In the Spotlight: Pet startup dispenses snacks remotely
There are certain matters of dogma for startups. And one of them is: Puppies are good. Add the Internet, and they’re even better.
Alex Neskin learned this nearly five years ago, when he connected a camera and laser pointer to the Internet so he could monitor and entertain Rocky, his pet chihuahua, remotely. Neskin worried that Rocky was bored when he wasn’t home. He gave others access to the system to play with Rocky, too. And so Petcube was born.
That initial setup was the Petcube Play. Last week, the startup began selling Petcube Bites — the latest iteration of its webcam that allows users to fling treats at their pet using an app. The system is not unlike throwing berries to tame an elusive character in “Pokémon Go,” except in this case, real morsels fly out of the Petcube Bites webcam for a cat or dog to enjoy. Call it dogmented reality.
The Petcube Bites device comes loaded with treats, but pet owners can refill it with any brand that’s the right shape.
More than 65 percent of American households own a cat or dog, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. While pet toys and accessories have long been on the market, it’s only in the past five years that technology startups have begun seriously exploring the market, said Petcube co-founder and CEO Yaroslav Azhnyuk.
“We feel like pet owners and pets are underserved by the the tech community,” he said.
As every pet startup must, Petcube’s Potrero Hill office regularly hosts its employees’ cats and dogs. And it has provided Petcube Play cameras to more than 60 animal shelters, so prospective owners can look at pets up for adoption through
the app.
Petcube Play, released last year, retails at $199. More than 100,000 have been sold. Petcube Bites is listed for $249. News of the Bites device propelled interest in the company among users of Crunchbase, the startup database. The company has raised $3.8 million in funding.
Twenty percent of users share their cameras with friends and family, and the average user spends 50 minutes per week using the companion app, Azhnyuk said. “That’s more than I’m talking to my mom all week,” he quipped.
Petcube stores footage from its devices in the cloud, so users can see what they've missed. The company is also using motion detection in the connected cameras and is working on adding other software features that use the collected data.
An irony: Azhnyuk doesn’t own a pet himself. He says he doesn’t spend enough time at home. “You can’t only communicate with your pet with a Petcube,” he acknowledged.
Also trending: Proxce
What it does: Creates digital profiles for guests so hotels can set up mobile check-in systems, send messages and provide keyless room access based on the individual’s location. Customers include two international luxury hotel chains: Jumeirah Group and Taj Hotel Resorts and Palaces.
What happened: Proxce is signing up two major customers; it is also announcing corporate partners next month. The company is in talks with major airlines as potential customers, and is also raising Series A funding.
Why it matters: The Internet of Things is here to stay, and it’s getting less clunky to use. “Using an app has to be easier than using a switch, or why would you use it?” founder and CEO Madhu Madhusudhanan said. Headquarters: Sunnyvale. Funding: $10.4 million, according to Proxce. Employees: 12 full-time workers and more than 35 contractors.
Proximity Grid
What it does: Offers an app that uses mobile location data so people can create shareable bookmarks called Grid Cards. The bookmarks allow users to view and share photos, links and notes about a particular map location. What happened: Proximity Grid was added to Apple’s App Store, and it is rolling out features and updates over the next couple of months. It’s in talks with businesses and potential partners, and gearing up to raise more funding. Why it matters: Snapchat and Instagram Stories have shown that people love to share where they are and what they’re doing. And because every mobile device tracks user locations, it’s natural to try putting this on a map. Headquarters: San Jose. Funding: $1.85 million, according to founder and CEO John Reimer. Employees: 10.
PacketZoom
What it does: With its Mobile Expresslane, networks are improved so that app users get connections that are two to three times faster. It is integrated on hundreds of apps, reaching millions of users. What happened: The company is about to announce a new product to improve mobile performance.
Why it matters: The Internet’s key protocols weren’t designed for today’s mobile networks, according to founder and Chief Technology Officer Chetan Ahuja, so it’s time to transition to a better system. Headquarters: San Mateo. Funding: $6.5 million, according to Ahuja. Employees: 20.
Actiance
What it does: Lets businesses monitor their employees’ communications on more than 80 channels to ensure compliance with laws and company policies. Actiance is used by more than 1,500 businesses, including all the major global banks.
What happened: The company recently announced a new partner program and will introduce support for WhatsApp and WeChat on Tuesday.
Why it matters: Information leaks are everywhere, and businesses have their work cut out for them trying to trace and prevent them, whether an employee is using Skype for Business, Twitter or good old email.
Headquarters: Redwood City. Funding: $70 million, according to President and CEO Kailash Ambwani. Employees: 400 to 500.