A growing pet project: Offleash’d raises fresh cash and integrates AI to connect animal lovers

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Offleash’d is making a run — at more funding and improved features — to attract more users to the app that connects pet friendly people over shared interests.

Offleash’d has raised about $250,000 in an investment round that’s just getting started, and co-founder and CEO Terry James said his product is ready for primetime. He’s excited about growth opportunities ahead as he looks to raise about $3 million by the second quarter of this year.

“We’re cautiously optimistic,” he said about the current fundraising climate for startups. “What’s different with us in our space is it’s kind of a refreshing concept that people haven’t really heard about before. Finding something hopeful, bringing people together over their love of pets, the feedback has been very good.”

The Offleash’d app (iOS and Android) serves as a social community for “pet parents” interested in connecting, either as friends or for dates or group events.

First launched in 2022, James co-founded Offleash’d with previous CEO Manish Methai, who ran another pet friendly startup called Charmr that shut down. James took majority ownership of Offleash’d in 2023, became CEO and built a small team of six.

James is based in Southern California. Seattle-area employees include interim CTO Nassir Samatar, who was previously an engineering leader at Amazon and a VP of engineering at Rover, the Seattle-based pet-sitting marketplace; and Jeff Brown, a former real estate entrepreneur who is COO.

A new version of the app released earlier this month now features live video chatting and texting. And two significant features are in development now — a groups platform and an events platform, both powered by artificial intelligence to increase connectivity.

“We really wanted to offer a platform that was talking to a younger, more engaged generation in a forum in which they’re comfortable with,” James said. “Dating definitely is a part of that.”

Offleash’d makes money off memberships, which can run about $20 a month. Members will have the ability to start a group or host an event — such as a community for Chihuahua fans, or a party for a feline at a cat cafe. The startup also monetizes the platform through partnerships with other businesses, its events, and a marketplace where members can buy pet-related gear and other products.

James said Offleash’d was at the forefront of integrating AI early on, not only with its matchmaking algorithm for human traits (which had been done), but AI aimed at human and pet traits together.

AI will now be further used to learn about users and their likes, and surface relevant groups and events for those users.

“Bird people need to find a place to connect with other bird people,” James said. “Maybe they want to learn about different types of bird food, and maybe they want to join a live video broadcast with a bird whisperer. It’s going to be pushed to them.

“I think you can use AI in a very powerful way, that’s about building community and empowering people with the information they need,” he added.

James said Offleash’d has about 3,500 existing members and users right now, and has attracted 60,000 community members across social platforms.

Offleash’d is live in Seattle and Los Angeles, and the roadmap for 2024 includes San Diego and San Francisco.

Source: geekwire