Dr. Tail, a pet healthcare AI startup, has secured approximately 2 billion won in research and development and commercialization funds after being simultaneously selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ Post-TIPS and Deep Tech TIPS programs.
Post-TIPS and Deep Tech TIPS are programs that support the follow-up growth of TIPS graduates recognized for their technological capabilities and growth potential. It is considered exceptional for a company in the pet healthcare sector to be selected for both programs simultaneously.
AI makes decisions and connects to reservations.
Dr. Tail has been operating an AI-based triage service in the U.S. market. The service is structured so that when a pet owner inputs their pet’s symptoms, the AI determines whether actual medical treatment is necessary. The company explained that it achieved results in reducing unnecessary hospital visits by more than 51% through this service.
Based on this funding, Dr. Tail is embarking on the development of an AI reservation agent that goes beyond determining the need for medical treatment to connecting to actual hospital appointments.
Previously, even when guardians received notification that a hospital visit was necessary, they had to manually search for available hospitals and make phone calls. The AI reservation agent uses symptom data acquired during the triage process to identify hospitals with available slots in real-time due to no-shows or other factors, and automatically connects the process to an appointment.
Dr. Tail also plans to establish a revenue model that receives brokerage fees in exchange for filling empty appointment slots at hospitals.
According to the company, the average no-show rate at U.S. veterinary clinics is approximately 11%, resulting in an annual revenue loss of about $49,500 per veterinarian. When extrapolated to about 30,000 veterinary clinics nationwide, the total industry loss amounts to billions of dollars. Initial market demand has already been confirmed, with some U.S. veterinary clinics expressing willingness to pay fees for the service.
Expanding to preventive care with ‘AI Companion’
Dr. Tail plans to evolve its existing AI triage service into an ‘AI Companion’ format. In this system, the AI engages in daily conversations with the owner to continuously monitor the pet’s health, and if any abnormal signs are detected, it proactively recommends a consultation or guides the owner to visit a veterinarian.
If it is determined that medical treatment is necessary, the AI reservation agent takes over and handles the hospital booking. It is a structure that provides the entire pet healthcare process—from preventive care and consultation to connecting patients with medical appointments—within a single service.
Lee Dae-hwa, CEO of Dr. Tail, stated, “We are building a service that connects daily care, consultation, and referral for medical treatment into a single flow,” adding, “Dr. Tail will be the first to complete a full cycle of pet healthcare.”
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