One of the best ways to our wallets? Through our pets, apparently. Capitalizing upon our collective adoration of our four-legged friends is Petnet, a company that first came to fame with its automated pet feeder. First introduced at the 2015 International CES, the Smart Feeder is a $149 investment that ought to free you from your pet parent duties — at least when it comes to providing food. The feeder doesn’t just randomly dispense kibble at set intervals — rather, its “smart” system allows for customized portions based on your pet’s breed, age, weight, and activity level, ensuring you keep Fluffy or Fido healthy.
Now, Petnet has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round led by Petco, which the company says will help expand its Smart Feeder capabilities. “Petnet was born out of love for our pets and the passion to improve their lives,” said Carlos Herrera, CEO and co-founder of Petnet. “We are pleased to partner with Petco to leverage its know-how and existing infrastructure to reach more pet owners across the U.S. These new funds will enable us to further develop our personalized pet feeding service to keep pets everywhere happy and healthy.”
Pets and their associated costs are booming in the U.S., but apparently, so too are pets’ weights. In fact, research conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention estimates that some 52.7 percent of dogs and 57.9 percent of cats in the U.S. are a bit tubbier than they should be, which can lead to health issues later in their lives. But Petnet seeks to address this problem by way of data, giving owners actionable feedback on how often and how much to feed your pet.
An associated Petnet app lets pet parents keep tabs on how your pet is doing, adjust the feeding schedule, and allocate appropriate portions for each meal. And of course, even if you’re traveling, you can use the app (and the Smart Feeder) to properly care for your furry friend, as the food dispenser holds around two weeks’ worth of food.
