What Barkibu does

Barkibu is a digital-first pet health insurance and veterinary care platform headquartered in Galicia, Spain, with operations in Spain and Germany. Founded in 2015, the company began as a telemedicine network connecting pet owners to approximately 15,000 veterinarians globally and has since evolved into an InsurTech provider offering subscription-based health insurance for dogs and cats. The core product reimburses 80% of covered veterinary expenses (illness, accidents, diagnostics, hospitalization, surgery, medication) up to a €3,000 annual limit at any clinic in Spain and across the EU/UK, with no traditional deductible — only a fixed 20% copay. Pricing starts at approximately €20/month and is personalized by pet species, breed, sex, and age, with a €25 multi-pet discount.

The technology stack combines an AI-powered virtual veterinary assistant (Bai, launched in 2023 on WhatsApp), a fully paperless mobile app (iOS and Android) for quotes, policy management, and claims submission, a Visa prepaid card issued by Barkibu Germany GmbH for direct veterinary payments (with Apple Pay support), and automated underwriting and claims-validation systems. Insurance capacity is provided by Great Lakes Insurance SE (Germany) and Nordic Guarantee (Sweden), while Barkibu Germany GmbH acts as the licensed intermediary for European distribution.

The business model is subscription-based pet insurance distributed entirely through self-serve digital channels (web quote engine and mobile apps), with no traditional broker or call-center sales layer. Customer acquisition is product-led, supplemented by a content-marketing blog targeting organic SEO, a referral program (€25 per successful referral), and an affiliate program activated after ten referrals. The company serves individual pet owners in Spain and Germany (125,000+ insured pets projected for 2025) and has secured B Corp certification and the Best Startup 2025 award from BStartup and Esade Alumni.

Name

Barkibu

Legal name

Barkibu S.L.

Website

https://barkibu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Barkibu is a digital-first pet health insurance platform serving individual dog and cat owners in Spain and Germany, offering subscription policies with 80% reimbursement, an AI veterinary assistant (Bai) on WhatsApp, and a Visa prepaid card for direct clinic payments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Health Insurance

NAICS

Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers (524114), Veterinary Services (54194), Veterinary Services (541940)

SIC

Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Pet Insurance (FSAJAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pet Insurance (FSAJAMAO), Veterinary Billing, Payments & Insurance Claims Software (HLAMAMAD), Revenue Cycle, Payments & Financing (Payments, Subscriptions, BNPL, Claims Support) (HLAMAGAE)

Keywords

• Pet health insurance
• Veterinary insurance
• AI veterinary assistant
• Pet telemedicine
• Pet wellness plans

Headquarters

HQ city

A Coruña

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Pet Health Insurance Subscriptions: Barkibu generates revenue primarily through recurring subscription fees for pet health insurance policies. Pricing is personalized based on pet species, breed, sex, and age, with monthly and annual billing options. Starting prices are approximately €20/month. The insurance covers veterinary consultations, diagnostics, medication, hospitalization, surgeries, and accidents with an 80% reimbursement rate and a €3,000 annual coverage limit. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled, with the policyholder's 20% copay being the primary revenue share. Additionally, a preventive care plan (complementario) is offered as an add-on to the health insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Barkibu sells digital pet health insurance subscriptions for dogs and cats, offering up to 80% reimbursement of veterinary costs with lifetime coverage and freedom to choose any clinic. The offering is enhanced by Bai, an AI-powered virtual veterinary assistant available via WhatsApp for symptom pre-screening, and a Barkibu Visa prepaid card to cover veterinary expenses.

Product overview

Barkibu is a digital pet health insurance platform offering a core veterinary insurance product (Seguro Veterinario) with 80% reimbursement up to €3,000 annually, valid at any clinic across Spain and the EU. The portfolio includes specialized variants for puppies, dogs, and cats, all bundled with a Prevention Plan covering vaccines and annual check-ups. The platform differentiates through Bai, an AI-powered virtual veterinary assistant launched in 2023 accessible via WhatsApp, and a Visa prepaid card for direct veterinary payment with integrated cashback and donation rewards. Supplementary offerings include a referral program and a donations loyalty program for cardholders. All insurance products are underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance SE and distributed through Barkibu Germany GmbH.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bai: AI-powered virtual veterinary assistant launched in 2023 that helps pet owners with questions about health, behavior, training, medicines and more through WhatsApp.

Products and services

• Barkibu Veterinary Insurance Subscription-based pet health insurance for dogs and cats that reimburses up to 80% of veterinary costs, including accidents, illnesses, and preventive care, with lifetime coverage and no clinic network restrictions. Targeted at individual pet owners in Spain and Germany.
• Bai AI Virtual Veterinary Assistant Standalone AI-powered virtual veterinary assistant available through WhatsApp that helps pet owners evaluate pet symptoms and navigate care options. Available to any pet owner regardless of insurance status.
• Barkibu Visa Prepaid Card Visa prepaid card linked to the Barkibu insurance policy that allows policyholders to pay veterinary expenses directly while the insurer settles the covered amount with the clinic.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of reimbursements processed in under a week; average response time 2-3 business days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Great Lakes Insurance SEcoreOthersGreat Lakes Insurance SE is the insurance underwriter for Barkibu's pet health insurance policies. Based in Munich, Germany, it operates under free provision of services with registration number L0095 at the Spanish DGSFP (Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones). Great Lakes Insurance SE is the entity ultimately responsible for policy coverage and claims payment.
• Nordic Guarantee FörsäkringsaktiebolagsupportingOthersNordic Guarantee Försäkringsaktiebolag, based in Kista Science Tower, Stockholm, Sweden, operates as the insurance carrier for Barkibu's pet insurance products under free provision of services, registered at DGSFP with key L1337. The company provides the underlying insurance capacity for Barkibu's policies distributed in Spain.
• CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial)supportingOthersBarkibu has received support from CDTI, a Spanish public entity that evaluates and supports innovative technology projects. Barkibu's website footer includes CDTI and European Union branding, indicating CDTI co-funding for the company's R&D and innovation activities.
• Barkibu Pets Agencia de Seguros S.L.U.coreTechnology or IntegrationA wholly-owned subsidiary of Barkibu S.L. that handles insurance brokerage and claims management for Barkibu's insurance products. User personal data is shared with this entity when a user purchases an insurance product, facilitating the contracting and claims processes.
• 15,000-Veterinarian NetworkcoreOthersBarkibu established a network of approximately 15,000 veterinarians in 2015 providing telemedicine consultations worldwide. This network underpins the company's AI-powered veterinary consultation services and serves as a key ecosystem asset for delivering telehealth and virtual veterinary care.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Trupanion: Trupanion is a direct peer: a digital-first pet medical insurance provider offering direct-to-veterinary-bill reimbursement. Operates as a vertically integrated underwriter with proprietary software (built into vet clinics), serving the same core use case as Barkibu with a similar technology-led, paperless claims experience.
• ManyPets: ManyPets (formerly Bought By Many) is a UK-based InsurTech challenger offering digital pet insurance with subscription pricing and fast claims. Directly comparable to Barkibu as a digitally native, multi-market European pet insurer targeting pet owners via online channels.
• Embrace Pet Insurance: Embrace is a US pet health and wellness insurer offering accident/illness coverage with customizable deductibles and wellness rewards. Comparable to Barkibu in product structure (reimbursement model, lifetime coverage, wellness add-ons) and target segment (pet owner D2C).
• Healthy Paws Pet Insurance: Healthy Paws offers pet health insurance with unlimited lifetime benefits and 80%+ reimbursement, marketed heavily online. Closely comparable to Barkibu's coverage structure (high reimbursement, no caps, digital claims), serving the same value-conscious D2C pet owner demographic.
• Pets Best Pet Insurance: Pets Best provides pet accident, illness, and wellness insurance with online quoting and electronic claims. Comparable to Barkibu as a digitally distributed pet health insurer with multi-plan tiers (similar to Barkibu's standard + prevention plan structure).
• FIGO Pet Insurance: FIGO is a US pet insurance InsurTech offering cloud-based policies with app-driven claims and customizable coverage. Comparable to Barkibu as a tech-first pet insurer with strong mobile UX, reimbursement-based claims, and a focus on modernizing the pet insurance experience.

Broad incumbents

• Lemonade Pet: Lemonade is a broad AI-driven digital insurer that added pet insurance to its renters/home/auto portfolio. Comparable as a digital-native InsurTech using AI and behavioral economics to lower friction in insurance purchases, though pet is one product within a broader platform.
• Petplan: Petplan is one of the longest-established pet insurance providers (UK, US, Canada) with comprehensive accident/illness coverage. Comparable in core product offering (reimbursement-based pet health insurance) but operates as a broad incumbent with traditional distribution, contrasting with Barkibu's PLG/InsurTech approach.

Emerging players

• FirstVet: FirstVet is a European tele-veterinary service offering on-demand video consultations with licensed vets. Directly comparable to Barkibu's earlier telemedicine roots and complementary to its current AI assistant strategy; both target pet owners seeking digital-first veterinary guidance.
• Vetster: Vetster is an online veterinary marketplace connecting pet owners with veterinarians for telemedicine appointments. Comparable as a digital pet-health platform in the tele-vet space where Barkibu also operates (Bai assistant + 15K-vet network), though Vetster focuses on consultation booking rather than insurance distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/barkibu
• Xx.com/barkibu
• Facebookfacebook.com/barkibu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/barkibu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds11 records

Investors15 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Barkibu