Entrepreneurs and scientists launch veterinary medtech app

A team of eight entrepreneurs and scientists have joined forces to launch a veterinary medtech app.

The app is an artificial intelligence (AI) app designed to make pet healthcare more accessible and affordable – with the app used by pet owners to diagnose and receive recommended treatment for their pets, with its flagship brand Joii.

After graduating from The University of Leeds in 2003, Paul Hallett set up a marketing business which exceeded a turnover of £1.8 million in just 18 months.

Aiming to improve and update the animal health industry in line with some of the innovations seen in human health, Mr Hallett approached one of the largest animal health companies in the UK and met a vet called Robert Dawson – who became his business partner.

Finding that the animal health industry is largely corporatised resulting in pet owners unable to access regular affordable pet care, the pair set out to change this.

The duo has since built a team of 20 including vets, PhD level data scientists and technology programmers. The team consists of entrepreneur Jonathan Sands alongside senior data scientist Trevor Hardcastle. Also joining the company is veterinary dermatologist, Sarah Warren, former head of AI at push doctor Josh Septon, and FT, Monocle and Forbes-featured designer Guy Buchan.

There are plans to continually develop its AI technology to automate diagnosis, improve healthcare and enhance how pets live.

Paul Hallett said: “We’re dedicated to creating a business that genuinely looks after the people it recruits, to entrust and empower them to build extraordinary technologies that improve the lives of pet parents and owners.

“We are proud to harness the talent manifested in the Leeds region from data scientists and programmers to creatives, lawyers and academic experts. It is an absolute pleasure to be working with such a credible team and I am looking forward to the future of Joii.”