The veterinary industry faces mounting pressure from increasing pet ownership – which grew 36% during COVID, an issue exacerbated by a growing shortage of UK-based Vets. Current software solutions are outdated and inefficient, with only 11% of UK vets satisfied with their PMS. Most vets spend 10-20 hours per week on administrative tasks that could be automated.

Ex-Boston Consulting Group Nicolò Frisiani and Matei Bjola were joined by ex-Meta Raul Lozano Martin to co-found a solution to the issue, in the shape of Lupa. Raul heard first-hand the problems faced within the veterinary industry through his sister who works as a Vet in Spain. The startup has assembled a world-class team to build and sell the platform, including engineers from Google, Amazon, and Palantir.

Nicolò Frisiani, Co-Founder and CEO at Lupa, said: "The veterinary industry desperately needs modern software solutions that can help practices handle growing demand while reducing administrative burden on overworked staff. We've built Lupa from the ground up to be AI-native, making it dramatically more efficient and easier to use than legacy systems that are holding practices back. Our early results show that practices can save significant time on administration while providing better care."

Lupa is reimagining practice management software (PMS) for veterinary clinics with an intuitive, AI-powered Veterinary Operating System that automates administrative tasks. The key pillars of the platform are:

• AI Co-Pilot: an intelligent assistant, in the shape of Jerry the animated mouse, provides diagnostic suggestions, operational insights, and automated client communications, freeing up valuable time for veterinarians
• Lupa Notes: an AI-powered scribe that automates clinical documentation, saving hours weekly while ensuring compliance. Offered as a standalone product, it serves as a bridge to adopting Lupa OS
• Pet Parent Interfaces: user-friendly apps and portals that streamline booking, payment, and communication for enhanced pet owner engagement

Thanks to its platform – which also includes AI-enabled data migration, standardised templates, and both clinical and non-clinical automation – Lupa can save vets up to 10 hours per week on administrative tasks while providing clinical decision support. Early trials show the platform is 20 times faster to learn than legacy systems.

Importantly, the AI Co-Pilot offers suggestions and possibilities based on the conversation between the vet and the customer to streamline and speed up the diagnosis process. It is not intended or designed to make the overall decision on treatment, which will always ultimately lie with the qualified veterinarian.

The company has already onboarded multiple clinics and secured an exclusive partnership agreement with Vetsure, the UK's largest vet buying group with over 1,200 member clinics. Within the first month of this agreement, 12 new clinics entered final negotiation stages with Lupa. The platform was also recently ranked #1 Best New Veterinary PMS in the State of the PMS Report, outperforming over 100 evaluated solutions.

Sam Endacott, Partner at Firstminute Capital, said: "Lupa’s vision of unifying veterinary workflows into a single, powerful platform addresses a critical industry need. With pet ownership at record highs and a growing vet shortage, the timing couldn't be better for a modern, AI-native solution. We're thrilled to be backing this exceptional team on their journey to transform veterinary care."

The company aims to expand beyond pure practice management software to become an all-in-one ecosystem connecting veterinary practices with pet owners. With its comprehensive mobile application, Lupa plans to help vets monetise pet owners in ways that they never managed to in the past, helping them tap into the £320 billion global pet spend market outside of core veterinary services and products.

One user of Lupa is a Head Vet based in Ipswich, they say: “This is an incredible tool. I save hours of work a week, never overrun and for the first time I am able to finish work at 5PM.”

Funds raised will go towards commercial efforts, allowing Lupa to expand and onboard more veterinary providers across the country.

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