VetNOW

What VetNOW does

VetNOW, LLC is a U.S.-incorporated, woman-owned veterinary technology company headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA with a regional operational hub in Nairobi, Kenya. The company operates a cloud-based, mobile-first telehealth platform that connects livestock farmers, licensed veterinarians, and veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) into a single integrated network for virtual consultations, centralized medical record storage, role-based dashboards, scheduling, and disease surveillance. The architecture is built on PHP/Laravel and JavaScript on AWS, with integrations for video (Zoom, Twilio), SMS/notifications (Africa's Talking), payments (M-PESA in Kenya, Stripe elsewhere), and embedded diagnostic content from NADIS for clinical sign recognition. An AI-enabled anti-counterfeiting module uses computer vision to scan QR codes and barcodes on veterinary pharmaceuticals.

The business model is freemium to livestock farmers and billable to veterinarians and VPPs, who pay the platform to deliver virtual consultations settled through M-PESA; the company also captures value through partnerships and grant-funded programs (notably with GALVmed, which is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), and is positioning the platform as a regulatory data layer for Kenya's veterinary authorities (DVS, KVB, KVMD). Go-to-market is community-led and sales-led, channeled through professional associations (AVTA, KVA, KLPA), government bodies, and field-based Engagement Specialists running workshops in target counties such as Kiambu and Nakuru.

The company's strategic focus in 2024 has shifted decisively from its earlier U.S./companion-animal orientation (Texas A&M and Elanco Animal Health COVID-era partnerships) toward Sub-Saharan Africa, with commercial launch in Kenya in November 2024 and stated expansion plans for Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Leadership is anchored by founder-CEO Dr. Apryle Horbal (VMD, University of Pennsylvania) with a small executive team covering operations in Kenya, technology, marketing, and field engagement.

Name

VetNOW

Legal name

VetNOW, LLC

Website

https://vetnow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VetNOW operates a mobile-first veterinary telehealth platform connecting livestock farmers, veterinarians, and veterinary paraprofessionals across Africa, beginning with its Kenya commercial launch in November 2024. The freemium platform enables virtual consultations, medical records, and disease surveillance, with AI-powered anti-counterfeiting and regulatory data integrations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Telehealth Software

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194), Support Activities for Animal Production (1152)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Telemedicine & Virtual Care Platforms (HLAMAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tele-veterinary & Virtual Care Platforms (Video/Chat, Remote Triage) (HLAMAGAB), Veterinary Telemedicine & Remote Care Services (AFAEANAJ), Online Booking, Intake & Digital Front Door (Forms, Consent, Waitlist) (HLAMAGAD)

Keywords

• Veterinary telehealth software
• Livestock health platform
• Animal care mobile app
• Veterinary practice management
• Anti-counterfeit veterinary pharma

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Billable Virtual Care Services: Veterinarians and VPPs can provide billable virtual consultations through the platform, with payment processing via MPESA mobile money integration in Kenya.
2. Platform Access for Professionals: The platform is free for livestock farmers; veterinarians and VPPs pay for platform access to increase their reach and revenue through virtual consultations.
3. Partnership and Grant Funding: VetNOW operates in partnership with GALVmed, which receives grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office to support the platform's deployment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VetNOW provides a mobile-first, cloud-based veterinary telehealth platform that connects livestock farmers, licensed veterinarians, and veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) through virtual consultations, medical record storage, role-based dashboards, scheduling, and MPESA payment processing. The platform is free for farmers, while veterinarians and VPPs pay for platform access and transaction fees on billable consultations, with additional AI-powered anti-counterfeiting tools for veterinary pharmaceuticals and real-time disease surveillance data feeds for government partners.

Product overview

VetNOW operates a single unified telehealth platform with integrated modules. The core VetNOW Telehealth Platform connects livestock farmers, veterinarians, and veterinary paraprofessionals through mobile technology for virtual consultations and animal health management. This platform integrates with several add-on capabilities including the M-PESA payment gateway for billable services, a Medical File Storage System for secure digital records, a Multi-Role User Interface providing role-specific dashboards, and an Integrated Network connecting veterinarians, VPPs, laboratories, and electronic health records. Through its NADIS Diagnostic Integration, the platform provides enhanced clinical decision support for disease recognition. The Anti-Counterfeiting Solution uses AI image recognition to verify pharmaceutical product authenticity. VetNOW's Connected Care Ecosystem is designed to enhance food security and farm productivity across Kenya with plans for expansion throughout Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VetNOW Telehealth Platform
• M-PESA Billable Virtual Care Services
• Anti-Counterfeiting Pharmaceutical Verification
• NADIS Diagnostic Integration

Quantifiable outcome

• Only 2,000 vets and 12,000 VPPs available for 7 million farmers in Kenya - VetNOW multiplies veterinary outreach through technology
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered major, supporting and core.

• Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 October 2024KVB is a statutory body regulating the veterinary profession in Kenya. Engaged with VetNOW to streamline registration of veterinarians and VPPs, utilize digital continuing education resources, and ensure only appropriately registered professionals access the platform.
• Kenya Veterinary Medicines Directorate (KVMD)majorTechnology or Integration · 30 October 2024KVMD is the regulatory authority overseeing quality, safety, and efficacy of veterinary medicines in Kenya. Engaged with VetNOW to create a database and compendium of medicines, along with an online portal to improve and streamline the registration process for verified pharmaceuticals.
• Africa's TalkingsupportingTechnology or Integration · 30 September 2024Technology company providing SMS and notification services for VetNOW users. Africa's Talking provides APIs for SMS, voice, and mobile money services enabling seamless communication features.
• GALVmed (Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2024Flagship partnership announced at World Veterinary Association Congress. GALVmed, a not-for-profit organization funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, provides operational and management support. GALVmed's work on making livestock health products accessible to small-scale producers is accelerated through this partnership. VetNOW and GALVmed are co-developing the 'Digitizing Animal Health in Africa' program with pilot in Kenya.
• NADIS (National Animal Disease Information Service)coreTechnology or Integration · 19 April 2024UK-based NADIS with 30-year track record in disease surveillance provides in-platform diagnostics that enhance veterinary diagnosis capabilities. NADIS has developed complementary technology for remote clinical sign recognition, helping VPPs better recognize diseases in the field and communicate with supervising veterinarians.
• AVTA (Africa Veterinary Technicians Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2024AVTA promotes improved VPP practices for better animal care and boasts 130,000 members in 18 African countries with approximately 11,000 in Kenya. AVTA is key to ensuring VPP standards within countries and provides optimized access and insight for VetNOW's platform deployment.
• American Chamber of Commerce in Kenya (AmCham Kenya)supportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2024Leading business association promoting trade and investment between US and Kenya. VetNOW is a member and attended the annual AmCham summit in April 2024 in Nairobi.
• Kenya Veterinary Association (KVA)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Professional organization representing veterinary surgeons and paraprofessionals in Kenya. KVA is promoting VetNOW to its membership to improve member businesses and animal health. VetNOW participated in KVA Annual Congress in Isiolo and chapter-specific events.
• Kenya Livestock Producers Association (KLPA)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024National organization representing livestock farmers across Kenya. KLPA is encouraging members to join VetNOW community and helping promote services through targeted SMS campaigns. VetNOW will participate in KLPA farmer training sessions.
• Kenya Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Government body safeguarding animal health and ensuring food safety in Kenya. VetNOW has DVS support for its initiatives and is working to integrate the DVS disease reporting platform into the VetNOW platform for ease of use by veterinarians.
• U.S. Embassy in KenyasupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024US diplomatic mission to Kenya. VetNOW has worked with and continues to develop relationships with US Embassy agencies including US Department of Commerce and Commercial Services and USAID.
• Sofala PartnerssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Advisory firm supporting growth-stage companies in East Africa, specializing in agriculture, financial services, healthcare, and technology. Provides capital, strategic guidance, and operational support to help businesses scale.
• Elanco Animal HealthsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2020Global animal health company partnership to provide veterinarians with access to the VetNOW platform during COVID-19, enabling them to maintain service to animals and owners including specialist consultations.
• Texas A&M UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2019Created the first veterinary telemedicine program, defining the standard and scope of virtual veterinary care through a collaborative relationship with VetNOW.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• iCow: iCow is a Kenyan mobile platform providing smallholder livestock farmers with veterinary, dairy, and animal husbandry information and services via SMS/voice. It is directly comparable to VetNOW because both target Kenyan livestock farmers with digital tools, have similar advisory plus professional-connection workflows, and operate in the same Nairobi agtech ecosystem.
• Cowtribe: Cowtribe is a Ghana-based livestock health technology company delivering vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and veterinary services to smallholder farmers using mobile logistics. It is a direct peer because it shares VetNOW's livestock health focus, smallholder farmer customer base, and emerging-market digital distribution model, even though its core product is vaccine delivery rather than live telehealth.
• Farmerline: Farmerline is a Ghana-based agtech company providing smallholder farmers across Africa with agronomic advice, market access, and digital services via mobile and partner networks. It is directly comparable to VetNOW because both build digital advisory and distribution layers for African smallholder farmers, with overlapping GTM partners (AVTA-style farmer organizations, NGOs, government extension services).
• Vetster: Vetster is an online veterinary telehealth marketplace connecting pet owners with licensed veterinarians for video consultations. It is a direct peer to VetNOW because both operate veterinary telehealth platforms with multi-role user interfaces, scheduling, and payments, though Vetster is companion-animal focused while VetNOW targets livestock.
• Airvet: Airvet is a US-based veterinary telehealth platform enabling on-demand video consultations between pet parents and licensed veterinarians. It is a direct peer because both deliver video-first vet telehealth with professional onboarding, EHR integration, and subscription/pay-per-visit monetization, though Airvet is companion-animal and US-centric.
• TeleVet: TeleVet (now part of scratch pay) is a veterinary practice management and telehealth platform used by clinics and veterinarians in North America. It is a direct peer to VetNOW because both provide role-based veterinary telehealth workflows, EHRs, and client engagement tools, with TeleVet concentrating on companion animal clinics.

Emerging players

• Pula Advisors: Pula is an Africa-focused insurtech designing parametric and area-yield index insurance products for smallholder farmers. It is an emerging peer because it addresses the same smallholder African farmer pain points (risk mitigation, productivity) and could either bundle or compete with VetNOW's platform as adjacent digital services for the same customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Zoetis: Zoetis is the world's largest animal health company offering pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostics, and digital solutions across livestock and companion animals. It is a broad incumbent comparable to VetNOW because Zoetis sells into the same veterinary and livestock-producer ecosystem, has its own data/diagnostics ambitions (Vetscan, reference labs), and could partner with or compete against VetNOW in emerging markets.
• IDEXX Laboratories: IDEXX is a global leader in veterinary diagnostics, software, and water/milk testing, with substantial companion and livestock practice software and reference lab businesses. It is a broad incumbent peer because VetNOW positions itself as a software front-door to labs (including IDEXX-style providers), competing for the same clinic-level workflows.
• Elanco Animal Health: Elanco is a global animal health company providing pharmaceuticals and services for both livestock and companion animals, and is already a VetNOW partner from the 2020 COVID-19 telemedicine initiative. It is a broad incumbent peer because Elanco serves the same veterinary and livestock-producer customers and has the scale, distribution, and product portfolio to either partner deeper or compete for veterinary digital touchpoints.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vetnow
• Xx.com/VetNowUS
• Facebookfacebook.com/VetNowConnectedCare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vetnow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 VetNOW