Lupa a London-based veterinary services platform raised $4M funding

The veterinary industry has grown by leaps and bounds, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it has also created more work for the veterinary professionals involved, which results in burnout and operational inefficiencies. The challenge is what Lupa seeks to address with its pioneering work in streamlining veterinary services through advanced AI integration. 

Company overviews

Founded in London, Lupa is an AI-powered platform designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of veterinary practices. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools aimed at automating administrative tasks, providing personalized insights, and facilitating proactive support for both providers and pet owners. By integrating features such as online booking, AI-driven diagnostic suggestions, and automated client communications, Lupa seeks to set a new benchmark in the veterinary industry.

Funding Details and Investor Insights

The $4 million seed funding round was led by firstminute capital, with significant contributions from 2100 Ventures and Vento by Exor Ventures. Additionally, prominent angels from McKinsey, BCG, JP Morgan, Nexi, and NovaCapital participated in the round, bringing a wealth of expertise and strategic value to Lupa’s vision. This diverse investor base underscores the confidence in Lupa’s innovative approach to addressing the pressing needs of the veterinary industry.

Sam Endacott, Partner at firstminute capital, said: “Lupa’s vision of unifying veterinary workflows into a single, powerful platform addresses a critical industry need. With pet ownership at record highs and a growing vet shortage, the timing couldn’t be better for a modern, AI-native solution. We’re thrilled to be backing this exceptional team on their journey to transform veterinary care.”

Strategic Objectives Post-Funding

With the infusion of new capital, Lupa plans to:

• Accelerate Product Development: Enhance its platform’s capabilities by introducing new features that further automate administrative tasks and improve user experience for both veterinary professionals and pet owners.
• Expand Commercial Operations: Broaden its market presence by targeting additional veterinary clinics and establishing partnerships within the industry to facilitate widespread adoption of its AI-driven solutions.
• Invest in Talent Acquisition: Hire top-notch engineers, data scientists, and customer success professionals to help innovate and ensure the platform stays up to date with the needs of the veterinary industry.

Technological Innovations

Lupa is differentiated through several cutting-edge technologies:

• AI-Powered Scribe: It automates clinical documentation, thus giving veterinarians more time to spend on patients and less on paperwork.
• Diagnostic Suggestions: AI-driven insights are provided to the veterinarian to aid in decision-making, thus improving the accuracy and efficiency of the diagnosis.
• Operational Insights: Provides analytics and reports to help veterinary practices optimize operations, improve client engagement, and increase overall efficiency.
• Client Communication Automation: Smoothens engagement with dog owners through the use of automated reminders, follow-ups, and education materials that lead to better relationships and compliance.

Market Adoption and Growth

Increasingly complex veterinary practices and an undersupply of professionals create the imperative for an efficient solution. Early adopters report that significant time is being saved on paperwork and, indeed, better patient care is now being delivered with the use of Lupa. Already, it has onboarded multiple clinics, as well as an exclusive partnership agreement with Vetsure, the UK’s largest vet buying group, comprising more than 1,200 member clinics.

Leadership Perspective

Lupa’s leadership consists of experienced professionals with a proven track record in technology and consulting.

Co-founder and CEO Nicolò Frisiani has an MSc in Machine Learning from Imperial College London and experience as a Senior Associate and Consultant at Boston Consulting Group, as well as a Senior Data Scientist at BCG GAMMA. Co-founder and COO Matei Bjola received his MSc in Management from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. 

Before that, he was a Senior Associate and Consultant at Boston Consulting Group. Co-founder and CTO Raul Lozano Martin graduated from the University of Manchester with a BS in Computer Science. He was a Software Engineer at Skyscanner and Meta.

Such importance on the company’s mission speaks when Frisiani says, “The veterinary industry desperately needs modern software solutions that can help practices handle growing demand while reducing administrative burden on overworked staff. We’ve built Lupa from the ground up to be AI-native, making it dramatically more efficient and easier to use than legacy systems that are holding practices back. Our early results show that practices can save significant time on administration while providing better care.”

Future Prospects

With the seed funding round successful, Lupa is now well-positioned to expand its market presence and improve the capabilities of its platform. The company’s focus on AI-driven automation and comprehensive veterinary practice management positions it to address the evolving needs of the industry. As pet ownership continues to rise and the demand for veterinary services increases, Lupa’s innovative solutions are set to play a pivotal role in enabling practices to achieve operational efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and improved patient care.

Summary

Lupa’s most recent seed funding worth $4 million has furthered its evolution into changing the veterinary industry scene through AI. Lupa boasts services that can challenge the administrative battles for veterinary professionals and improve the pet care experience as a whole, which makes it the ideal candidate to dominate the sector. Such support and early adoption by veterinary clinics make the platform appear promising in making a long-lasting impact in the industry.