Woof on 'Shark Tank': Here's how you can ensure your pet is safe even when you're not around
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: It is no lie that our four-legged companions are our best friends. They are a cherished part of every family that prioritizes their well-being and safety above all. But, as a pet owner, leaving furry friends alone at home can be a cause for worry. Whether you're at work or running errands, you want to ensure that your pet is safe and happy. That's where Woof comes in. Founded by a pet owner, Arsalan Khodabandelou, this app Woof is designed to ensure maximum safety for pets who are left alone at home. It is the ultimate solution for pet owners who want to keep their pets safe and happy while they're away.
This product will be featured on ABC's 'Shark Tank' on Friday, March 10, 2023. Arsalan will pitch this innovative app for pet owners in 'Shark Tank' Season 14 before the Sharks - Mark Cuban, Kevin O'Leary, Lori Greiner, Daymond John and Robert Herjavec. We'll have to wait and see whether any of the Sharks take the bait for this intriguing proposal, but in the meantime, you can learn everything you need to know about the Woof and its founder Arsalan Khodabandelou below.
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What is Woof?
Living with three dogs, Marty, Hank and Odin, Arsalan understood the need for surveillance when he left his pets alone at home. This app uses your geographic location combined with a 24/7 support system based in the United States, for monitoring the pet's activities when something unexpected happens to you, such as an accident or a medical emergency. The app's three-tiered support system automatically prompts an action when the pet's safety is being compromised. While signing up on the app, the user will be asked to fill in a complete pet profile that includes the pet's details, medical history, routines and preferences. This information will be crucial for the caretaker who will take charge of the pet's well-being. With Woof, one doesn't need to worry about looking for somebody to care for their fur baby.
The timer on the app gets activated automatically when the owner leaves home and stops once they return home. If the timer reaches its expiry, that is, when the owners don't reach home, the app will automatically create an alert to check on the pet. Woof will first try to contact you and your emergency contacts. If the app is unable to confirm the pet's safety, it will immediately conduct a wellness check at the location provided by contacting 911 and getting in touch with the police department.
Apart from ensuring pet safety, the app also has a feature called Pet Passport. This enables pet owners to pass on information about their pets to their beneficiaries or anyone else who might be taking care of the pet. In the event of the death of the owner, Woof contacts the designated pet beneficiaries to pass on the Pet Passport so that the pet can maintain the same lifestyle that the owner created for them. This means, there is no need to send pet sitters or caregivers long lists of instructions. Everything about the let can be shared via Pet Passport.
Who is the founder of Woof?
In 2012, Arsalan Khodabandelou earned a degree in biology from the university with aspirations of attending medical school. Originally, he had been studying business and international business, but he switched to pre-med at the urging of his parents who are all in medicine. However, Khodabandelou admitted to regretting this decision. Fortunately, he secured an internship with a healthcare IT company after graduation, which led to a sales representative position at a company in New York. It wasn't until he had a near-accident while driving to Bear Mountain that he came up with the idea for his company.
During the drive, Khodabandelou was worried about what would happen to his dogs if he were to get into an accident. This concern inspired him to create an app called Woof, which enables pet owners to set up a pet profile that includes information such as the number of pets they have, their home addresses, and emergency contacts. Despite thinking it was a long shot, Khodabandelou applied to Shark Tank with Woof and was invited to an introductory call a month later. Only 150 people out of 50,000 applicants are chosen each year for 'Shark Tank', so Khodabandelou was pleasantly surprised to move on to the final stage in September, where he flew to Los Angeles to meet with the Sharks.
Where to buy Woof subscription from?
Shark Tank enthusiasts can purchase a subscription to the app from the official website - www.woofhelp.com. The current annual subscription price is $29.99, down from the regular price of $35.88. Alternatively, there is a monthly subscription available for $2.99. With the monthly subscription, users can enjoy 24/7 US support, advanced geolocation timers, a pet passport, and support for up to three pets (with support for up to 10 pets coming soon). The app is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. The app has already earned good reviews on Appstore.
A user wrote, "This is one of those ideas that makes you jealous that you didn’t come up with it first. It’s weird to admit, but when I think about car crashes, I worry more about my two dogs sitting in my apartment starving to death rather than my own safety. When I saw the write-up on this app, it was an easy decision to pay the small monthly fee in order to ensure that my pups will be taken care of in the event of an emergency. I will be telling all of my pet-owning friends to give this service a chance; it’s downright negligent if they don’t."
Where is Woof now?
Since its introduction in the market a few months ago, Khodabandelou’s app Woof has already become quite popular among pet lovers. The app currently has 207 active members who either pay a subscription of $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year. The app is also set to usher in new features this year, such as listing and extending support for up to ten pets per owner. The new features will surely be an added advantage to all leaving home without their pets.
When asked about competitors against his innovative pet-safety app, Khodabandelousaid, "The only thing that is a close competitor to Woof is literally like a card you keep in your wallet, like a business-style card. And it has like your name and it says if found, I have a pet at home, that's it."
Who will steal the deal?
Arsalan's app has the potential to be life-saving. But he may face difficulties in garnering subscriptions in the future. The Sharks, especially Mark Cuban may just appreciate his application and be ready to make a deal.
'Shark Tank' Season 14 Episode 16 will air on ABC on Friday, March 10, at 8 pm ET. Catch the latest episode featuring products like SweetKiwi, Woof, Pluie and Flated.
Missed an episode? Been wanting to catch up? Episodes can also be viewed the next day on demand and on Hulu. Not just that, you can also watch old seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.