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Liverpool City Region 'Vet-Tech' Start-Up, VidiVet, Which Allows Pet Owners To Easily Contact Their Vets Through A Video Consultation Subscription Gains Additional Funding
VidiVet was founded in March 2020 by experienced vet, Ben Sweeney.
The Liverpool-based business employs a team of 33, of which 22 are vets who can work flexibly.
VidiVet is an app that gives pet owners immediate access to a UK registered vet, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The app is redefining telehealth (Technology & Healthcare) and providing enhanced operational efficiency and profitability to veterinary practices across the UK.
Pet owners can get VidiVet and unlimited access to a vet 24/7 from as little as £12 a year.
Liverpool-based vet technology company, VidiVet, has closed its latest seed funding round early after raising £310,000 to fuel its growth and continued development, which coincides with the company being crowned as the region’s most exciting technology scaleup.
VidiVet was named as the North West’s most exciting early-stage technology scaleup at Rising Stars 5.0. The competition, hosted by the Government-backed Tech Nation, showcases the UK’s best and most innovative technology companies and VidiVet saw off competition from 11 other technology companies, that were all named as ‘city winners’ in November, to win the prestigious accolade.
'The money will enable us to continue growing our team to support the high numbers of veterinary practices we are on-boarding every month.' - Ben Sweeney, Founder and CEO at VidiVet.
Ben Sweeney, Founder and CEO at VidiVet, said: 'We’ve grown rapidly over the past 12 months and have significantly increased the numbers of veterinary practices and pet owners who are using VidiVet. Winning the Tech Nation award, after competing against such a wide range of local technology businesses that are all doing impressive things, is a huge achievement for our whole team and incredibly humbling.'
Ben added: 'When this is combined with our latest funding round, which we had to close early after exceeding our initial target, it’s definitely a very exciting time for us. The money will enable us to continue growing our team to support the high numbers of veterinary practices we are on-boarding every month.'
VidiVet won Tech Nation's North West 2023 Rising Stars Regional Winners stating:
VidiVet - VidiVet gives pet parents instant access to a vet from anywhere in the world at any time of day.
City winner in: Liverpool
Subsector: Healthtech
The VidiVet app gives pet owners immediate access to a UK registered vet, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it’s already being used by more than 10,000 pet owners.
A number of veterinary practices across the UK have started to adopt the innovative 'Vet-Tech' method, such as veterinary practice, Aldeburgh Vets, in Suffolk.
'We already have several significant developments in the pipeline that we can now progress' - Ben Sweeney, Founder and CEO at VidiVet.
Ben Sweeney, said: 'The feedback we’re receiving from pet owners and vet practices has been excellent. The app also enables veterinary practices to increase capacity, as well as alleviating pressure for their teams, at a time when more than half of practices aren’t accepting new clients. Crucially, the app isn’t replacing the practice, or even prescribing online, but it’s working alongside the practice as part of an extended team to enable them to cater to all their clients’ needs, regardless of whether they’re open or closed.'
VidiVet currently employs a 33-strong team, and the majority of this latest £310,000 investment came from business angels and existing investors, along with several well-known names in the veterinary industry. These include Wendy Furness, who is a member of the UK Business Angels Association and was previously a Director at Pride Veterinary Referrals in Derby, and Adam Tjolle, who was previously CEO at Inglis Vets, which has practices throughout Edinburgh.
The innovative business was founded by vet Ben Sweeney in 2020 and has already benefitted after securing a future fund loan from the British Business Bank, the government-owned development bank dedicated to new and smaller businesses.
'Giving pet owners instant access to a UK vet provides them with fast and reliable answers via the app, which gives them peace of mind.' - Ben Sweeney, Founder and CEO at VidiVet.
Ben Sweeney, said: 'Giving pet owners instant access to a UK vet provides them with fast and reliable answers via the app, which gives them peace of mind. It also means when they attend a consultation in the practice, both the pet owner and vet already have a clear picture of the problem and if they don’t already have a potential solution, it at least means they are closer to a diagnosis.'
He added: 'The veterinary industry has recognised the benefits of VidiVet and this funding round, which includes investments from several highly respected names in the profession, is testament to this.'
Ben, said: 'It also stands us in good stead as we explore the possibility of raising Series A funding later in 2023 and means it will be a very productive year for us. We already have several significant developments in the pipeline that we can now progress, as we continue growing and exploring other areas of the industry where we can add value.'
The tech start-up has its office in the Liverpool City Region's Creative Quarter, The Baltic Triangle. A perfect location for the busienss as it is surrounded by a plethora of techonology and creative companies in the Baltic Creative Digital House.
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