Jake Adler, the founder of Pilgrims, a biotech startup focused on defense, recently secured $4.3 million in seed funding.

Pilgrims claims their clay-based gauze can save soldiers by sealing traumatic wounds almost instantly. Adler shared a video to demonstrate its effectiveness ahead of any regulatory or peer-reviewed assessments. The funding round was led by Tiel Capital and Kantos. According to reports, Kantos partner Ian Rowntree described Adler as “an exception,” looking for someone who stands out a bit.

Rowntree tweeted, “Jake literally took a little bit of ‘blood, sweat, and tears,’ but we helped lead his pre-seed round. For a space that demands innovation, you could have the chance to be a significant player in biotech defense.”

Adler conducted a demonstration by numbing his legs with lidocaine, creating two precise holes, and inserting the gauze into one. He mentioned being quite cautious and that he first performed this stunt with his mother.

He explained that when the gauze interacts with blood, it transforms into a gel-like substance to accelerate healing, with only mild irritability as a side effect.

Although Kingsfoil isn’t available for purchase yet, Adler mentioned that existing hemostatic products might clear FDA processes in about six months, while a completely new review could take up to 18 months.

Pilgrims is also reportedly working on a product called Voyager, which is an inhalation mist designed to counter chemical weapons, and Argus, a sensor network for detecting biological threats in places like ports and hospitals. The small team operates in California.

Adler referred to the Pentagon as “the early and first market,” noting that military doctors would require advancements several years ahead of civilian emergency rooms.

He faced no backlash from supporters regarding his self-experimentation, claiming it was entirely legal. “I can get a tattoo in the same way. I can do whatever I want with my body,” he stated.