Dr. Cuddles is Making Vet Sense Common Sense
The Leap Venture Studio blog series has returned! In March 2023, six promising early-stage pet care startups embarked on a 12-week journey within the program to expedite their ventures. During this time, the companies worked with experts from Mars Petcare, Michelson Found Animals and R/GA Ventures and received venture capital investment, mentorship, and customized programming tailored to meet their needs.
Dr. Cuddles is a vet- founded pet care company looking to revolutionize the industry by making Vet Sense Common Sense — empowering pet owners to better care for their pets through trusted education and innovative products.
Dr. Mathieu Glassman, Founder & CEO
Tell us about your startup
Mathieu: Dr. Cuddles is a veterinary specialist led and founded pet care company that is working to empower pet parents with knowledge, confidence, and evidence backed innovative products so they can care for the pets smarter. We’re helping pet owners save time and money and treat their pets at home in a safe, timely manner, while also reducing the load on already-strained veterinarians.
How has your startup made a difference for pets?
Mathieu: We are making a difference in the lives of pets by providing their owners with invaluable information. We’re giving a platform to practicing veterinary specialists, who are the best at what they do, to disseminate information and products to pet parents. There is not a single pet care brand with the clinical credibility of our founder and advisory board.
By 2030, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of veterinarians in the US of 20–30%, which means longer wait times for pets that need help. MARS Petcare estimates that there will be a total of 75M pets that do not receive any veterinary care by 2030 — a staggering figure. Given the impending shortage of veterinarians, as well as the number of pets that will not receive care, the petcare industry needs a solution to help pet owners care for their pets at home in the same way we care for ourselves and our children. We don’t go to the emergency room every time we have, stomach upset, diarrhea, or a cut or scrape etc. Why is this the status quo for pet owners? The answer is because the industry has convinced pet owners that they can’t or shouldn’t be their pet’s first responder when it comes to minor or moderate health concerns. That’s where Dr. Cuddles comes in.
What are the greatest challenges you’ve faced as a startup founder and how have you overcome them?
Mathieu: I have transitioned from an expert in veterinary surgery to a first time founder. As you can imagine, this has been a tremendous change and one that is very humbling. Up until Dr. Cuddles, the professional fulfillment I received was through helping countless pets per week with near instant gratification. Building Dr. Cuddles is a much slower build, however, I know that my impact can be much greater as Dr. Cuddles has the potential to positively impact the lives of every pet in the United States.
A way that I have coped with all the new challenges I face has been by creating a founder network to lean on and learn from. Leap has been great for this. It has allowed me to get digestible answers to my questions, both big and small, while at the same time illustrating that other accomplished founders have similar questions.
What is your biggest take away from the Leap Venture Studio?
Mathieu: My biggest takeaway is that there are great people in big companies working to improve the petcare world by helping others succeed. I have been so pleasantly surprised by how dedicated and active the LEAP group has been — from the Mars family, to Michelson Foundation for Animals and the RGA Ventures group. Everyone has been working super hard to help Dr. Cuddles and therefore the petcare industry at large.
What advice would you give to fellow pet care founders who are just starting their journey?
Mathieu: Find good advisors that have been on the journey before. People love to help. Keep moving forward and ignore the voice in your head that says you shouldn’t be doing this :)
Tell us about your pet(s)!
Mathieu: I have two King Charles Cavalier Spaniels — Sir Henry Winston III and Kevin. Kevin is my favorite… I know you aren’t supposed to have a favorite, but it’s just true! As the son of two veterinarians, I have always had at least 2 dogs or cats throughout my life. They are all super special and bring so much joy. Pets also remind us how important our relationships are, even those that don’t last our full lifetime. Every pet I’ve ever had has reminded me to cherish them while I can.
In 2023 Dr. Cuddles launched a first-to-market emergency home detoxifier for pets that gives pet owners the means to address ingestions of toxic substances such as chocolate, raisins, grapes, human medication, and more.
To learn more about Dr. Cuddles, visit their website.
Check out Dr. Cuddles’ pitch at the Leap Venture Studio Cohort 7 Demo Day that was held on 8 June, 2023. If you are interested in connecting with their team, email us at leapventurestudio@gmail.com.
