Hill’s invests in vet software company Otto

Veterinary software company Otto closed a $43 million (€‎39.65M) Series B funding round with existing investors Mercury Fund and Boehringer Ingelheim. Hill’s Pet Nutrition joined as a new investor in the Austin-based startup.

The company’s platform is used by vet clinics to manage appointments, payment plans, and follow-up instructions. Otto will use the capital injection to automate its software. 

CEO Zeynep Young says that the new software will help veterinarians provide recommendations from the data collected at clinics. “I wouldn’t quite say that it’s artificial intelligence, but it certainly leverages all of the data that’s resident in those systems to help the clinic personalize the medical advice and the nutrition that they are giving to their pet owners,” she notes.

According to Young, the business is thriving as “one of the fastest-growing veterinary software companies in the country.” Otto claims that the clinics they work with are seeing a 66% faster intake, with a 50% reduction in no-shows and a 40% increase in sales of prescription medications. 

The Hill’s approach

Under the transaction, President and General Manager of Hill’s Pet Nutrition US Nicki Baty will join the Otto team as a board observer. In addition, Mercury Fund partner Heath Butler will join Otto’s board of directors.

According to Baty, Hill’s’ goal is “to find innovative ways to both support veterinary healthcare teams and provide more seamless ways to make nutrition recommendations.” 

“The software aligns with what Hill’s wants to accomplish “both as we work together to support veterinarians and pet owners alike,” she concludes. 

Veterinary shortage 

In 2 years, the platform has expanded to reach over 8,000 veterinary professionals in the US.

Otto’s CEO hopes that this software will help veterinary clinics combat the rising demand while the shortage of workers persists. Through the technology, Otto hopes to cut out approximately 8 hours of administrative tasks a week. 

Young’s goal for Otto is to “double down on functionality” and “streamline tasks and allow clinics to personalize care in a more automated way.”

In addition to this announcement, the company also launched a care plan in April to allow pet owners to spread the cost of vet visits and routine treatments.