Bold claim: Hello Vet is redefining how vet care feels for families by inviting owners into the treatment room. The London-based practice has secured €17 million (£15 million) in Series A funding to expand this owner-inclusive model across the UK, bringing total investment to €24 million (£21 million) after a €6.8 million Seed round in 2023.
Hello Vet’s founders—James Lighton, Alessandro Guazzi, and veterinary surgeon Dr Oli Viner—launched the first clinic in London Fields in July 2024 with a mission to make veterinary work feel like a dream job again. Their approach not only treats animals but also involves their humans in the process, allowing clients to hold their pets’ paws as anesthesia is administered and to be present when their pets awaken. Proponents say this reduces stress for both pets and owners, improves outcomes, and strengthens trust by showcasing the expertise and care in real time.
The company also improves access to professional advice through a complimentary WhatsApp triage service, enabling registered pet owners to speak with a qualified practitioner without visiting a clinic. Hello Vet claims this service helped owners save over €85,000 (£75,000) in fees in the past year alone.
The investment comes at a time when European pet-health and animal-care startups have attracted substantial funding in 2025. Notable peers include Lupa in France, which raised €17 million to scale an AI-native veterinary software platform and launch a Veterinary AI Lab; ASTRA Therapeutics in Switzerland, which secured €8.3 million in seed funding for precision parasiticides; and Dalma in France, which closed a €20 million Series B to grow pet insurance and wellness offerings across Europe. Taken together, these rounds exceed €45 million invested in Europe’s animal-health ecosystem this year.
Lighton emphasizes a people-first philosophy: when teams are supported and valued, the care delivered to pets and their families improves. Robbie Horwitz, a partner at Addition, echoes this sentiment, calling Hello Vet a new standard for UK pet care that better supports veterinary professionals while enhancing the entire care experience for pets and owners.
With more than 7,500 registered patients, Hello Vet plans a national expansion that will involve opening new clinics and growing its staff by about 200 vets and vet nurses over the next two years. The company also continues to invest in proprietary technology and AI to slash administrative time by up to 90%, aiming to reduce routine paperwork so clinical teams can focus more on patient care.
This ambitious growth plan has sparked debate about whether owner presence and AI-driven efficiency will genuinely transform outcomes and working conditions in veterinary care, or whether the model could introduce new challenges in clinical workflows and regulatory considerations. What do you think: could this approach become the new standard for veterinary practice, or might it create unintended trade-offs for veterinary professionals, pet owners, and patient welfare?
