Technology
Cat-focused startup Meowtel has climbed to profitability despite struggling to raise capital from dog-focused VCs

According to data, “Dogs” are the most well-liked pet within the US: 65.1 million households have them American Pet Products Association. But while cats aren’t far off, with 46.5 million of them in households, much of the innovation within the pet category has focused solely on dogs. And despite the fact that the service serves each species, it’s more focused on dogs.
Sonya Petcavich, founding father of the cat care app Meowtel, believes cats and kittens deserve more.
When Petcavich’s cat, Lily, died in 2015, she realized she won’t have been the most effective cat mom. Petcavich traveled extensively for her job in sales for Philip Morris and was not home as much as she thought her older cat might need. She knew pet sitting services existed, but didn’t think they provided enough for her feline friends.
“There is a need for a service specifically for people caring for cats; they have very different needs,” Petcavich told TechCrunch. “Rover had been around for just a few years and Wag was gaining momentum, but they were too dog-focused. I said, “Fuck it, I’ll be a crazy cat to do it.”
She took $100,000 of her own money, began a development team, and launched Meowtel in 2015. The startup is a marketplace where cat owners can find cat sitters and only employs individuals who have direct experience in things like giving cats medications (cats are particularly prone to chronic diseases as we age) and take care of cats with special needs. Potential caregivers undergo a rigorous six-step process before they’re approved to join the applying. This features a 30-minute chat with the Meowtel team to confirm that it’s an actual person, which other sit-down sites don’t do. Petcavich joked that it was easier to get into Harvard than to change into a Meowtel keeper.
Since its founding, the corporate has operated mainly in secret. Petcavich said the corporate has only come out of hiding now since the team has put in a whole lot of work during the last nine years, built its brand and got users’ experience where they wanted it to be.
Meowtel is profitable, with gross booking revenue growing 50% year-on-year. The company employs greater than 2,200 caregivers on the platform, a few of whom have been with Meowtel for nine years. The company has processed greater than 95,000 seat applications and has largely focused on larger cities, including New York and Los Angeles. He wants to expand his activities to smaller cities as well.
Meowtel has gotten to this point by raising almost $1 million in enterprise capital. Of that total, $500,000 got here from angels including Jason Calacanis’ Launch and Elizabeth Yin, general partner at Hustle Fund. Additional capital got here from accelerator programs including Tech Wildcatters and Sputnik ATX. The company’s last financing took place in 2020.
Petcavich said raising money from enterprise capitalists was difficult since the enterprise capital community is more focused on dogs and lots of people didn’t understand why cats needed their very own caregiver. Petcavich stated that she nonetheless wanted to raise enterprise funding for Meowtel due to its market-based business model, which she felt was an excellent fit for VC investors. Additionally, due to the capital-intensive nature of market-based businesses, she felt that VC funds would make essentially the most sense.
He’s right that there seem to be many more venture-backed firms specializing in dogs than cats. There are several startups focused on areas akin to higher pet food, accessories, and even those specializing in health. Butternut Box, a British pet food company, has raised over $466 million in VC funding. ImpriMed, a canine oncology startup, raised $23 million in November, and Fi, a wise dog collar, raised greater than $40 million in enterprise capital.
When it comes to cats, there are noticeably fewer of them. Smalls, a fresh pet food company, is considered one of the few venture-funded firms on this category. This raised $19 million last 12 months, and its founder Matthew Michaelson told TechCrunch’s Christine Hall that he believed innovation within the pet category had largely focused on dogs.
But does the market really want or have the capability to provide a cat-only sitting service? Petcavich says yes, and her company’s track record and growth trajectory seem to back it up.
“In the 2020 era, there is a brand that caters to every specific type of audience,” Petcavich said. “These species are different, but no one makes this distinction. I think it was the psyche of the cat owner and the medical needs of the cat itself that really opened up this blue ocean.”
Technology
New York Auto Show contained WOW factors in the Genesis concept car

Experience through Kimatni D. Rawlins
During the media preview 2025 New York International Auto Show (NYAIS), Genesis of a luxury brand emphasized its steadfast commitment to performance, adventure and the newest innovation with a set of vehicles that would dictate the company’s near future.
VIP guests, automotive media and lifestyle and essential directors, akin to José Muñoz, Randy Parker, Luc Donckerwolke and Olabisi Boyle gathered in Genesis House New York To witness the strategic evolution of the X Gran Equator (XGEC) and technologically advanced GMR-001hercar, which can manage the company’s racing efforts in 2026 on the other side of the spectrum, luxurious, off-road XGEC. The ability to grow deeply in the mother of nature with freedom of wilderness is inspiring. That’s right, in only one staff decade, the progressive Korean car manufacturer has made progress in motor and land sports.
“The concept of X Gran Equator is an exercise with harmonizing contrasts – in terms of elegance with the inequality and spirit of exploration with sophisticated comfort,” said Creative Director Genesis Luc Donckerwolke. “He represents the orchestration of true field competences and uncompromising luxury, designed to allow the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.”

For three consecutive years, Genesis will present developed and magm performance concepts at NYIAIS, including the exclusive GV80 Coupe concept, a panoramic concept of Neolun and the concept of dynamic GV60 magma. These vehicles add a portfolio dimension with energetic lines, enthusiastic attributes and engineering desirous about the future. The goal is to further expand your list to satisfy the various needs and evolving appetites of every species of consumer and motor sports enthusiasts.
Symbolizing the brand’s desire to calm the owners of the highest hospitality, we gathered in Genesis House in the Meatpacking district, where Genesis presented the concept of X Gran Equator, which will likely be issued by the end of July. With the name borrowed from a strong Arabian horse, the revolutionary SUV and its possibilities of collecting resembling the dune contain an prolonged hood, characteristic two-lubble headlights that cut the faceless checkered, divided tailgate, 24-inch roms wrapped in swivel roof cabinets. Internal digital features with physical switches and handles, a 4 -circular display cluster inspired by vintage discs, rotating front seats and parts of memory and compartments.

Then it was flashy and vigorous introduction of Genesis Magma Racing and its full-fledged Hypercar GMR-001. The LMDH Endurance prototype built for a few 12 months will start in 2026 with the highest challenge of entering 24 hours Le Mans. However, his current goal will likely be FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and IMSA Sportscar Championship. Drivers, racing overalls and orange color Magma, representing a grit with a strong presence, were also introduced. The graphics pay tribute to the Korean Heritage Genesis when interlacing motor innovations. The final details haven’t been released, but the newly developed V8 engine with a double turbo is a source of the hybrid drive system and chassis developed from Orec Motorsport. The Magma program adds a brand new dimension of Genesis, marking its expansion in high -performance production. Genesis goals to create a magma model for every production vehicle in an existing composition.
“Today it is a significant milestone for Genesis Magma Racing, when we reveal Hypercar GMR-001, as well as our striking colorful and racing suits,” said Cyril Abiteboul, team director. “We are preparing for our IMSA campaigns in 2026 and 2027 IMSA, we not only gather a racing team; we forge heritage. Every day brings us back to the implementation of the full potential of the genesis in the world of motor sports.”
After vehicle presentations, I adapted to the unique and authentic offers at Genesis House, where you possibly can have a delicious Korean culinary experience, read the Korean story, enjoy tea time or watch a lot of Genesis products at the exhibition. Other places and classes to enjoy in New York include insulation in Majestic Equinox Hotel, admiring Dish and its structure of a honeycomb, exploration of stores in Hudson Yards, including Genesis Studio, walking along the elevated high -line park built on the historic railway line, and taking lunch at Mercado little Spain or dinner in a clearly Korean restaurant Moon At East Village, Manhattan.
Understanding the assumptions of brands that you just admire – whether it’s automotive, technology or travel – is perfectly paying tribute to their heritage, strategy and values by immersing themselves in the DNA of their successful formulas. I used to be grateful for representing as a son-unit (honorary guest) while consuming enriching habits, social labels and approach to philosophical design during experience in Genesis in Nyias 2025.
(Tagstranslat) ny auto show
Technology
Anysphere, which makes the cursor supposedly collect USD 900 million with a valuation of USD 9 billion

Anysphere, producer of coding cursor with AI drive, attracted $ 900 million in the recent financing round by Thrive Capital, Financial Times He informed, citing anonymous sources familiar with the contract.
The report said that Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) and ACCEL also participate in the round, which values about $ 9 billion.
The cursor collected $ 105 million from Thrive, and A16Z with a valuation of $ 2.5 billion, as TechCrunch said in December. Capital Thrive also led this round and in addition participated in A16Z. According to Crunchbase data, the startup has collected over $ 173 million thus far.
It is alleged that investors, including index ventures and a reference point, attempt to support the company, but plainly existing investors don’t want to miss the opportunity to support it.
Other coding start-ups powered by artificial intelligence also attract the interest of investors. Techcrunch announced in February that Windsurf, a rival for Aklesphere, talked about collecting funds at a valuation of $ 3 billion. Openai, an investor in Anysphere, was supposedly I’m attempting to get windsurf for about the same value.
(Tagstransate) A16Z
(*9*)This article was originally published on : techcrunch.com
Technology
This is the shipping of products from China to the USA

The Chinese retailer has modified the strategy in the face of American tariffs.
Thanks to the executive ordinance, President Donald Trump ended the so -called de minimis principle, which allowed goods value 800 USD or less entering the country without tariffs. It also increases tariffs to Chinese goods by over 100%, forcing each Chinese firms and Shein, in addition to American giants, similar to Amazon to adapt plans and price increases.
CNBC reports that this was also affected, and American buyers see “import fees” from 130% to 150% added to their accounts. Now, nevertheless, the company is not sending the goods directly from China to the United States. Instead, it only displays the offers of products available in American warehouses, while goods sent from China are listed as outside the warehouse.
“He actively recruits American sellers to join the platform,” said the spokesman ago. “The transfer is to help local sellers reach more customers and develop their companies.”
(tagstotransate) tariffs
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