Shark Tank's Woof Pet Rescue App: Where Is The Company Now?

Imagine you leave for work and an unexpected accident lands you in the hospital, unable to return home. What would happen to your pets? That's a question thatUniversity of Maryland alumnus Arsalan Khodabandelou wondered about when he got into a near-miss car accident while on the way to Bear Mountain. In March 2023, he told his alma mater's newspaper, The Diamondback, that he wondered, "If something happened to me, what would happen to my dogs?"

Thus was born the Woof Pet Rescue app and its mission to offer a comprehensive safety solution for pet owners. Per the company website, the app combines geolocation tracking, emergency alerts, and a feature called the Pet Passport, which securely stores critical information your animals. Featured on ABC's "Shark Tank" in March 2023, the pet app garnered national attention. Although the business didn't secure a deal, it wasn't the end of Woof's story.

During Season 14 of "Shark Tank," Khodabandelou sought $100,000 for a 10% equity stake in Woof, valuing the company at $1 million. The pitch highlighted Woof's innovative approach to pet safety and demonstrated how the app provides peace of mind to pet owners. He explained that while competing products monitor your pet's health and whereabouts, Woof integrates real-time monitoring with round-the-clock customer support, ensuring pets receive care during emergencies. He also highlighted how it triggers an alert if owners fail to return home within a preset time. In such cases, designated emergency contacts are notified, and wellness checks can be coordinated with local authorities.

While the Sharks acknowledged the concept's appeal, they expressed concerns about scalability and user uptake. Robert Herjavec in particular did not view the product as something that many pet parents would actually need."You're catering to the very small percentage of people who don't have friends or family within a geographic location [to take care of their pets]," he explained. Daymond John, meanwhile, was hesitant about the company name, which Khodabendelou admitted he did not own.

Despite leaving the tank without a deal, Khodabandelou later said the experience of being on "Shark Tank" was emotionally intense and transformative. As he noted on The Accidental Entrepreneur podcast: "I was so amped up... adrenaline is going crazy... it's like you're in a dream." He admitted to initial disappointment but also a renewed determination and drive to succeed. Following its appearance on "Shark Tank," Woof experienced a surge in app downloads and subscriptions, which Khodabandelou described as a pivotal moment for the company. Per Khodabandelou, the "Shark Tank" experience also revealed areas for improvement, prompting updates to the app and adjustments to the company's strategy to better meet market demands.

Following its appearance on Shark Tank, Woof has experienced significant growth. The company saw a surge in user adoption, with paid subscriptions increasing from just over 100 to hundreds more within a few months of the episode airing. The exposure also led to a $50,000 seed funding boost, which has enabled Woof to expand its user base through targeted advertising and explore further investment opportunities with venture capitalists. In addition to user growth and funding, Woof has continued to make updates to the app, including improved geofencing accuracy, bug fixes, and expanded customer support services.

As of 2024, Woof has maintained a visible, albeit minimal, presence on social media. As of this writing, its last post on Facebook dated May 11, 2024, and its most recent activity on Instagram occurring on March 15, 2024. In addition to its social media activity, Woof rolled out significant updates to its app during the summer of 2024, further refining its features to enhance user experience and functionality.

As of October 2024, the company is valued at $1 million and very much still in business from its New York City headquarters. Woof's future remains focused on steady, sustainable growth that prioritizes user feedback to refine its app's features, as it hopes to build on its foundation of expecting the unexpected.