Ollie acquires AI diagnostic company

Ollie will use new data for improvements, including recipe refinement, health screenings, weight management and more.

2 Lisa Selfie December 2020 Headshot
DIG Labs is an AI-powered diagnostic company providing real-time image-based pet health screenings across stool, weight management, skin and coat, dental care, and more.
DIG Labs is an AI-powered diagnostic company providing real-time image-based pet health screenings across stool, weight management, skin and coat, dental care, and more.
Ollie

Ollie, a fresh dog food subscription company, has acquired DIG Labs, an AI-powered diagnostic firm specializing in real-time pet health screenings, including stool analysis, weight management and more. In addition, Ollie is introducing its new Foodback Loop, a proprietary data-driven process designed to enhance product development and feeding algorithms for healthier dogs. DIG Labs cofounder Tara Zedayko will join Ollie as chief scientific Oofficer, overseeing the Foodback Loop initiative, research and product innovation.    

Last fall, Ollie partnered with DIG Labs to launch free app-enabled Health Screenings. These screenings, which allow members to submit photos for expert analysis of their dog's digestion, weight, skin and oral health, have been widely embraced by Ollie users. Since the feature's introduction, 89% of members find it valuable, and 86% report increased confidence in feeding Ollie. With DIG Labs' technology now in-house, Ollie plans to expand its AI and machine learning capabilities to enhance health screenings, food research, and portion-feeding algorithms.

Enhancing recipes via Foodback Loop

Ollie, using millions of real-time data points, is enhancing its fresh dog food offerings through personalized experiences and the development of its proprietary Foodback Loop process. This approach allows Ollie to recommend tailored food and portions for each dog, improving members' experiences with features like portion control and diet transition screenings. Recipe development and refinement will be introduced through new initiatives including weight programs, customized experiences for puppies, recipe optimization for ideal stool health, and more.

Initial findings show significant improvements in dog health: 75% of dogs achieve healthy stool within one to two weeks of starting Ollie, and Ollie’s weight screenings reveal that dogs are more often overweight than owners realize. These insights have guided Ollie in prioritizing its product roadmap, leading to the development of digitized healthy weight programs to help dogs achieve and maintain ideal weight, while also identifying key opportunities to enhance its food recipes for an improved overall experience for dogs.

"Pet parent demographics are shifting to younger generations, and with the acquisition of DIG Labs, we are meeting their demand for tech-enabled and personalized products to improve the quality of life for their pets and themselves," said Nick Stafford, Ollie CEO. "We are the only pet food company creating a direct data-led link between what we are feeding our dogs and their health outcomes through individual pet data on stool, weight, skin and coat, and teeth and gums."

According to the company, Ollie's veterinary professionals have conducted health screenings for more than 25,000 dogs, using AI classification models trained with over 100,000 images to assess key health indicators such as skin, coat, stool, dental health, and weight. With the acquisition of DIG Labs and enhanced data-driven capabilities, Ollie is set to further its mission of helping pet owners deliver personalized care and support for their dogs.    

Adapted from a press release.

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