LOS ANGELES — Scratchpay Financial, a veterinary care-focused financial technology company, has secured a $6.4 million Series A funding round.
The round was led by Companion Fund, which is described in a press release as “the first venture capital fund focused on pet care innovation.”
Scratchpay “helps more pets get access to the care they need with simple and friendly payment plans for veterinary services that benefit clinics and pet owners alike,” according to the release. It plans to use this funding to fuel growth in the U.S. and expand internationally.
TTV Capital, Struck Capital and SWS Venture Capital, the investment arm of Green Dot Corporation founder Steve Streit, also participated in the round.
“53 million pets today aren’t able to get the care they need as costs continue to increase even faster than human healthcare costs — and that’s the problem we’re aiming to solve,” said John Keatley, CEO and co-founder of Scratchpay. “Our mission is to remove the financial barriers that prevent pets from getting care, and as we continue to pursue that, we’re thrilled to have the validation and support of these pre-eminent venture firms, along with Mars Petcare.”
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Since launching in 2016, Scratchpay “has helped tens of thousands of pets receive vital veterinary care through its mobile-first financing platform that offers transparent plans with no hidden fees or deferred interest, and without impacting their owners’ credit score when they compare payment options,” according to the release.
Scratchpay serves more than 2,000 pet hospitals with its payment plans.
Drew Taylor, partner with Digitalis, which manages Companion Fund, said: “With the veterinary industry reaching nearly $20 billion in the U.S. alone, the market opportunity is huge for companies like Scratchpay that can find ways to make vets’ lives easier. Our goal with Companion Fund is to bring to light new startups that have the potential to reshape the pet care industry — fast-tracking innovation and driving change across the $100 billion global pet market. Scratchpay is one such startup poised to grow and make a real impact in the lives of pets, pet owners and vets.”
