A startup looking to modernise the veterinary industry with 24/7 virtual care app has raised £7m in seed capital.
London-based Creature Comforts is gearing up for its launch next year with the development of its proprietary digital care app, which will operate alongside its two upcoming physical veterinary clinics.
The company claims that with the support of its app, customers will receive round-the-clock support and its vets and clinicians will have the ability to work flexibly from home.
Creature Comforts will operate under a subscription model in which users will pay monthly for unlimited consultations, annual vaccinations and reduced rates for procedures such as neutering.
Creature Comforts was co-founded by COO Russell Welsh, a vet of 23 years, and CEO Daniel Attia, who previously co-founded the online estate agency Yopa which raised £27.6m in 2017.
“Our goal is healthier pets and happier vets. We want to fix the state of affairs for animals, customers and veterinary teams all at the same time because, right now, no one is winning,” said Welsh.
Welsh added that the experience around seeking vet care in the UK is “broken” as a result of a “lack of continuity of service, glitchy tech, inconsistent pricing and operational efficiencies”.
“And vets are struggling with unsustainable caseloads and chronic stress,” Welsh said. “There’s clearly room for a new veterinary care experience offering world-class customer service and working conditions for vets and their hardworking teams.”
The seed round was co-led by Torch Capital, Hanaco VC and Boost Capital Partners. Other participants in the investment included Active Partners and angel investments from Tarek Abuzayyad of Initial Capital and Steve Rosengarten of Vet One.
“As pet owners’ healthcare expectations continue to climb and pets are increasingly treated as true members of the family, consumers are demanding a premium experience and deeper relationship with their vet,” said Sam Jones, partner at Torch Capital.
“Creature Comforts’ integrated approach, combining telehealth consultations with aesthetically beautiful and digitally enabled in-person clinics, prioritises both the customer experience and the wellbeing of veterinary staff.”