Foley represents Pilgrim in seed financing. * Author Legal Desire Press * Published October 3, 2026 Foley & Lardner LLP represented Pilgrim, a biodefense technology company developing next-generation airborne biosurveillance systems, in its seed financing led by Buckley Ventures. Pilgrim is backed by Peter Thiel, Coinbase co-founders Fred Ehrsam and Brian Armstrong, Dylan Field of Figma, Bryan Johnson, Paul Sciarra of Pinterest, and Logan Graham and Sholto Douglas of Anthropic, among other technology investors. Pilgrim is the developer of Argus, a 50-pound, tripod-mounted device designed to combine air sampling and genomic sequencing to detect airborne biological threats, including pathogens such as Ebola and anthrax. The company has signed an agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop an automated airborne biosurveillance system and has begun deploying Argus units in parts of the United States. Founded in 2022 by a Thiel Fellow and based in Redwood City, California, Pilgrim is building defensive biosecurity infrastructure intended to provide earlier warning of biological threats. The company's technology sits at the intersection of national security, public health, artificial intelligence, risk mitigation, and advanced life sciences. The Foley deal team was led by partner Mark Mallery and included associates Hailey Adler and Christian Borders. Where the legal industry reads first. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. From Legal Desire Is your firm the one being cited, or the one being skipped? Legal Desire ran the test. On several everyday legal questions, software companies are answering and law firms are not. Legal Desire help firms fix that, and Legal Desire build the technology behind the practice. See the full deal record on DealDatabase The advising firms, the named deal team, the value and the parties, with every other announced deal by the same firms and lawyers. Open the deal record

Anthropic leaders back startup developing system to detect biological threats. Pilgrim has successfully secured $25 million in funding to advance its innovative technology, which includes a device weighing 50 pounds designed to identify biological threats. This development could have significant implications for various sectors, including public health, security, and defense. The device utilizes advanced detection methods to analyze potential biological agents, allowing for rapid identification and response to threats. With increasing concerns about bioterrorism and infectious diseases, Pilgrim's technology aims to provide a proactive solution for safeguarding communities and enhancing preparedness. The funding will be allocated toward further research and development, enabling the company to refine its device and increase its effectiveness. Additionally, this financial boost is expected to facilitate partnerships with government agencies and private organizations focused on enhancing national security measures. Pilgrim's innovative approach positions the company as a key player in the emerging field of biological threat detection, with promising prospects for both domestic and international markets. Why this story matters Key takeaway Opposing viewpoint