This week, Newzchain Exclusive brings you another inspiring startup that deserves attention.
As pet ownership continues to rise globally, so do the challenges in accessing timely and affordable veterinary care. According to a report, the U.S. alone may face a shortage of up to 24,000 veterinarians by 2030, while pet healthcare costs have surged by 6.4% in just one year.
In India, the pet care industry is booming, with an estimated worth of $900 million and an annual growth rate of 19%. Yet, millions of pets still lack access to adequate health services.
Amid this pressing landscape, Chennai-based startup Mimi BowBow is revolutionizing pet healthcare with cutting-edge AI and IoT solutions. Their flagship innovation, Pet Scan Pro, empowers pet parents to detect early signs of illness using just a smartphone camera.
And to learn more and delve deeper into this transformative venture, we spoke with Dr. Ajmal Dastagir, Founder and Managing Director of Mimi BowBow.
Dr. Ajmal is a finance and strategy veteran with 23 years of expertise in treasury, corporate restructuring, and international fund management. A former Vice President at Kotak Mahindra Bank, he also held senior roles at Standard Chartered and HSBC before turning entrepreneur. Also, he holds a Doctorate in Finance and Investment Banking from West Coast University, USA, and is an XLRI Jamshedpur alumnus.
How Mimi BowBow is Changing the Pet Care Game
Mimi BowBow, India's first pet health startup, was established in 2018 by John Paul and Dr. Ajmal Dastagir in Chennai, India. "Mimi BowBow" is the name they chose to reflect their love for pets, where "Mimi" symbolizes cats and "BowBow" symbolizes dogs.
Originally a webshop for pet food and pet care products, Mimi BowBow has evolved to be a leader in AI-based pet diagnosis and IoT-based pet care solutions.
Its central innovation is Pet Scan Pro, an innovative device that allows pet owners to detect early disease markers with nothing more than a smartphone. With a library of 2.5 million live MRI scans, it diagnoses over 40 medical conditions with a 95% success rate.
“The physical movement of pets from homes to veterinary clinics is a big challenge for pet parents. With Pet Scan Pro, we’ve made diagnostics accessible and convenient at home,” says Dr. Ajmal.
In addition to Pet Scan Pro, Mimi BowBow has also developed a range of IoT-based products like the Pet Bot Smart Feeder to remotely feed and see live through video, smart auto-cleaning litter boxes, and bird feeding bots. These products offer portion-controlled nutrition and hygiene even when pet parents are not present.
Although it's bootstrapped, the company has done incredible things, developing India's first AI-powered health scan for pets and reaching 36 pet care products, from grain-free food to FDA-approved toys.
“We wanted to build a system where pet parents could take control of their pet’s health, detect issues early, and connect with veterinarians more smartly,” explains Dr. Ajmal Dastagir, Founder and Managing Director.
The 7-Year Journey to Perfection
Building a revolutionary AI-powered pet health diagnostic tool was no small feat for Mimi BowBow. When asked about the challenges, Dr. Ajmal candidly shared the hurdles they faced in developing Pet Scan Pro:
"The biggest challenge was to achieve a 90%+ accuracy in our disease diagnosis for Pet Scan Pro. Collecting over 2.5 million real scan data and then building an AI architecture around it was the toughest job and it took us 7 years."
This commitment to reliability and accuracy speaks volumes for Mimi BowBow's intention to deliver pet parents a tool that they can rely on. Its massive database and advanced AI framework make Pet Scan Pro capable of detecting more than 40 medical conditions with outstanding accuracy, and that is a game-changer in pet health.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ajmal envisions Pet Scan Pro becoming an essential tool for pet owners worldwide.
"We believe Pet Scan Pro is a must-have for every pet parent who thinks their pet is dear to them," he stated.
"It's a life-saving technology where you get to catch the medical condition well in time, that's what will save a life rather than getting too late and out of human control."
Closing the Gap
The path from idea to marketable product shines a light on the determination and creativity leading to Mimi BowBow's triumph. By combining AI-based diagnostics with intelligent IoT systems, the organization is pushing veterinary care closer to being more accessible and preventive, filling important gaps in timely medicine and overall health of pets.
As the pet care market continues to grow, Mimi BowBow's emphasis on advanced technology puts it at the vanguard of the pet health tech revolution. With products such as Pet Scan Pro and IoT-enabled devices, the company is revolutionizing proactive pet healthcare.
For aspiring entrepreneurs who may be thinking of solving a real-world problem, Dr. Ajmal Dastagir’s advice is both motivational and practical:
"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams, and the biggest risk you can ever take is not taking any risk at all. It’s the only strategy that’s sure to fail."
His odyssey—from the realization of a crucial gap in the healthcare of pets to creating India's first AI-based pet health scanner—is a tribute to the force of unafraid decisions and relentless determination in crafting change-making solutions.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
