Press Release

How digital transformation can improve the health of our animals (and the lives of veterinarians). Startup Bakery launches Veterly.

Startup Bakery

Startup Bakery

15 apr 2021

15 apr 2021

  • A study conducted by Startup Bakery reveals how the veterinarian-animal owner relationship shows several points of suffering today and confirms the need for technological solutions aimed at improving not only the veterinarian's operations but also the health of the animals themselves in a market that today alone in Europe is close to 20 billion euros, with 85 million animal owners and 0.35 veterinarians per 1,000 inhabitants.

  • The veterinarian is indeed a figure who often does not see their professionalism and time recognized and who in recent years has found themselves facing an increasingly demanding clientele active on peer-to-peer communication systems to the detriment of work quality. 

  • Among the most critical aspects is an overload of emails, phone calls, and unlimited messaging, a lack of recognition for the time spent on extra-visit activities, the habit of working alone, and the absence of advanced digital tools for support.

  • Improving the time spent on extra activities by just 50% would allow the veterinarian to care for up to 2 more animals per day.

  • Based on these needs, Startup Bakery has launched Veterly in pre-order, its first spin-off startup – a solution that simplifies the veterinarian/client relationship to the benefit of our life companions – and opens the capital raising of 700,000 euros, 200,000 of which are provided by Startup Bakery, following the first 100,000 already invested to validate the initiative.

Download the full research

Milan, April 15, 2021 – Just over a year after its founding, Startup Bakery – the Italian startup studio specializing in sustainable B2B SaaS solutions supported by elements of artificial intelligence – is launching in pre-order Veterly, its first spin-off startup, a solution aimed at simplifying the veterinarian-client relationship for the benefit of animal health, and opens the capital raising of 700,000 euros in its favor.

“Digital transformation is a process that to a more or less visible extent is involving almost all companies in any sector, and even some traditionally less ‘technological’ professions are now facing an inevitable change, also due to the difficult situation caused by the ongoing pandemic and changes in user habits – commented Alessandro Arrigo, CEO of Startup Bakery – One of these is undoubtedly that of the veterinarian, the specialist in caring for pets, who, in recent years, has found themselves facing an increasingly demanding clientele active on peer-to-peer communication systems, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or Messenger, to the detriment of the quality of their work.” 

According to the recent research conducted by the Studio “Digitizing the veterinarian-client relationship” (abstract below*)  on a selected sample of respondents, today the relationship between veterinarians and animal owners shows several points of suffering. On one hand, in fact, veterinarians report an information overload in their relationship with animal owners: emails, phone calls, and messaging invade the doctors' days without limits on timing, causing them to work less and worse to meet every type of request, and more than half of veterinarians consider receiving photos and videos on WhatsApp “a problem.” 59.5% wish for a reduction in time spent responding to client requests on communication channels, and 81% would like their professional value to be recognized even in this type of “extra” activity.

Animal owners, on the other hand, are increasingly inclined to use technological solutions: almost 90% are interested in receiving exam reports via App, while 68% would like to be able to request an opinion on symptoms and issues regarding their animal by sending photos/videos. And among those living in large cities and owning more than one animal, interest in innovative solutions is growing.

“Many of these problems can be solved by adopting technological solutions built on real needs, which is what we have been working on for the past 6 months, investing as a Studio the first 100,000 euros in Veterly and working personally on it – adds Alessandro Arrigo – The survey represents just one of the tools that our Startup Studio has conducted to validate the idea of the first startup Veterly, which is led by a senior figure from the digital landscape and a well-known entrepreneur in the ‘pet care’ sector, Annalisa Mantovanelli, as co-founder. The capital increase has been approved because Veterly has exceeded the validation threshold in terms of pre-orders collected from veterinarians, over 100 in less than 1 month, eager to use the initiative. This convinced us, as Startup Bakery, to follow our initial investment with an additional 200,000 of the 700,000 euro final target.”  

Veterly intends to accompany the digital transformation of the veterinarian-client relationship in the most natural way possible to benefit the health of animals. Improving the professional condition of those who perform activities of high capital intensity is also one of the SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations as a strategy “to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all” and more precisely number 8, target 8.2 which calls to “achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation, focusing on sectors with high added value and high labor intensity.” 

“Veterly comes after a detailed analysis and validation work conducted side by side with Startup Bakery and a selected group of veterinarians and their ambulatories and clinics. We look forward to starting with the platform – added Annalisa Mantovanelli – The many pre-orders that have already come in, just a few days after the website veterly.com, confirm the quality of the work carried out in conjunction with the entire Studio team, making us particularly satisfied and confident in the next steps.”

The process of creating the first startup, which lasted 9 months, has indeed surpassed the first macro phases of the “recipe” of the Bakery: 

  • the PICK, which ranges from selecting the business idea to engaging and testing with real clients, leading to the selection of co-founders, the Cloud&AI specialist team, industrial partners, and investors functional to the project's later phases;

  • the MIX, which includes business validation, consolidation of the co-founder's figure, development of the first prototype with the CEO and team, involvement of further potential clients, and validation of the startup from a managerial, commercial, and fundraising perspective.

Today it prepares, through pre-order and capital raising, to face the subsequent, BAKE and SERVE, i.e., from MVP to exit with the industrial partner.

More information on Startup Bakery's investment model can be found at this link.

*The research: “Digitizing the veterinarian-client relationship”

TIME

On average, veterinarians manage to complete 8 to 12 visits a day for a maximum of 30 minutes each, which translates into a paid work session of 4-6 hours. The remaining time is on average allocated to communication with clients (from 45 to 85 minutes) and handling logistical-administrative activities (just setting and managing appointments requires 20 to 40 minutes). 59.5% of veterinarians wish for a reduction in time spent addressing client requests on communication channels, and 81% would like their professional value to be recognized even in this type of “extra” activity. If it were to be reduced by even just 50%, indeed, the veterinarian would be able to see up to 2 more animals per day, increasing the availability of bookable slots for their clients (thus reducing clients' waiting times when booking).

MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS VIA WHATSAPP

More than one veterinarian in two considers receiving photos and videos on WhatsApp “a problem” (the percentage drops by 8 percentage points in the case of sending emails) that happens “daily” according to 56% and “weekly” for 32%. 

53% of veterinarians believe these practices are useful for diagnostic and monitoring purposes for the animal, while 72% believe they are useful for retaining clients.

TECH PET-OWNER

Animal owners are becoming increasingly inclined to use technological solutions: 59% have sent at least one photo or video to their veterinarian in the last year for medical advice. Among those who have done so at least once, the average is 7.5 times in a year. Almost 78% would like to continue doing so. Nearly 90% are interested in receiving exam reports via App.
Among those living in large cities and owning more than one animal, interest in innovative solutions is higher than average.

APPRECIATION

Although they are very well appreciated by their clients, with an average rating of 8.77 on a scale from 1 to 10, the frustration of veterinarians is growing as they do not see their professionalism and time recognized. Both figures consider punctuality and availability two important aspects that can be improved.

ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT

A varied use of fairly outdated management software (7% rely on DIY solutions, 14% do not use any), a habit of still using pen and paper, and a very low level of technological integration characterize a profession pursued more out of passion than economic recognition (62% complain about non-payment by clients, 42% complain of having to sometimes prompt for it), often a source of disorganization and therefore stress.

One in two veterinarians (53%), moreover, declares to do everything by themselves without colleagues or support to share part of the administrative burden.

PAYMENTS

On average, the sample of veterinarians claims not to receive payment for about 5% of the services provided. Delays in payments for fees, on the other hand, is an issue affecting 9% of services. Only 8.3% say they have never received late payments. A large majority desires solutions for immediate payment collection (66%) or at least to automate sending reminders (86%). 

Startup Bakery

Startup Bakery is the Italian startup studio founded by Alessandro Arrigo and Angelo Cavallini in February 2020 with the goal of creating sustainable B2B SaaS companies with a strong component of artificial intelligence and enabling founders, companies, and professional investors to express their potential. 

The Studio guarantees the serial application of tools, skills, and methodologies already present in the team and supports the co-founder in all stages, from fundraising to exit, making them increasingly independent over time. Thanks to a proprietary algorithm, it can count on advanced capabilities for collecting and processing market data to identify niches of interest to target while the cyclical validation of launched projects is ensured by applying the lean method. 

The user-centered Interaction Design approach guaranteed by the know-how of Donux, a UX/UI agency spun off from Startup Bakery, finally offers simple and effective user experiences. 

Startup Bakery offers industrial partners a new way to conduct open innovation by entering the capital of new startups and progressively accompanying them in their development until acquiring them. 

The “Lab” SBs, operational companies in the group, are tasked with financially supporting spin-off initiatives in the pre-seed and seed phases (in co-investment), as well as building their core teams (HR). 

By the end of November, Startup Bakery closed a capital increase of €750,000. In October 2020, it spun off its first startup Veterly and in April 2021 opened capital raising of €700,000 in its favor. 

Media contacts 

Serena Orizi
PR and Media Relations, Startup Bakery
+39 (320) 420-5558 | 
serenaorizi@gmail.com 
skype: soloori

We build innovative startups

Startup Bakery, the Italian startup studio specializing in building B2B SaaS companies, leveraging Artificial Intelligence.

From today also in your company!

We build innovative startups

Startup Bakery, the Italian startup studio specializing in building B2B SaaS companies, leveraging Artificial Intelligence.

From today also in your company!

We build innovative startups

Startup Bakery, the Italian startup studio specializing in building B2B SaaS companies, leveraging Artificial Intelligence.

From today also in your company!

We build innovative startups

Startup Bakery, the Italian startup studio specializing in building B2B SaaS companies, leveraging Artificial Intelligence.

From today also in your company!

Startup Bakery - Italian startup studio

Startup Bakery srl
Via Carlo Farini, 5 20154 Milan (MI) – Italy
Tax Code/VAT 11196110966 | REA MI – 2585913

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English (United States)
Startup Bakery - Italian startup studio

Startup Bakery srl
Via Carlo Farini, 5 20154 Milan (MI) – Italy
Tax Code/VAT 11196110966 | REA MI – 2585913

LinkedIn | Facebook
© All rights reserved | Privacy Policy

English (United States)
Startup Bakery - Italian startup studio

Startup Bakery srl
Via Carlo Farini, 5 20154 Milan (MI) – Italy
Tax Code/VAT 11196110966 | REA MI – 2585913

LinkedIn | Facebook
© All rights reserved | Privacy Policy

English (United States)
Startup Bakery - Italian startup studio

Startup Bakery srl
Via Carlo Farini, 5 20154 Milan (MI) – Italy
Tax Code/VAT 11196110966 | REA MI – 2585913

LinkedIn | Facebook
© All rights reserved | Privacy Policy

English (United States)