FEED MY FURBABY

Coming in hot on Emergency Q’s heels at the Race for Space competition was Feed My Furbaby, a pet food subscription company which grabbed the judges' interest, and second place, winning two desk spaces at the B:HIVE.

Founders and partners Amy and Ben Rennell said they were inspired by one of their stressful morning runs to the supermarket to buy dog food.

“It was a business idea that genuinely came out of our own pain point,” said Ben, who found himself with the same dilemma almost every month. “I thought this is crazy, there’s got to be a better way.”

So in October, the pair made space amongst their full-time jobs, children and dog, Jack to start ‘Feed my Furbaby’. What sets the service apart, according to Ben, is their algorithmic approach to pet feeding. The platform gets users to enter their dog’s size and activity level in order to create a personalised feeding plan. The company then delivers the food automatically in a functional, cardboard container system that has gained an innovative packaging award.

As for the Race for Space competition, the Rennells said it was a great experience.

“It was absolutely amazing to have that time with those judges. They all said we’ve got a great model, brand and product, but we need to have the guts to invest in it more and go bigger.”

Inspired by the judges’ feedback, the couple is dialling back the hours at their day jobs to move towards making Feed My Furbaby a full-time gig operating out of the B:HIVE – and say the co-working space will be invaluable in taking the business forward.

“Being in a space like this, we can be professional, we can grow up as a business and this is our launching pad,” Amy says.