Seattle-based Offleash'd, a dating and social app for pet parents, is on the hunt for funding and office space.
Offleash'd co-founder and CEO Terry James said the startup is looking to raise roughly $2 million to $3 million in the first or second quarter this year. After that, Offleash'd plans to open offices in Seattle and Los Angeles, as the six-person company currently doesn't have office space.
"We're well on our way to being able to do that," James said. "My focus is really also on expanding our team."
Offleash'd was founded in 2022. The platform allows users to upload photos and shared interests, much like a standard dating app, but it also allows them to showcase their pets. Offleash'd also has a social function for pet parents to meet in a non-romantic setting. James said the company has launched live video chatting, and it is launching a groups feature to interact online and share advice.
James took over as CEO at the start of 2023 from co-founder Manish Methai, who is now a founding partner and shareholder. James said he took over as CEO to move the brand forward.
Methai met his wife through a dating app and bonded over her dog, a half-Maltese and half-Shih Tzu named Guddee. The experience inspired Methai to launch Offleash'd with James.
Offleash'd has launched in Seattle and California, with a strong focus on LA. Its revenue comes from a subscription fee as well as additional fees for users to boost their profiles and get more attention. Offleash'd also makes money through advertisers on its app.
James said Offleash'd has about 3,000 users and the company is trying to grow that number. He added that Offleash'd has about 40,000 members in its social community.
The company was looking to raise money when it launched in May 2022. According to James, Offleash'd raised a small round but is still looking for that $2 million to $3 million investment.
Offleash'd has major competitors in the dating app space, namely heavyweights like Tinder, Bumble and Hinge. While those are great products, James said, Offleash'd is filling a unique space in the dating app world by putting pets at the forefront.
"Our uniqueness of bringing pets and people together is something that doesn't exist out there," James said. "That provides us a really unique opportunity in the marketplace for people that are pet lovers."
