© K9 Nation: Social media entrepreneur Becky Baker with her own dog, buddy.
Enterprise Europe Network helps Yorkshire dog owner-entrepreneur secure funding for K9 Nation social media platform through Pitchfest event.
A Yorkshire entrepreneur has had support from Enterprise Europe Network to secure £250,000 from angel investors to develop her online social community for 9.9 million fellow dog owners in the UK.
K9 Nation, founded by Becky Baker in 2018, is a website and app that enables dog owners to share information and advice on caring for their pets. It also provides a curated directory of dog-friendly products and services across the UK.
The social media platform was among six start-ups shortlisted for a virtual pitch event as part of the Innovate2Succeed business support programme delivered by EEN and supported by Innovate UK.
EEN advisers provided pitch training and investment readiness coaching for the event which also featured the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) and NorthInvest and was hosted by Leeds law firm Clarion.
Angel finance
K9 Nation secured angel investment through NorthInvest as well as commercial support from Leeds-based software development firm Nephos Solutions to enhance the platform.
Becky, from Wakefield, said: “When I got my dog Buddy as a puppy, I felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities of dog ownership and was in constant need of information and guidance – from dog-walking spots and puppy day care, to local vets and products.
“I realised there was a need for a community that provided this information. I’m delighted K9 Nation has found investors and commercial partners who share our mission to build a global community of support.”
NorthInvest investment director and angel investor Jordan Dargue joins the board of K9 Nation as a non-executive director as part of the deal and will lead efforts to raise a further £250,000 later this year.
