Goa Angel Network's Mission to Empower Women and Innovate the pet care industry

• Could you elaborate on the Goa Angel Network (GAN)mission to empower women in the Startup ecosystem and what inspired this focus?

Dr.Madhurita Gupta: Goa Angel Network was started with a mission to support entrepreneurs in the Pet care Industry by not only providing them with Investments but also overall Strategic Alliances, Distribution Channels, Networking, Mentoring & Export support to upskill them in a big way so that their brands not only get recognised worldwide but also gets the required traction business-wise, GAN has proven crucial for navigating the Pet Care business in India and abroad 

GAN stands as the only organisation dedicated to Pet Care startups and holds the maximum number of Pet Care startups under their portfolio from diverse domains be it leading made-in-India Pet Food brands, Pet Grooming, Pet Services, or Pet Tech nationally and internationally, they stand out.

GAN has positioned itself as a leading player in the pet care space with strategic mergers and acquisitions (M&A). We have a robust portfolio of well-known pet care brands and continue to expand their influence in the Indian & International markets.

The pet-care industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, buoyed by a rise in pet ownership worldwide with increased demand for pet-related products and services. Major players in this burgeoning market include Vc’s, Angel Networks & Investment firms, which have been quick to identify growth opportunities within the sector we all have seen the investments in this booming segment in India, the US & Middle Eastern countries, With their ability to provide capital and these firms play a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of pet care services and innovation but this segment needs more than the infusion of money and most of the Investment firms were lacking the domain expertise in this particular field and me being the veteran in this industry for more than past 2 decades, It came easy to leverage my connects to not only guide the Pet Care Startups but to use my resources for business enhancement and GAN had significant impacts, ranging from the expansion of local veterinary services to the global scale-up of pet technology companies.

The pet care industry has seen significant consolidation and innovation driven by top private equity firms. GAN has not only capitalised on the industry's growth but has also introduced strategic initiatives to enhance its portfolio companies' market presence.

• Trust, loyalty, and integrity are at the heart of GAN’s strategy. Can you share how these values have shaped your investment approach and success stories?

Dr.Madhurita Gupta: GAN portfolio company, Mypet OPD, A tech-enabled platform for Veterinary tele consultations and doorstep delivery of services through Vet on Wheels, Clinic on Wheels, and Bikes has recently raised good capital from Middle East-based Angels which makes India an ideal ground for investments in Pet Category and at GAN we take pride in supporting the Start-ups which have strong  passionate founders with domain expertise in the concerned field to avoid any incidences which can break the trust in the brand

• Why does GAN prefer to invest in companies in India, and how does this regional focus benefit investors and startups?

Dr.Madhurita Gupta: GAN Investment Opportunities and Trends, GAN invests in  startups based out of India to support and back the Made in India brands, and since India has the largest population of Pet Dogs, volume is the key and that is the reason many foreign brands want to penetrate Indian Market but now we have our national brands like Goofy Tails, Freshwoof, Papa Pawsome, Wild Prey, Blep, Fond, Mobipetz & Teddys who are disrupting the Pet market with array of products in best quality yet innovative and affordable

The pet care industry has witnessed robust investments focusing on premium pet services and products. As the sector grows, investors keenly observe the market for opportunities that promise substantial returns. Firms are investing in areas with high-potential pet technology and innovative health solutions. GAN has taken an active interest in pet technology companies, recognising the integration of digital advances as a significant drawcard. For instance, investments in firms like Mypet OPD, Clinic on Wheels & Pet Matrimony highlight this shift towards tech-enabled pet care solutions. The appeal is clear: technology promises to bring innovation that answers the increasing demand for quality pet care.

In the premium product space Mergers & Acquisitions are a clear indicator of the sector's buoyancy.

• GAN prides itself on being more than just a source of capital. Can you explain how GAN assists entrepreneurs at key inflection points in their business journey?

Dr.Madhurita Gupta: GAN works closely with entrepreneurs and helps them set the ideal Growth Strategies for Pet Food brands to thrive in the competitive pet food market, as they must explore diversification and innovation. This could involve developing premium offerings, enhancing nutritional value through natural ingredients, and branching into complementary product lines such as treats and grooming supplies. Guiding them in Branding, marketing, Product development, Online -Offline onboarding in various channels, Distribution Setups, and most importantly exports.

GAN  works to establish partnerships with existing pet care brands of innovative services which are common strategies employed to strengthen customer relations of the brands. These strategic alliances prove crucial to boost the business.

GAN creates strategic alliances and partnerships between the Pet Care startups under their portfolio to help the larger Pet Care Ecosystem support each other symbiotically and it has worked significantly as founders support, help, and provide referrals to each other in the business

• How does GAN ensure active engagement with its portfolio companies during the early stages of their development?

Dr.Madhurita Gupta: GAN is pivotal in nurturing early-stage startups with high growth potential, fuelling economic progress, and reshaping industries. We have a team of experts in each field who engage with the Pet Care Startups actively and work with them in the brand building right from the beginning from branding, marketing, SEO, Distribution, Media & PR in larger Pet Expos and Pet Industry Dialogues to bring the brands in the center of the media and gives complete hand holding support to increase the traction, sales & institutional along with the tie ups in the industry Venture capital firms are instrumental in this ecosystem for identifying lucrative investment opportunities for pet care startups and managing investment funds for start-ups.

I on a personal level am associated with premium brands like Zigly and handle International affairs, Mergers & Acquisitions which are crucial for Pet care Startups who are not only seeking Investments but Acquisitions too.

We handle the entire portfolio from the beginning to acquisitions hand in hand guiding them on various aspects of Investments, Share Holdings & Partnerships 

• What are some of the unique challenges and opportunities that come with investing in multi-class companies, and how does GAN navigate these?

Dr.Madhurita Gupta: GAN is a sector-agnostic platform and believes strongly in gender equality although we have portfolios from diverse domains from Health tech, Agritech, Medical tech, D2C, and Clean Tech we take extreme pride in being the industry leader in the Pet Industry being the domain expert we are adding more value to the startups under this category. We have Investors from around the world who are investing in diverse domains and we completely support that, however, we have a strong policy to support and back women entrepreneurs with MVP and traction as we believe small support goes a big way.

• GAN invests in futuristic technologies. Can you highlight some areas or innovations,  GAN is particularly excited about and why?

Dr.Madhurita Gupta: GAN is very particular with the startups it associates right from futuristic Pet Tech, Artificial Intelligence, Smart Pet Wearables, Veterinary Telemedicine Apps, and AI in Dog Training all providing cutting-edge technologies in veterinary healthcare and services in India & abroad, Companies like Vetwork, is an AI-driven personal pet assistant, nutritionist, and trainer that can revolutionise the way Pet Care business operates and interacts with pet owners. By leveraging advanced AI technology, You can streamline your operations, reduce costs, and enhance the pet care experience for your clients. Fond provides remarkable futuristic technologies and is a Tech platform for online booking of veterinary consultations, Apps like Pet Matrimony, MPR, My Pets Records, and Pet Walk Dating are the future forward for Pet owners who want everything easy at their doorstep or on a click of a phone

• With 100+ investors on board and over 100 startups mentored, what are some of the most significant impacts GAN has made on the startup ecosystem in India, and what are your future goals for growth and expansion?

Dr.Madhurita Gupta: GAN today is the leading breeding ground for Pet Care Startups from India and for International Pet Care and Veterinary companies who want to enter the Indian Market whether it is in the companion animal or Dairy sector, GAN is leading in all from Dairy Tech in DairyFi, MyAnIML in AI from USA, MPR in Managing new age Pet Data in apps, Vetwork in AI at UAE & MENA countries, Mypet OPD App, Petsfolio  App for Dog Training, Petfolk App for Booking doorstep Pet Grooming, Mobipetz as Marketplace of Pet Products and services in Singapore.

Apart from this GAN is helping the new age companies in diverse categories of vegan Pet food like Freshwoof, Goofy Tails in Fresh, Freeze dried Pet food, Wild Prey in alternative proteins sourced from Spirulina & Tilapia Fish, Papa Pawsome in Grooming Products, Mypetz APP in booking Veterinary Services and Waago Foods and now with Teddys which is going to be a real game changer in Pet Food category to provide holistic and balanced nutrition to pets.

I am sure under my leadership GAN has emerged as a leader in Indian Pet Market and transforming this unorganised sector one by one through various companies I hold with advisory and mentorship committed to innovating the pet care market and becoming a global leader in this category is the vision and with many International tie-ups in the pipeline we are right at the time to cater the pet care segment through our expertise, overall decades of experience and we take great pride in to be known as the leading organisation in Pet Industry.