Asylon Raises $26M Series B to Expand Robotic Guard Dog and Drone Security Services

Philadelphia-based robotics company Asylon announced on Tuesday that it has secured a $26 million Series B funding round led by Insight Partners, with additional investments from Veteran Ventures Capital, Allegion Ventures, and the GoPA Fund. This brings the company's total funding to around $45 million, including previous rounds and government grants. Asylon initially began as a drone company focused on securing facilities but is now best known for its DroneDog service. The company modifies Boston Dynamics' Spot robot dog for guard duties and integrates it with its proprietary Guardian command-and-control software. Asylon’s offerings include drones, robot dogs, and software, all provided as a robotic security-as-a-service (RaaS) solution. DroneDogs enhance security by conducting ground patrols and aerial surveillance, covering more area than stationary cameras. They can be deployed in hazardous environments unsuitable for human guards or real dogs and are capable of detecting gas leaks, dangerous chemicals, and other threats, similar to how trained dogs perform sniffing tasks. Founder and CEO Damon Henry, along with his cofounders Adam Mohamed (CTO) and Brent McLaughlin (COO), have grown Asylon from a dorm-room idea at MIT into a robust security company. Unlike many startup founders who drop out to pursue their ventures, Henry and his team completed their degrees before entering careers in aerospace engineering at established firms like GE Aviation, Boeing, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Inspiration struck in 2015 when the trio saw Amazon’s announcement of its drone delivery service. They quit their jobs and founded Asylon, securing their first major customer, Ford, by 2019. However, the company faced a near-fatal setback in 2021 when a demonstration drone crashed the night before a crucial event attended by Fortune 500 companies and potential Department of Defense (DoD) clients. Despite the crisis, a dedicated employee drove through the night to deliver a replacement drone. The team managed to get it operational just in time, and the demo ran flawlessly. This success not only won Asylon three additional Fortune 500 customers but also secured its first DoD contract. Since then, Asylon has continued to expand, now employing 65 individuals and deploying its systems across 15 states. Henry noted that recent events, such as the tragic killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December, have increased corporate interest in enhancing security measures. This includes the adoption of advanced solutions like Asylon’s DroneDog, which costs between $100,000 and $150,000 annually—comparable to hiring a human bodyguard service. Henry’s journey highlights the challenges and resilience required to build a successful robotics company. From overcoming technical failures to navigating the competitive landscape, Asylon is positioning itself as a leader in robotic security solutions.