Photos courtesy of the Kriddr Facebook page and website.
About four years ago, Long Beach resident Jeff Boverman adopted a dog—a rescue dog that he called “puppy.” One fateful morning, he opened the door to his home to get equipment, and the dog escaped, running “helter skelter,” as Boverman put it.
After a panicked search through the neighborhood, talking to his neighbors and searching with another resident, he returned home, heavy-hearted and discouraged.
But when he reached his front stoop, puppy was sitting right in front of the door.
“Not only did the loss of my pet affect me greatly, I wondered what other pet owners did when their pet was lost?” said Boverman. “I found out it’s pretty old-school. They put posters up around town.”
The freelance self-described “web guy” used this as fuel for fire, researching the pet industry and web applications. He was surprised to find that almost nothing for the pet industry existed in app form. The idea for his soon-to-be-launched app, Kriddr, was born.
“People look at pets but have no connection,” said Boverman. “That’s what I wanted to make. I wanted to make a trusted network/community of pet owners.”
That was three years ago. He immediately set to work.
“The pet industry is huge,” said Boverman. “It wasn’t until I started researching the pet industry when I realized how large it is.”
In fact, according to the American Pet Products Association, the entire pet industry was valued at around $60.28 billion in 2015, and an estimated $62.75 billion in 2016. Boverman’s own statistics state that over 62 percent of US households own pets, spending over $800 annually on average.
Boverman saw an opening that extended beyond a mere network on the Kridder app, finding a demand for pet medical records, a lost pet notification system, service/product provider reviews, promotions and general community resources including a mobile-focused community forum. And that’s just the beginning.
“Our initial delivery platform is the Apple iPhone and iPad,” a release issued by Boverman states. “We are finalizing a web-based admin tool for suppliers and retailers, and by September 30th we will offer a Android and Web-based version of the App.”
Kriddr will launch as a minimum viable product (MVP in startup language) this Saturday, August 27, from 11:00AM to 4:00PM at Rosie’s Dog Beach. Those who RSVP will be eligible for prize giveaways—including a $100 gift certificate—set to occur at 12:30PM. Attendees will also have the chance to participate in a Kiss Your Kriddr photo competition, in addition to gaining from various other giveaways aimed at both pets and humans.
To RSVP for the event, click here. To learn more about Kriddr, visit the app’s Facebook page and website. For additional questions, contact Boverman at [email protected].