Your Source for Venture Capital and Private Equity Financings

Venture Capital News: Whistle Secures $6M in Series A

2013-06-05
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, World's first technology company dedicated to helping pets live longer and healthier lives, announced a $6 Million Series A funding led by DCM Ventures.
Whistle (www.whistle.com), the world's first technology company dedicated to helping pets live longer and healthier lives, today debuted its flagship product, a device that connects to a dog's collar to measure key health indicators including activity and rest. Information collected from Whistle devices can be shared by pet owners with their veterinarians and will be accessible to researchers around the world, creating the largest comparative database on real-world daily activity that will be used to extend the lifespan of every dog. Pet owners can order Whistle devices for $99.95 at www.whistle.com.

"Whistle started from our love of dogs. We're introducing a window into their lives, creating a way for owners and vets to take a preventative approach to our pets' health," said Ben Jacobs, CEO and Co-Founder of Whistle. "To provide the best care requires information on day-to-day needs and long-term trends, which until now, have never been available."

The Whistle intelligent monitoring system features a sleek, wireless device that attaches directly to a dog's collar and a mobile application that allows pet owners to know when their dog is walking, playing or resting. Whistle provides recommendations to optimize the health of dogs based on breed, age and weight, alerting pet owners to key developments or changes in behavior, so they can share information with their vets.

"Across everything we build, our focus is providing a layer of sophisticated analytics to make sense of crucial data," said Steven Eidelman, Head of Product and Co-Founder of Whistle. "Integrating that intelligence with a simple, fun user experience enriches the pet-owner relationship and offers a new form of communication for owners and vets."

The company also announced a $6 Million Series A funding from DCM Ventures, other leading venture firms and executives across the pet, retail, and technology industries. DCM General Partner Jason Krikorian, Co-Founder of consumer electronics pioneer Sling Media, joined Whistle's Board of Directors. "There are more dogs than children in the U.S., and we spend over $50B on pets every year," Krikorian commented. "Bringing a suite of smart products to the space is an extraordinary opportunity."

Whistle has established relationships with leading academic institutions, including University of Pennsylvania's renowned Veterinary Clinical Investigations Center, to conduct studies employing Whistle's devices and data. The company also has established an advisory council of vets across the country from private practitioners to cardiology professors, who collaborate and communicate with the broader medical and research community. All Whistle devices connect to a first-of-its-kind database that will establish the definitive set of standards on dog health. This information will open essential insights in veterinary research that will radically impact pet healthcare and the option for preventative care for animals.

Whistle can be ordered today for $99.95 at www.whistle.com. There are no additional service fees or subscriptions for the device or companion application. Devices will ship to dog owners this summer.
For more information and to order, please visit: www.whistle.com.

About Whistle
Whistle is creating a new standard for pet health and wellness by providing pet owners with a window into their dog's life. Through intuitive devices and a large comparative database of pet health information, Whistle is fueling new groundbreaking insights to transform veterinary research and preventative care. The San Francisco based company is led by animal-loving technologists, Ben Jacobs and Steven Eidelman and backed by DCM Ventures among other investors. For more information about Whistle visit www.whistle.com or www.facebook.com/whistlelabs or www.twitter.com/whistlelabs.
(c) by Massinvestor, Inc. For contact info, please check out our about page.
>> Click here for in-depth research on 9,000+ startups and 5,000+ VC investors