Months after we saw Baroo, the Boston-based startup that offers residents living in multi-family luxury buildings a full-service pet concierge, was raising funding, the venture announced it’s closed a $2.25 million seed investment. The round was led by Birchaven Group, with participation from Crimson Peak, Krillion Ventures, Sueco and The Graduate Syndicate, a new fund managed by Flybridge’s Jeff Bussgang.
The funding has partly gone towards Baroo’s recent D.C. expansion, with more capital being used for an upcoming fourth market. The company will also be investing in making technological improvements and updates.
“The big thing that’s happened for us is that we’ve gone from being a Boston-based startup to being the leading full-service pet concierge in the country,” Lindsay Hyde, co-founder and CEO of Baroo, told us. “It’s been a unique growth path for us.”
Since we last spoke with Hyde less than a year ago, the startup has seen significant growth. Baroo’s services, which span from dog walking to litter box changes for cats, are now available in nearly 60 residential buildings throughout Greater Boston, including Ink Block, Millennium Place, One Canal and 75 Station Landing.
It has expanded into Chicago and D.C., serving more than 50,000 residents in those markets. The location of its fourth market has yet to be disclosed.
Including Baroo’s direct pet care providers, the company now has about 75 employees. Hyde said, “As we’ve grown, we’ve been able to find passionate pet lovers who are able to be out delivering quality care.”
Part of that care now includes mobile pet grooming services. In September, Baroo announced a partnership with Whole Foods, called b. Mobile by Baroo. Through the service, pet parents can have Baroo's decked-out doggy van come to them and groom their pets on-site for more convenience.
Baroo has also been testing out onsite doggy daycare within apartment complexes. It has rolled the service out in OneEleven, a residential building in Chicago, and it plans to add four more locations in Boston and D.C. properties.
"We've been teaming up with residential managers and property owners to give them what they think their residents need. We're helping them make pets a priority, which creates a great living environment."
