Dr. Treat

About Dr. Treat

Dr. Treat operates in the veterinary care market, positioning itself as a tech-forward provider of personalized and preventative services for pets. Founded in 2021 by the husband-and-wife duo Rakesh Tondon and Hetal Shah, along with Charlie Bowman, the company was born from their personal struggles to find accessible and adequate care for their puppy, Coco, during the 2020 pet adoption boom. Tondon, serving as CEO, brings experience from his previous venture, Le Tote, and Shah, the Chief Experience Officer, contributes a background in technology, hospitality, and marketing. Bowman serves as the CTO.

The company's business model is centered around an annual membership subscription, the "Dr. Treat One" plan, which provides pet owners with unlimited access to both in-clinic and 24/7 virtual care consultations for a fixed yearly fee. This structure aims to lower the barrier for pet parents to seek early-stage, preventative care rather than waiting for issues to escalate, thereby focusing on wellness over reactive illness treatment. Revenue is generated from these annual subscriptions, with additional costs for services beyond consultations like diagnostics, surgery, and medications. The target clientele includes Gen Z and Millennial pet owners in the San Francisco Bay Area who value convenience and a seamless digital experience.

Dr. Treat differentiates itself through a "phygital" approach, combining physical clinics with robust digital services. Members can use the Dr. Treat mobile app to book same- or next-day appointments, access medical records, request prescription refills, and engage in telehealth appointments. A key feature is the development of their own proprietary Patient Information Management Software, designed to streamline workflows and enable data-driven, personalized care plans based on a pet's breed, genetics, and lifestyle. Their physical clinics are intentionally designed to be low-stress, Fear-Free certified environments for pets, staff, and owners. Services offered include primary and urgent care, surgical and dental procedures, diagnostics like in-house lab work and x-rays, and preventative care. The company secured $10.5 million in seed capital in 2022 from investors including Y Combinator, Liquid2, and Epic Ventures, and opened its first clinic in San Francisco in 2022, followed by a second location in Burlingame in early 2024.