From VR to national defense

The startup building AI-powered weapons for the military

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Find and Scale
September 05, 2024

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From VR To Explosive Missiles

This week we spotlight Anduril, a Silicon Valley startup building AI-powered defense tech for the military. Valued at $14 billion, Anduril is creating drones, surveillance towers, and missiles for national security.

Startup Story of Anduril

Silicon Valley Meets National Defense

Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the entrepreneur behind the VR headset Oculus Rift, Anduril Industries focuses on developing advanced autonomous systems and artificial intelligence for defense applications. The mission of Anduril is to bring Silicon Valley's innovation to the defense industry, providing modern solutions to complex military challenges.

“The only way to deter bad actors is to have technology powerful enough to scare them from acting in the first place.”

AI-Driven Weapons Without Limits

Roadrunner-M destroys a drone in the air with precision

The flagship product of Anduril, Lattice OS, is an AI-driven platform that transforms multiple data streams into a real-time command and control center. Lattice allows soldiers on the field to launch drone recon missions, coordinate troop positioning, and combine attacks from unmanned and human-operated vehicles.

Another product they have developed with a specific use case for Ukraine is the Roadrunner-M. This is a reusable ground-to-air missile that can target, intercept and destroy unwanted enemy drones.

"Anduril is a tech-first defense company, all our innovations come down to precision and weapons that protect before they destroy”

Energy Drinks & Code

Since selling Oculus to Facebook for $2 billion, Palmer Luckey has turned his focus toward scaling Anduril into a defense tech giant. Known for his unconventional, hands-on approach—working late nights fueled by energy drinks and code—Luckey thrives in high-pressure environments, taking calculated risks that have paid off massively.

“It's a tough business to get into, but if you have the resources and the network, you can make a significant impact. We've shown that it's possible to innovate rapidly in defense”

In 2024, Anduril raised $1.5 billion in one of the largest funding rounds in U.S. tech, pushing the company’s valuation to $14 billion. The funds are being used to scale their Arsenal manufacturing platform; a 5-million-square-foot facility dedicated to producing thousands of autonomous defense systems annually.

Looking ahead, Luckey’s plan for Anduril is to disrupt, innovate, and lead. As governments and militaries increasingly turn to private sector tech companies for solutions, Anduril is positioned as one of the main players to shape the future of both defense and warfare.

Startup News This Week 📰

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See you next week,
Odin & Hari