Pet ownership doesn’t have to be a challenge especially if you avail yourself of the services offered by these startups!
All pet owners out there understand the feeling of wanting to do whatever it takes to make their furry companions’ lives just a little bit more comfortable. It is perhaps that exact feeling that has made the average pet owner spend over US$1,300 on pet care a year. According to a 2021 survey conducted by the market research firm OnePoll, 52% of Americans spend more on their pets than they do on themselves each year.
The desire of pet owners to provide their pets with the very best life possible has given rise to pet care startups that are ready to help you at every stage of your pet parenting journey. Here is a list of five of the most innovative pet companies we have come across.
MySimplePetLab: Making pet diagnostics easy with at-home test kits
MySimplePetLab is a U.S.-based pet health startup founded by two experienced veterinarians, Dr. Dennis Chmiel and Dr. Nancy Willerton, in 2019. The company creates at-home testing kits for dogs and cats that help pet owners quickly check their pets for common ailments, such as ear infections, stomach problems and skin conditions. Priced at US$99.99, these kits come with detailed instructions on how to collect samples and can be mailed back to MySimplePetLab for analysis. The results will be sent to pet parents once ready.
The company’s mission is to increase access to pet health diagnostics, thereby making pet wellness simpler for pet owners everywhere. As of November 2022, the company had raised US$5 million in Series A funding.
Supertails: The pet-care startup providing convenience for pet owners
Supertails is an Indian e-commerce startup meant to help first-time pet owners take care of their pet’s needs with ease by leveraging the power of technology. Their website, Supertails.com, hosts a wide range of pet supplies, such as pet food, toys and pet health supplements, and online pet behavioral training and vet consultations—all at the click of a button.
As of this year, the company has provided over 20,000 online vet consultations and lists 10,000 products from over 200 brand partners. As of November 2022, the company has raised US$10 million in Series A funding and boasts an annual run rate (a rough estimate of a company’s annual earnings based on quarterly or monthly performance) of INR500 million (US$61 million).
JetMeds: A smart solution for medicating your pets
Applying medication to your pet can sometimes be a daunting task, especially if the animal is scared or in pain. But with JetMeds, all of this is a thing of the past. JetMeds is a U.S.-based startup that has created a smart collar that administers topical medication to your pet through a mobile application. The app also gives you updates on the treatment schedule, making sure that your furry friends receive the care they need when they need it.
The startup intends to launch its products by 2024 and will partner with pet and animal pharmaceutical manufacturers to supply the topical medication that needs to be incorporated into the collar. As of November 2022, the company had raised US$1 million in seed funding.
Furpal: Tinder for Dogs and Dog Lovers
Founded in 2019, Furpal is a Singapore-based startup that helps set up play dates between dog lovers and dog owners. Founder Kylie Teo came up with the idea for the startup when she was studying abroad and missed the company of her pet. Back home, she was also struggling to find a dog sitter for her pet. Thus, with those two ideas in her mind, she created the Furpal website.
Furpal is like Tinder except that instead of matching you to a potential romantic partner, it matches you with a furry companion for a play date. Dog lovers—called “Furpals on the platform—are charged US$10 an hour to hang out with a dog. This fee is paid to the dog owner, helping them spend just a little bit extra on their pet without using their own paychecks, all while giving their pets a chance to socialize.
DogVacay: The Airbnb for your pets
DogVacay, an online marketplace for pet owners, allows customers to easily find and book a pet sitter or pet boarder in their city. Launched in 2012, the company works the same as Airbnb—people can list themselves as pet sitters, and the platform provides 24/7 customer service and insurance coverage to ensure the highest quality care for your fur babies.
In just two years of operation, the company announced that it had been booked over one million nights. In 2017, DogVacay was acquired by another online pet care e-commerce company Rover.
As people begin to care more for their pets, it is no surprise that these startups are doing so well. Pet owners treat their pets less as animals and more as a substitute for children—be it for environmental reasons or financial ones. Besides fulfilling emotional needs, animals are also known to reduce stress and ease loneliness and depression. As of 2021, the global pet care market has been valued at US$150.67 billion and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 5.1% between 2022 and 2030. If you are a pet owner, rest assured that you will probably see more innovative products out there for your fur babies in the years to come.
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Header image courtesy of Unsplash.
