Apr 13, 2023

A technology-enabled veterinary services company based in Issaquah has created what it’s calling a novel approach to serving pet owners. Today, it announced its entrance into the veterinary services market with a $4 million pre-seed funding round. The funding round for Felix&Fido , a spinout of Seattle-based Pioneer Square Labs , was led by early-stage venture fund PSL Ventures and also backed by Rover Group. The funding will be used to launch Felix&Fido’s premium, membership-based pet care plans, and deliver pet health care through in-clinic, at-home, and telemedicine services. Felix&Fido anticipates additional funding leading up to the opening of its first clinic later this year, according to a news release. Felix&Fido’s multimodal approach enables it to offer flexible care when and where it’s needed in the $34 billion annual veterinary services market, according to the release. The company also supports a virtual model for an in-demand veterinary workforce, which improves productivity and profitability and ensures a more positive, empowered, and entrepreneurial culture. “The team at Felix&Fido started this company with a clear end goal in mind — to reimagine the veterinary care experience and change the status quo,” Gavin Woody, CEO and co-founder of Felix&Fido, said in the release. “This funding allows us to bring our veterinary service model to life and provide exceptional care to pets and pet parents. The veterinary services industry is ripe for disruption, and we’re confident that our approach to pet care will make a valuable difference for pets and providers — all without compromise.” The company’s membership plans support a less transactional pet-care model powered by preventive medicine, customized care, and vet team availability, the release said. Members can choose between three plans, depending on their pet’s care requirements, including unlimited appointments with no exam fees; priority access to urgent care at the clinic; visits at home by a veterinary nurse to triage and provide care; access to 24/7 telemedicine; all vaccines; comprehensive wellness assessments, including fecal analysis, urinalysis, blood pressure, and eye pressure; and support for pet insurance claims. Felix&Fido offers in-home veterinary service via its mobile nurse unit and will open its first clinic in Issaquah in May. The mobile nurse unit currently serves members in Bellevue, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Renton, and Sammamish. “Felix&Fido’s commitment to transforming the pet care experience is one of the many reasons PSL Ventures invested in the company,” Geoff Entress, managing director of PSL Ventures and Felix&Fido board member, said in the release. “The Pacific Northwest is filled with pet owners looking for the best possible care for their pets. We believe Felix&Fido’s model represents a major breakthrough for an industry in urgent need of innovation.”