Polish startup Petsy, which has been on the market for more than two years, recently raised more than one million euros in funding from business angels. The company, a leader in pet care services in its home country, currently has more than 90,000 registered users, and its platform was used more than two thousand times in July alone.
The capital raised in this initial funding round has helped Petsy not only expand its operations in Poland but also enhance its platform connecting pet owners with verified petsitters and begin its expansion into the Czech market. According to the founders, Michał Wojewoda and Bartek Sobota, they do not plan to slow down and are already working on the next funding round, which will allow them to grow their data science department and expand Petsy into the DACH region.
Advertisement
Although the holiday season is coming to an end, it’s not the only challenge pet owners face. Whether it’s a weekend getaway, a busy workday, or a night out with friends, there are times when bringing our beloved pets along isn’t an option. While many turn to family and friends for help, their availability isn’t always guaranteed, and there’s no assurance they’ll follow the routines and dietary needs our pets require.
It is estimated that there are currently around eight million dogs and seven million cats living in Polish households. These numbers are growing year by year, and pets are increasingly being treated as full-fledged family members. Therefore, ensuring their utmost comfort and safety during our absence becomes a significant challenge. The answer to these difficulties is the increasingly popular petsitting service, with the startup Petsy leading the way in Poland.
Their platform connects pet owners with professional and verified caretakers, offering a safe and reliable way to leave your pet in trusted hands.
Leaving a pet in someone else’s care can be stressful not only for the animal but also for the owner. Petsy addresses this issue by helping pet owners find verified petsitters who know how to properly care for their furry friends. We ensure the highest level of service and safety, which is why every petsitter on our platform – of which there are now over 3,000 – has undergone a three-step verification process, including an interview with our animal behaviorist. This way, our clients can be confident that they are leaving their pets in good hands.– comments Bartek Sobota, CGO and co-founder of Petsy. Additionally, every petsitting service booked through our platform comes with a free Petsy Care package. This includes liability insurance, veterinary assistance, and support from a behaviorist, ensuring complete safety and comfort for the pets, their owners, and the petsitters. – adds Bartek Sobota.
Petsy is now present in forty cities across Poland and four in the Czech Republic, with over 90,000 registered users on the platform. The company recently raised €1.1 million in its first funding round, supported by more than 30 business angels, including Piotr Wawrysiuk, founder of PsiBufet, and a group of private investors associated with Cobin Angels. The capital has been allocated by the team to strengthen the company’s position in the Polish market, refine the platform, and prepare for its debut in international markets.
In July alone, Petsy’s services were used nearly 2,500 times, positioning us as the leader in our country. We estimate that currently, 5% of pet owners in Poland use petsitting services, with 20-25% of them utilizing modern portals and apps dedicated to this purpose. Additionally, our data shows that 60-70% of this group orders petsitting services through our platform. It’s also worth noting that market estimates suggest the number of people using petsitting services will increase fivefold over the next three years, as this market, both in Poland and across Europe, is in a phase of dynamic growth. This growth is further confirmed by our results, which show that the number of services completed through Petsy has increased by over 200% in the past year. – comments Michał Wojewoda, CEO and co-founder Petsy.
Already, together with our fantastic team, we are working intensively on the final details of our expansion strategy in the DACH region, which accounts for about a quarter of the petsitting market in the EU. To implement this strategy and expand our data science department, we plan to use the funds from the next financing round, which we are already working on and aim to close by the end of this year. – adds Michał Wojewoda.
For several years now, we have been witnessing significant growth in the global petsitting market. According to data presented in the Global Market Insights report, its value in 2023 was estimated at over USD 2.5 billion, with a projected average annual growth rate of more than 10% over the next eight years. This suggests that the global petsitting market will be worth over USD 6 billion by 2032.
Petsy operates in one of the fastest-growing markets, and early recognition of its potential has enabled the company to achieve its current position as the leader in petsitting in Poland. Their creativity and development strategy, combined with the ambition and determination of the entire team, will undoubtedly help them to compete for a strong position in the European pet care market in the coming years. – comments Adam Radzki, one of the business angels supporting Petsy and the winner of the Polish Business Angel of the Year award in the debutant category, awarded by Cobin Angels.
