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The startup claims to be India’s 4th largest pet food exporter

The investment will primarily be used towards brand building, R&D, and building a strong distribution network

India’s pet care landscape is largely dominated by pet food brands, with accessories, lifestyle products and grooming being secondary

Pet-treat startup Dogsee Chew has raised around INR 50 Cr in a Series A funding round from Mankind Pharma along with the existing backer Sixth Sense Ventures. This funding made Mankind Pharma’s entry into the pet food category. Sixth Sense Ventures had also participated in the startup’s $7 Mn Pre-Series A funding in November 2021. 

Founded by the husband-wife duo Bhupendra Khanal and Sneh Sharma, Dogsee Chew claims to offer 100% vegetarian dog treats. The startup which was founded in 2015, is taking on the rawhide treat industry, which the founders believe is extremely harmful for the dogs with all the added preservatives and chemicals. 

According to the startup, Dogsee Chew treats, on the other hand, are all-natural, human-grade, and protein-rich which have made them a huge success in the pet parents’ community globally. 

The startup claims to be India’s 4th largest pet food exporter and is being used by pet parents in more than 30 countries.

Talking about the investment, Dogsee Chew founder Bhupendra Khanal said, “Our products are the result of years of careful research focused on the precise nutritional needs of dogs. We put research and innovation at the heart of everything we do.” 

The investment will primarily be used towards brand building, R&D, and building a strong distribution network.

“The more we understand, the better placed we are to make a positive difference to the health and well-being of pets. Mankind Pharma has an established history of creating highly successful consumer products. Having the backing of such a giant is a huge vote of confidence for us and we look forward to learning from their expertise,” Khanal added.

Nikhil Vora, founder & CEO of Sixth Sense Ventures added, “With their 100% Natural & Vegetarian offerings, Dogsee Chew is uniquely positioned to make the most of the current global trends in the pet care industry.”

If we look at the pet care market of India, India stands as the fastest growing market in the world, with the pet care market in India expected to grow 14% to become a $490 Mn opportunity by 2022. The pet food market alone will contribute more than 63% or $310 Mn to this, led by dog food.

India’s pet care landscape is largely dominated by pet food brands, with accessories, lifestyle products and grooming being secondary. The major players include the likes of Heads Up For Tails (HUFT), Supertails, Dogspot, Wiggles, Doggie Dabbas, Benny’s Bowls, Flying Fur, Captain Zack among others. 

A majority of these are focused on pet food or products, while Supertails and HUFT are both marketplaces that even offer vet consultations. Within this space, products are evolving quickly; Wiggles, for example, offers cannabis pain therapy oils for our canine and feline friends.