PupPod and Company of Animals have signed a strategic licensing agreement to scale sales of PupPod’s flagship product, the PupPod Rocker and Feeder.
The initial purchase commitment grows PupPod sales by 500 per cent and expands distribution beyond the United States to the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
PupPod believes that dogs are intelligent beings and so combines software with pet products that encourage mental stimulation and problem solving.
This simple idea has evolved into a new product category of multispecies gaming for pets and people at the intersection of the pet, smart home, and online game industries.
Meanwhile, Company of Animals was founded by Dr Roger Mugford in 1979 as a hub for activity, innovation, and research in animal behaviour.
The partnership will allow PupPod to focus on evolving its PupCloud software platform for multispecies gaming and bringing new products to market.
Dr Mugford, CEO, Company of Animals, said that there is a growing percentage of pet parents that are looking for intelligent pet products.
“Pets are the beneficiaries of new technology designed to reduce boredom but also improve behaviour and fitness through activity and mental stimulation. Millennials and Gen Z consumers, currently over 57 per cent of pet parents, are looking for technology solutions to be better pet parents whether they are at home or away.”
The PupPod Rocker game uses lights, sounds, and timing to create a mental stimulation puzzle. When dogs interact with the PupPod Rocker toy at the correct time, they earn food rewards from a wirelessly connected feeder. Pet parents can stream video and control the game from anywhere using PupPod’s mobile app.
In addition to the licensing agreement, Dr Mugford leads PupPod’s series SEED investment round, making his third investment in the company.
Erick Eidus, CEO, PupPod, said that the partnership is a natural fit for both businesses.
“Dr Mugford has been a strategic advisor and investor for several years. It made perfect sense to plug into the sales and distribution capabilities he’s built over 40+ years in the pet industry.”
“PupPod was founded on the belief that software will enable a new category of pet products with better user experiences for both pets and people. The product usage and cognition data we’re seeing confirms the accuracy of our vision, but it’s the heart-warming customer stories that motivate us to keep innovating.”