Led by Chirate Ventures, the round also saw participation from Sauce.vc, angel investors as well as venture debt firms Trifecta Capital and Stride Ventures

The startup plans to utilise the capital to open nine new clinics across Bengaluru by 2026, expand operations to new cities and launch new offerings

Founded in 2024, Dr. Paws currently operates three veterinary clinics across Bengaluru, and claims to have so far completed more than 30,000 appointments and 800+ surgeries

Veterinary clinic chain Dr. Paws has raised INR 29.3 Cr ($3.3 Mn), in a mix of debt and equity, in its Pre-Series A round led by Chiratae Ventures.

The round also saw participation from existing backer Sauce.vc and other angel investors. The financing portion was raised from venture debt firms Trifecta Capital and Stride Ventures.

The startup plans to utilise the capital to open nine new clinics across Bengaluru by 2026 and launch operations in new cities, including Hyderabad and Pune. A portion of the capital will also be deployed to launch at-home veterinary services and private labels for functional treats, supplements and pet foods.

In a statement, the company also said that the fresh proceeds will be used to enhance its tech stack and AI capabilities and strengthen training and upskilling initiatives for veterinary teams.

“… With this funding we’re excited to double-down on our clinic growth and enter new business lines. Our goal to make pet care friendlier, easier and more empathetic will continue to guide everything we do,” said Dr. Paws cofounder Udit Gadkary.

Founded in 2024 by Gadkary and Rakesh Santhapur, Dr. Paws currently operates three veterinary clinics across Bengaluru, with another two under construction. It claims to have so far completed more than 30,000 appointments and 800+ surgeries.

Prior to this in November last year, Dr. Paws raised INR 7.8 Cr in its seed round led by Sauce.vc and others.

The fundraise comes at a time when an increasing number of Indians are adopting pets and caring for them. As a result, the homegrown pet care industry has been on an upswing and is projected to become a $7 Bn (around INR 6,000 Cr) opportunity by fiscal 2027-28 (FY28).

On the back of this, more than 500 pet care startups, from Heads Up For Tails to Drools, have emerged in the country over the past decade. These new-age tech ventures have raised nearly $130 Mn in funding to date.