Anduril Industries Eyes $28B Valuation in New $2.5B Funding Round

Defense tech startup Anduril Industries is reportedly in talks for a fresh funding round, potentially pushing its valuation to 28 billion dollars. Sources indicate that Founders Fund, led by billionaire Peter Thiel, will spearhead the round, which could raise up to 2.5 billion dollars. This follows Anduril’s 1.5 billion dollar funding in August, when it was valued at 14 billion dollars.

Founded in 2017 by Palmer Luckey, the creator of Oculus VR, Anduril specializes in AI-powered autonomous defense systems, including drones and sensor-based weaponry. The company recently unveiled Lattice for Mission Autonomy, an AI-driven platform designed to coordinate autonomous systems under human supervision. In a bid to expand its manufacturing capabilities, Anduril is also developing a large-scale weapons facility in Ohio.

Founders Fund has backed Anduril since its inception, with Trae Stephens, a partner at the firm, co-founding the company. US Vice President JD Vance, a former VC investor, has also invested in the startup and continues to hold stakes.

Thiel, known for co-founding Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR), has long supported Republican candidates, including Donald Trump in 2016 and Vance’s Senate run in 2022.

Anduril, headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, has gained significant traction in the defense technology sector, attracting strong investor interest. If the funding round succeeds, it will reinforce Anduril’s position as a leader in autonomous military technology.

Neither Anduril nor Founders Fund has commented on the funding talks, which were first reported by CNBC.