What Fluent Pet does

FluentPet, operated as a brand under parent company CleverPet, designs and sells a hardware-based pet communication system built around recordable sound buttons organized on interlocking hexagonal tiles called HexTiles. The HexTiles draw on the Fitzgerald Key from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to give pets visual-spatial cues for word locations, with two product tiers: the Speak Up! System (entry-level buttons with top-facing speakers) and the Connect System (app-enabled with WiFi, high-fidelity base speaker, LED feedback, and push notifications). Kits range from a 2-button Tester Kit ($39) through 6- and 12-button bundles ($85–$295), supported by HexTile expansion accessories, a dedicated mobile app, and the PetCube video integration on Connect units.

The company monetizes primarily through one-time hardware sales (consumer and wholesale), complemented by paid training courses (Let's Get Them Pressing at $150, FluentPet Academy at $50) and a free Button Bootcamp bundled with each purchase. Go-to-market combines product-led DTC (fluent.pet e-commerce with quiz and custom kit builder), community-led growth through an 18,000+ member forum and How.TheyCanTalk Research initiative, and a wholesale program for global retailers. Target customers span dog and cat owners, multi-pet households, professional trainers, and reseller partners, served from a San Diego headquarters by a team of 11–50 employees with academic roots at UC San Diego and a Scientific Integrity Review Board chaired by UCSD and Salk Institute researchers.

Name

Fluent Pet

Legal name

FluentPet

Website

https://fluent.pet

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FluentPet designs and sells modular sound-button kits (HexTiles) that let dogs and cats communicate with their owners, serving pet owners, trainers, and wholesale resellers globally with both entry-level and app-enabled systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pet Communication Devices

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (33431)

SIC

Household Audio & Video Equipment (3651)

akta.pro primary industry

Remote Monitoring & Connected Pet Care (Wearables, IoT, Chronic Care Programs) (HLAMAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Assistive Hearing & Communication Access (Captioning, Hearing Support, Transcription) (EDAFAKAC)

Keywords

• Pet communication devices
• Animal AAC buttons
• Talking pet buttons
• Pet training hardware
• Smart pet soundboards

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales (Buttons, HexTiles, Kits): One-time purchase of physical products including communication buttons, HexTiles, starter kits, and expansion packs. Primary revenue driver with multiple product tiers from entry ($40 Tester Kit) to premium ($295 Key Vocab Connect Kit).
2. Training Courses and Education: FluentPet Academy offers structured courses: Button Bootcamp ($40), Let's Get Them Pressing ($150), and FluentPet Academy ($50). These courses guide users through teaching their pets to use buttons.
3. Wholesale/B2B: Wholesale program enables resellers and retailers to purchase and resell FluentPet products globally.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FluentPet designs, manufactures, and sells modular sound-button systems that enable dogs and cats to communicate with their owners by pressing recordable buttons organized on interlocking hexagonal tiles (HexTiles). Its two product lines are the entry-level Speak Up! system (loud, top-facing speaker buttons) and the app-enabled Connect system (WiFi base, push notifications, press tracking, and PetCube video integration). The company also offers paid training courses, an educational mobile app, and accessories.

Product overview

FluentPet offers a modular pet communication system centered on recordable sound buttons organized on hexagonal tiles. The product portfolio consists of two distinct button systems: the Speak Up! System (entry-level with loud, clear sound buttons) and the Connect System (app-enabled with WiFi, high-fidelity base speaker, LED feedback, and push notifications). Both systems use interlocking HexTiles (8" Compact and 12" FlexTile) as the organizing base. Kits range from the 2-button Tester Kit for cautious beginners through 6-button Get Started Kit and 12-button Key Vocab Kit, with Custom Kit Builder offering build-your-own options. Training is delivered through free Button Bootcamp, paid Let's Get Them Pressing course, and the broader FluentPet Academy platform. The Connect ecosystem includes a dedicated mobile app with press tracking, notifications, and PetCube video integration. Accessories include ideogram stickers, frame pieces, carriers, and bandanas. The company also operates an online community forum and Learning Center for ongoing education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Speak Up! System Beginner-friendly communication button system featuring recordable sound buttons with top-facing speakers that deliver loud, clear audio audible from the next room. Designed for pet learners new to button communication.
• Connect System App-enabled smart button system with WiFi connectivity, high-fidelity base speaker, LED button feedback, and push notifications. The most advanced system for tracking and monitoring pet communications remotely.
• Speak Up! Get Started Kit Entry-level kit containing 6 Speak Up! buttons, 3 HexTiles, 35 ideogram stickers, and 18 pre-installed batteries. Includes free Button Bootcamp training and community access. Available in Bold, Fire, Grey, and Beige color schemes.
• Speak Up! Key Vocab Kit Comprehensive kit with 12 Speak Up! buttons and 6 HexTiles for building a complete initial vocabulary system. Designed for committed button teachers ready to establish comprehensive communication.
• Speak Up! Tester Kit Minimal entry kit with 2 buttons and 2 HexTiles for testing button communication before committing. Ideal for hesitant learners or skeptical pet owners.
• Connect Get Started Kit Smart button kit including Connect Base, 6 Connect buttons, 3 HexTiles, 49 ideogram stickers, and USB charging cable. Enables app tracking, press notifications, and video integration with PetCube.
• Connect Key Vocab Kit Comprehensive Connect kit with Base, 12 Connect buttons, and 6 HexTiles for advanced app-enabled communication tracking.
• Talking Buttons Science Kit Educational kit featuring 2 Speak Up! buttons, 1 HexTile, and the All-Ages Talking Buttons Workbook. Designed for science-based exploration of button communication.
• Connect Base Speaker High-fidelity speaker base with one large speaker delivering superior audio quality compared to individual button speakers. Connects via WiFi to the FluentPet app for remote monitoring and press notifications.
• Button Bootcamp Free 30-minute interactive training session included with every FluentPet purchase. Provides button teaching basics with live Q&A and personalized action plan from an experienced FluentPet Guide.
• Let's Get Them Pressing Course 4-week hands-on course designed to help learners start pressing buttons in half the usual time. Includes 9 live recorded coaching sessions and interactive assignments.
• FluentPet Academy Comprehensive training platform offering science-based courses for teaching dogs and cats to communicate using buttons. Includes structured courses, expert insights, and real success strategies.
• All-Ages Talking Buttons Workbook Comprehensive workbook accompanying the Talking Buttons Science Kit for structured learning about button communication.
• 365-Day Success Guarantee Extended guarantee program available for purchase, providing peace of mind and return coverage for up to 365 days.
• Soundboard Carrier Portable carrying case for transporting FluentPet soundboard setups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Help dogs and cats learn to press buttons in half the usual time with Academy courses
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PetCubecoreTechnology or IntegrationFluentPet and PetCube partnered to bring live video to the FluentPet Connect App. PetCube cameras can link to Connect to capture and record button presses. Users can witness magical moments of their pets pressing buttons through the integrated video feature in the Connect app.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Fi: Smart GPS dog collar brand; competes in the connected pet hardware category with a focus on premium subscription-supported pet wearables for engaged owners.
• PetCube: Connected pet camera company that has integrated its cameras with FluentPet's Connect app; competes for share of the connected pet device wallet and overlaps in smart pet hardware customers.
• Furbo: Interactive pet camera with treat-tossing; overlaps with FluentPet's connected/AI-enabled pet hardware positioning and shares premium D2C pet owner customers.
• Wagz: Smart pet collar and health-monitoring startup; competes for the same connected-pet health/behavior data opportunity with an IoT collar platform.

Direct peers

• Hunger for Words: Founded by speech-language pathologist Christina Hunger (the original inspiration for FluentPet's button concept via her dog Stella), Hunger for Words sells competing pet talking button kits and learning resources directly to the same consumer base.

Broad incumbents

• Whistle (by Mars Petcare): Leading connected pet wearable/activity tracker brand under Mars Petcare; targets the same health-and-behavioral-insight pet owner segment with broader IoT/data scale.
• PetSafe: Large established pet product brand covering training, containment, and wellness; a potential wholesale partner and broader incumbent in adjacent pet-tech categories.
• Garmin (Pet Products): Garmin's Astro and Alpha GPS dog collar lines compete in connected pet hardware with deep R&D and global retail distribution; relevant for category benchmarks.

Others

• PRC-Saltillo: Leading manufacturer of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices for non-verbal humans; the technological lineage behind FluentPet's Fitzgerald-Key-inspired HexTile design.
• Rover: Large pet care services marketplace (boarding, walking, sitting); adjacent to FluentPet via the same engaged pet-owner customer base and potential channel for cross-promotion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FluentPet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Fluent Pet