Ask any dog or cat owner if their life has been improved by having a pet, and the majority will tell you how the animal has made their life better. Some will even claim that the emotional support they receive from their pet not only improves but extends their life.
So if pets can extend our lives, why not try to extend our pets’ lives?
This is the mission of Basepaws, the first company to offer at-home feline DNA testing -- think 23andMe for felines.
Founded by serial entrepreneur Anna Skaya, Basepaws received a $250,000 early investment from Shark Tank investors Kevin O'Leary and Robert Herjavec. Despite O’Leary having previously said he “hates cats,” he warmed up quickly to the idea of cat DNA when he heard Skaya’s pitch and business model, claiming, "I'm not a cat guy, but I know a successful business when I see one. There's real intellectual property here -- this company will be huge."
The company is growing by leaps and bounds, which is no surprise given that pet ownership is on the rise globally, and a global pet culture is emerging. Currently cat ownership in the US is estimated at approximately 100 million. Global estimates put the number of cats in the world at up to 600 million.
So Skaya has definitely picked a market that has a huge potential runway. When asked about what inspired her, Skaya responded, “Science and technology have been vital to our lives as humans. Why not make our companion animals live longer?”
We’re betting on Basepaws continued success, as this is not Anna’s first time to the entrepreneur’s rodeo. In fact, Basepaws is Skaya’s fourth company.
Yet like so many female founders, Skaya shares that accessing capital is still one of her main challenges. According to a recent study by Boston Consulting Group, the gender investment gap is real, and when women business owners pitch their ideas to investors for early-stage capital, they receive significantly less -- a disparity that averages more than $1 million -- than men. This is despite the data which shows that businesses founded by women ultimately deliver higher revenue -- more than twice as much per dollar invested -- than those founded by men, making women-owned companies better investments for financial backers.
Skaya and Basepaws are off to a great start., and the company is continuing to expand the array of testing it offers. If you’d like to learn more about your cat’s DNA and identify ways to help your furry friend live its best life, check out www.basepaws.com
As an animal lover and true believer that pets can extend and enhance the lives of humans, I love the concept of DNA testing for cats. To get a few extra years with your beloved pet is worth it!
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