Telehealth services are becoming more popular — and not just for humans.
Dutch, an Oakland startup offering virtual veterinary sessions for pet parents, announced a $20 million Series A round Thursday led by Forerunner Ventures and Eclipse Ventures. “The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon previously participated in a $5 million seed round last July.
CEO Joe Spector told me via email the funding shows validation in the company's mission to “help reshape the veterinary landscape to benefit both vets and pet owners.”
The subscription-based company connects members with veterinarians in all 50 states to consult about nonemergency conditions like anxiety, fleas, rashes and other chronic conditions. That's up from only eight states at launch seven months ago. And its providers can prescribe medicine for feline and canine patients in 18 states, not including California due to legal restrictions.
During the pandemic, California waived restrictions on the use of telemedicine by veterinarians and allowed remote visits with patients they already had an established relationship with, according to the LA Times. The state extended the waiver last year.
The SFSPCA sued the California Veterinary Medical Board in May to permanently remove limitations on telemedicine for animals. The case is ongoing, according to the court docket.
Spector founded the company in 2021 after adopting a puppy himself and watching his brother struggle with managing his dog’s anxiety.
"Everything we do has to have research behind it to show efficacy,” Spector told the Business Times when the company launched last year. That means alternative treatments like CBD for animals is not offered.
Memberships cost $15 monthly and cover unlimited video chats as well as treatment plans that can include therapeutics, behavioral modification advice and prescriptions, according to the website.
Dutch currently has 23 employees. The new funding will help the company invest in its intellectual property, build out its medical records database, grow its pharmacy and veterinary network, hire more staff and also work on customer growth, according to TechCrunch.
