Pets are our family, no second thoughts. Period. We want the best care for them but unfortunately, pet-care facilities don’t think the same. They do not handle them well while grooming, and do not provide proper care during the process, leaving the poor soul in distress.
Fed up by the same situation, Hyderabad pet parents launched a platform for pets to get rid of such ridiculous behavior. Laxmikanth Puducherri, launched Petfolk, a platform that connects pet parents with essential pet services. It started as an aggregator app but developed into a comprehensive service provider, that offers direct pet care solutions.
| Startup Name | Petfolk |
| Founders | Laxmikanth Puducherri |
| Industry | Pet care |
| Company Classification | B2C Non-Financial Other Services company |
| Headquarters/based-in | Hyderabad , Telangana, India |
| Idea | To provide expert and quality on-site and virtual pet care services at affordable prices. |
| Revenue | Rs 1 crore in FY 2023 |
| Date of commencement | April 2022 |
| Investments | More than Rs 1 crore |
| Number of Customers | 40k+ |
Competitors: PawSquad, WellPet Animal Hospitals, Dutch, Pawp, and Airvet
The Problem: Why Does This Matter?
With India’s pet population estimated to be more than 38 million households (23 million owning dogs and 1.7 million owning cats), it is still difficult to find a trusted and proper pet care service place.
Some places lack the required equipment, others do not have sufficient staff, and some have untrained and inefficient staff who do not know how to handle pets. Hygiene and sanitation are not maintained, over the top.
Also, the charges are skyrocketing with unsatisfying results. However, most of us do not care about the price but the treatment that our pets get, or should I say mistreatment. Mostly, pet parents are working people, and find it hard to juggle both responsibilities. The same was the situation of Laxmikanth and his wife.
The Solution: Petfolk
Considering the situation, Laxmikanth decided to take things into his hands by launching the pet care startup app, Petfolk. This Hyderabad-based setup was initially launched as an aggregator app but Laxmikanth soon identified the gap in the pet care market.
Independent service providers are unable to meet pet owners’ expected standards. Thus, Petfolk shifted to a direct service provider. Mobile pet grooming was their 1st venture. They attained huge success in Hyderabad and now has new branches in Rajahmundry. Moreover, Laxmikanth plants to open centers in Goa, Mumbai, and Vishakhapatnam. Moreover, to enhance accessibility (rural and urban), Petfolk aims to establish grooming hubs in public spaces.
Business Model: How Do They Make Money?
With the expansion, Petfolk also introduced physical grooming centres in Vizag, Hyderabad, and Bandra. Moreover, they are extending mobile services to Goa.
Per day, the earnings of Petfolk are:
- Each mobile van generates between Rs 15k and Rs 20k.
- The grooming center in Rajahmundry earns around Rs 15k.
- In FY2023, Petfolk’s reported revenue was Rs 1 crore while they are now valued at Rs 35 crore.
Challenges/Struggles: What Roadblocks Are They Facing?
Challenges
- After the launch, the first 6-9 months were very hard to manage with no revenue. It was hard to get clients as pet parents were sceptical about trusting just any random person asking to groom their pets.
- Soon, Laxmikanth reinvested Rs 1 crore to bring in mobile grooming vans. This was the turning point for the startup.
- Another challenge arose after they introduced the mobile vans. It was the delays caused due to heavy traffic.
- Also, there was a shortage of skilled, trained, and efficient pet groomers.
Solutions
- Petfolk got custom-designed featuring switchable glass to allow pet owners to watch the grooming process. It enhances trust and transparency of the entire process.
- Slowly, their services became popular among Hyderabad’s pet parents.
- To tackle traffic delays, Petfolk brought custom-designed grooming bikes with same facilities and quality care.
- To address the lack of pet groomers, they set up a grooming institute to equip their staff with expert training and certification. This helps them maintain high service standards.
Future Vision: What’s Next?
Presently, they are planning for additional outlets for Hyderabad by Sankranti. Also, they will launch grooming bikes in Goa to serve more pet owners.
By January, Petfolk will be launching pet supplements with an affordable price range of Rs 300-400 per month.
Moreover, by the next decade, Petfolk aims to reach Rs 2,000 crore by focusing on expansion, new valuations in January, and celebrity partnerships. Laxmikanth’s ultimate goal is to make Petfolk a market leader in pet care and setting up new industry standards.
Furthermore, Petfolk has sourced aspiring groomers from Manipur and other Northeast states. The company invests on their training and offers stipends to for building a skilled team.
Key Takeaways: Why Should Users Care?
From Laxmikanth, we can learn to give our best in achieving what we strive for. We know that we are giving the right services so we should not step back. Understand the need of the moment and take decisions accordingly. Because a decision delayed is a decision dead.
Pic Credits: Petfolk Instagram, Laxmi Pudu LinkedIn, Petfolk website
