tech. The effort covers cloning, gene editing to improve health and performance, and integration with Anduril systems. The first batch is planned to enter service within two years.