CleverPet
CleverPet, operating as FluentPet, designs and sells hardware-based pet communication systems—recordable sound buttons organized in modular HexTiles—that enable dogs and cats to communicate with owners, sold direct-to-consumer worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CleverPet does
CleverPet Inc., operating commercially as FluentPet, is a San Diego-based hardware and software company founded in 2014 that designs and sells pet communication systems. The company's core technology centers on recordable sound buttons organized in a modular HexTiles system that allows dogs and cats to communicate with their owners via programmable sound playback. The product line includes Speak Up! Button Kits, Connect Button Kits, and the modular HexTiles expansion system, with the FluentPet Connect platform (launched 2026) integrating a companion mobile application for push notifications and remote button-press monitoring.
FluentPet operates a direct-to-consumer business model through its fluent.pet e-commerce site, with worldwide shipping. The company sells bundled starter kits, modular expansion HexTiles, and accessories, with customization available through a "Build Your Kit & Save" configurator that lets customers compose their own kit. The company emphasizes a community-driven go-to-market strategy, with programs like Button Bootcamp and FluentPet Academy courses, alongside social media engagement featuring animal influencers like Bunny the Sheepadoodle (whose button-pressing videos have driven category awareness).
The company has 11-50 employees and is privately held. Cumulative disclosed funding is approximately $1.42 million raised between 2014 and 2016 across multiple early-stage investors (EvoNexus, Asimov Ventures, NFX Bio, Qualcomm Robotics Accelerator, Techstars, Ruvento), with no subsequent funding rounds publicly disclosed. Engagement metrics cited include 5,000+ reviews and 30+ million recorded button presses across the user base.
CleverPet firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CleverPet
- Legal name
- CleverPet Inc.
- Website
- https://getcleverpet.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CleverPet, operating as FluentPet, designs and sells hardware-based pet communication systems—recordable sound buttons organized in modular HexTiles—that enable dogs and cats to communicate with owners, sold direct-to-consumer worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CleverPet industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pet Communication Technology
- NAICS
- Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (45991)
- SIC
- Communications Equipment, Nec (3669)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Remote Monitoring & Connected Pet Care (Wearables, IoT, Chronic Care Programs) (HLAMAGAL)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Pet Care & Pet Services Platforms (Sitting, Walking, Grooming) (BPAMAHAI)
Keywords
Where CleverPet is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
CleverPet business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales (Button Kits and Accessories): One-time hardware purchases of button kits, HexTiles, and accessories sold through e-commerce. Kits range from starter (6 buttons, 3 HexTiles) to expandable configurations. Accessories include additional buttons and expansion packs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Speak Up! Get Started Kit - Entry-level 6-button kit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
CleverPet product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CleverPet operates the FluentPet brand, designing and selling recordable sound button systems (Speak Up! and Connect kits) along with the modular HexTile organization system. These products enable dogs and cats to communicate with their owners by pressing buttons that play pre-recorded words or phrases, with the Connect tier adding app-integrated push notifications to the owner's phone. The offering targets pet owners seeking to teach language-like communication to their pets.
Product overview
CleverPet offers FluentPet, a communication system consisting of three integrated product lines: the Speak Up! Button Kits (recordable sound buttons for pets), the Connect Button Kits (app-integrated buttons with phone notifications), and the HexTiles modular organization system. The Speak Up! and Connect kits represent the core button communication products, with Connect offering an enhanced experience through smartphone integration. HexTiles serve as the organizational infrastructure that organizes buttons by category, enabling pets to learn and use multiple buttons more effectively. The system is designed for both dogs and cats, allowing them to express needs, wants, and feelings through consistent button pressing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Speak Up!: Recordable sound button kits for teaching dogs and cats to communicate using word buttons
- Connect
- HexTiles
Products and services
- Speak Up! Button Kits Recordable sound buttons that allow dogs and cats to communicate by pressing buttons that play pre-recorded words or phrases, enabling language-like communication between pets and their owners. Sold as kits ranging from a starter 6-button configuration to expandable layouts.
- Connect Button Kits An app-integrated sound button system that sends press notifications to the owner's phone when they are away from the soundboard, providing remote communication monitoring and tracking of pet button presses.
- HexTiles System Modular, non-slip hexagonal tiles designed to organize communication buttons by category (e.g., needs, people, play), inspired by the Fitzgerald Key layout to facilitate faster learning and clearer concept organization for pets using multiple buttons.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30+ million button presses recorded across user community
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CleverPet
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CleverPet technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CleverPet partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CleverPet competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tractive: GPS and activity tracker for pets with subscription model. Overlaps on app-integrated connected pet hardware and global DTC distribution in the connected pet category.
- Wagz: Smart pet tech company offering GPS and activity tracking collars with app integration. Direct peer in the connected pet device category.
- Sure Petcare (SureFlap): Connected pet doors, feeders, and health-monitoring devices. Overlaps with FluentPet on IoT-enabled pet care hardware and the desire to understand pets' needs and behavior.
- Stokes Select: Manufactures and sells recordable pet talking buttons, directly competing with FluentPet's Speak Up! line. Closest like-for-like competitor in the pet communication button category.
- Petcube: Smart pet camera and treat-dispenser company serving the same engaged pet-owner consumer segment as FluentPet. Competes for share-of-wallet in connected pet products.
- Furbo: Smart pet camera with treat dispenser targeting the same tech-forward, humanizing pet-owner demographic. Overlaps with FluentPet on connected pet device positioning.
- Fi: Smart GPS dog collar with app integration and activity tracking. Direct competitor in connected pet hardware with a strong DTC brand similar to FluentPet's go-to-market approach.
- Petkit: Smart pet products company offering connected feeders, water fountains, and litter boxes. Competes in the broader connected pet device category FluentPet occupies with the Connect system.
Broad incumbents
- Whistle (Mars Petcare): Smart GPS and health-tracking collar backed by Mars Petcare. Competes for connected-pet mindshare and shelf in the premium pet-tech category FluentPet addresses.
- PetSafe (Radio Systems): Larger incumbent in pet training, containment, and behavior products. Competes indirectly for training and enrichment spend alongside FluentPet's button communication systems.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CleverPet social profiles
Digital presenceCleverPet financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CleverPet leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
CleverPet funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CleverPet M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CleverPet
What does CleverPet do?
CleverPet operates the FluentPet brand, designing and selling recordable sound button systems (Speak Up! and Connect kits) along with the modular HexTile organization system. These products enable dogs and cats to communicate with their owners by pressing buttons that play pre-recorded words or phrases, with the Connect tier adding app-integrated push notifications to the owner's phone. The offering targets pet owners seeking to teach language-like communication to their pets.
Is CleverPet a public or private company?
CleverPet is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CleverPet founded?
CleverPet was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CleverPet based?
CleverPet is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does CleverPet make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Sales (Button Kits and Accessories).
Who are CleverPet's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tractive, Wagz, Sure Petcare (SureFlap), Stokes Select, Petcube, Furbo, Fi and Petkit. Broad incumbents are Whistle (Mars Petcare) and PetSafe (Radio Systems).
Does CleverPet have an API?
No public API is recorded for CleverPet.
What industry is CleverPet in?
CleverPet's product category is Pet Communication Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAMAGAL, Remote Monitoring & Connected Pet Care (Wearables, IoT, Chronic Care Programs), with a secondary code of BPAMAHAI, Pet Care & Pet Services Platforms (Sitting, Walking, Grooming). Its NAICS code is 45991 and its SIC code is 3669.