How did Aaron Hirschhorn die? DogVacay and Gallant founder dies 2 years after pitching on 'Shark Tank'

Aaron, a Philadelphia native, and his partner joined forces to create DogVacay in 2012
UPDATED MAR 11, 2023
Founder of DogVacay, Aaron Hirschhorn, died at the age of 42 in Miami (Instagram/aaronwh78)
Founder of DogVacay, Aaron Hirschhorn, died at the age of 42 in Miami (Instagram/aaronwh78)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Aaron Hirschhorn, a well-known investor and businessman in the Los Angeles tech community who established the pet-sitting startup DogVacay, died at the age of 42 in a boating mishap close to Miami Beach. Let's look at how the 'Shark Tank'-winning company that offers stem cell therapy for animals is doing right now.

After residing in California, Aaron, relocated to Miami with his wife and three children. Aaron, a Philadelphia native, and his partner joined forces to create DogVacay in 2012. The business expanded rapidly by providing canine owners with an option to conventional kennels for boarding their pets. In April 2017, rival Rover ultimately purchased DogVacay, turning it into a billion-dollar pet services business. He made a proposal for his start-up concept for a pet wellness company on 'Shark Tank' in 2019. Gallant enables pet owners to store the stem cells from their dogs for use in the future to address prevalent medical problems. Sharks Lori Greiner and Anne Wojcicki invested $500,000 in him, thanks to the concept. Aaron established the pet-focused company Gallant in 2018, which preserves canine stem cells for use in future therapies. Today, Gallant is recognized as a pioneer in the field of canine regenerative medicine and stem cell treatment.

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How did Aaron Hirschhorn die?

The personal watercraft (PWC) Aaron was sailing was struck by a 38-foot Chris-Craft speedboat on March 28, 2021, at around 1 pm, according to the Herald. It is thought that the PWC was a powered hydrofoil boat. According to reports, the collision took place in Biscayne Bay close to Meloy Channel. Aaron died from his wounds at the site of the watercraft mishap.

Aaron worked as a venture financier, developer, and angel investor in addition to supporting other start-up businesses financially. He died at the age of 42. 



 

Where is Gallant now?

Aaron founded the business Gallant out of a desire to give canines access to the same degree of regenerative care that stem cells give people. Aaron, the former proprietor of DogVacay, which grew into a billion-dollar business, was curious about other ways he could assist canines and their owners. As a result, he created Gallant.

The company's business strategy is brilliant, given that many domestic canines are spayed or neutered by their owners. Gallant offers a means to keep the reproductive parts that would otherwise be destroyed in a facility that has been authorized by the FDA. There, they are separated and preserved in liquid nitrogen for use if and when a canine develops medical problems for which the use of regenerated cells might be a treatment. Gallant rapidly achieved success and gained a reputation as a leader in the field of canine stem cell research.



 

Gallant is still flourishing today. The business strategy employed by the company has allowed it to generate a sizable profit with lifelong memberships costing $890, monthly plans costing $95, and a one-time startup charge of 205 dollars. Gallant had a $20 million value as of 2020 and was earning about $2.5 million annually, according to Shark Tank Blog. The firm is still operating today with healthy profit ratios.

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