Pet wellbeing firm secures over £7m in early stage investment
Leeds-headquartered subscription-based pet wellbeing firm, ITCH, has secured £7.25m in early stage investment, paving the way for it to expand into the £4.5bn global pet insurance market.
In a round led by YYX Capital, the personalised direct-to-consumer pet care service raised the cash injection from Accel Partners and Seedcamp, taking the total investment to £12.25m.
On a mission to energise the flea prevention market, ITCH launched in July 2019 with a monthly flea and worming home delivery service.
The direct to consumer business founded by pet industry entrepreneurs Jonny and Adam Gould (Monster Pet Supplies) and James Cox (YYX Capital) will use the funding to launch in the US, expand into the pet insurance sector and fuel further development of its data platform so it is best placed to serve pets and their owners.
Cox said: “Offering pet owners direct access to the best personalised treatment products for their pets is proving a winning formula.
“Our latest investment combined with the current rate of growth and onboarding of a new management team will accelerate our position on home soil; and a expected funding round later this year or early next will enable us to expand into the US and beyond.”
With ambitious plans to launch in the US and beyond from quarter one 2021, ITCH appointed Andrew Pinnington in April 2020 to take on the role of chief executive officer.
Former CEO of Europe’s largest ride-hailing app mytaxi (merged with Hailo), Pinnington grew the business from a local player in Germany to the European leader in ride hailing services through strategic acquisitions and dynamic growth.
He headed mytaxi and Hailo for 3.5 years from 2014, during which time he turned the business around from a low base, and subsequently exited a majority interest to BMW and Daimler in 2018.
Prior to this, he spent 12 years at Carphone Warehouse, taking on a variety of roles, ultimately culminating in the position of chief operating officer.
Carlos Eduardo Espinal, managing partner, Seedcamp, said: “To date, pet owners have been left underserved, with few companies demonstrating a genuine care for pets that matches the owners.
“We backed the ITCH team because of their passion for making products that transform the experience for pet owners, buying into their proven historical track records in the sector and wider D2C arena.”
Developed in collaboration with veterinary experts in response to the increasing demand for more bespoke pet care, ITCH now ships to over 110,000 pets per month across the UK.
With a monthly customer growth rate of 10% to 20%, the firm is on track to reach more than £10m in annual recurring by year end 2020. And its sales are projected to exceed £50m next year and £200m in the coming three years.
Via the ITCH app, pet owners are sent a reminder when it’s time to administer treatment. This is designed to ensure the right dose, at the right time, delivered directly to their door every month.
The service offers a quicker, cheaper and more convenient alternative for preventing flea infestations, worming issues and generally providing preventive care for pets. The platform also provides calming treats and skin, joint and dental product add-ons.
