Two Animal Lovers Launch Pet Health Startup To Bring India’s First AI-powered Pet Health Scan With 95% Accuracy For Cats & Dogs

When Dr Ajmal met John Paul through a common friend he was amazed by his deep connection to animals. Though Dr Ajmal is also a pet lover, Paul’s connection to any animal from dogs to goats, to monkeys and even snakes, shocked him in the first encounter. However, slowly they developed a friendship and their shared passion for pets made them launch a startup solely dedicated to cats and dogs. 

In an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia, the PhD (Finance & IB) from West Coast University, USA, Dr Ajmal shared his journey from being a banker and Finance expert to founding a one-of-a-kind AI-supported pet care solution company.

“I am a hardcore businessman,” Dr Ajmal shared. “I am ready to do any business that generates value and that will bring me better rewards in the long run. Being an animal lover, founding a business solely for pets made things even easier for me.”

He remarked that fortunately, he is doing a business that solves the problems of pet lovers like him.

"John and I have given our best to make the lives of beloved pets more easier and more comfortable,” he added.

Financial expert turns pet startup founder

Dr Ajmal and John Paul launched the pet health startup, MimiBowBow in Chennai in 2018. (Mimi for cats and BowBow for dogs)

It was started as a dedicated online platform for cats and dogs that sold pet food, petcare products, and utilities. They made good business clocking around INR 1.8 Cr revenue in just 10 months.

Things were going great with MimiBowBow until COVID-19 happened. 

“Suddenly things slowed down,” the pet health startup founder told Startup Pedia. “Stocks were not available and we sort of became jobless. At this point, we realised we needed to do something different to survive our business. John was doing some research on pet foods and what he found was shocking.”

John found that the leading pet food brands were not giving high-quality meat as claimed by them.

“We found out the “meat” in most pet food was just animal waste. The companies were just crushing and cubing the animal remains. We tested on lab and even found faecal matter in pet foods!” Dr Ajmal remarked.

This newly found truth crushed both Dr Ajmal and John. That’s when they decided to come up with their own brand of pet food. 

 MimiBowBow comes with new products and services

“We formulated our own premium-quality cat and dog foods. We give duck or chicken meat which are freeze-dried so that it has a good 24-36 months shelf-life. At the same time, it's not cooked as a carnivore likes to chew food.”

Starting with its own formulated high-quality grain-free pet food, the Chennai-based pioneering pet health startup is transforming pet care with cutting-edge AI-powered diagnostics.

Dr Ajmal and John Paul have come up with India's first AI Health Scan for pets, Pet Scan Pro for pet parents to detect and manage their pets' medical conditions with unmatched ease and accuracy. 

 What is Pet Scan Pro?

For pet parents, ensuring timely veterinary care remains a major challenge as regular vet visits can be costly and time-consuming.

Often, the early symptoms of health issues of furry friends go unnoticed.

Recognising this gap, MimiBowBow has developed India’s first AI-powered pet health scan—Pet Scan Pro.

Designed to empower pet parents and veterinarians, this AI-driven health scanning solution turns any smartphone into a diagnostic tool, allowing pet owners to detect early signs of illness in their pets with 95% accuracy.

“We wanted to build a system where pet parents could take control of their pet’s health, detect issues early, and connect with veterinarians more smartly,” the MimiBowBow co-founder shared with Startup Pedia.

By integrating AI-powered diagnostics with IoT-driven pet care solutions, MimiBowBow is transforming the pet healthcare landscape, facilitating timely medical intervention and promoting proactive pet healthcare.

With Pet Scan Pro, a person from anywhere in the world can use a smartphone camera to scan their pet’s skin, teeth, eyes, bones, or joints. Within one minute, the AI generates a detailed diagnostic report identifying potential health concerns.

With 95% accuracy, the AI matches the pet’s scan with a database of over 2.5 million real-time MRI scans, ensuring precision in identifying over 40 medical conditions.

After the scan is done, the pet parents can easily consult a registered veterinary doctor for consultation through the app if they want.

This removes guesswork from diagnosis, making veterinary consultations more efficient and improving treatment outcomes.

“With our AI health scan, pet parents can consult doctors with an accurate diagnostic report rather than just describing symptoms over a call,” the co-founder explained to Startup Pedia.

How the Pet care startup is assisting Veterinarians with AI-backed consultations

MimiBowBow is not only a blessing for pet parents, but it also assists in veterinary practice. With Pet Scan Pro, veterinarians can offer remote consultations, access AI-backed diagnostic reports, and expand their practice beyond physical clinics.

“Pet Scan Pro brings about a revolution in veterinary practice as it allows vets to consult patients from anywhere, backed by precise diagnostic reports,” shared the pet health startup founder.

“This improves the accuracy of diagnoses giving scope to better treatment plans, especially in remote areas where specialised vets may be unavailable,” Dr Ajmal added.

Unlike many other platforms, MimiBowBow does not charge any commission from veterinarians, ensuring they keep 100% of their fees.

Additionally, the AI-driven reports help build trust between veterinarians and pet parents, as treatment recommendations are based on detailed scan insights rather than just symptom descriptions.

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Expanding pet care beyond AI Diagnostics with smart IoT solutions

Alongside AI diagnostics, the Chennai-based pet health startup has developed IoT-powered pet care products to amplify pet wellness.

MimiBowBow’s Pet Bot Smart Feeder is an advanced IoT device for pet parents to remotely schedule feeding times, monitor their pets via live video, and ensure portion-controlled nutrition.

The brand’s Smart Auto-Cleaning Litter Boxes minimise manual cleaning, providing better hygiene and convenience for pet owners. For bird owners, the IoT Bird Feeding Bots provide scheduled feeding with extended battery life, even during power outages, so that pets are well-fed throughout the day.

Additionally, MimiBowBow offers a range of FDA-approved natural rubber toys, and training pads, designed to support pets’ overall well-being and daily care.

How do pet parents avail services from MimiBowBow?

MimiBowBow operates on a subscription-based revenue model through its app, assuring affordable pet healthcare solutions.

As claimed by the pet health startup founder, the Pet Scan Pro is already used by thousands of pet parents across India, bringing AI-powered diagnostics and smart pet care solutions to more pet owners and veterinarians. 

“Our mission is simple,” Dr Ajmal opened up to Startup Pedia. “We want to make sure that no pet parent ever feels helpless when it comes to their beloved furry friend’s health. Our technology is designed to empower them with real-time insights, expert guidance, and smarter pet care solutions.” 

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