Buddy Bites raises $4.2M Series A to expand beyond dog food
What's the deal? Buddy BitesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the Hong Kong-founded pet food startup, has raised $4.2 million in Series A funding led by Digitalis VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, with participation from Hong Kong investor Adrian LaiDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. It marks the company's first institutional venture funding since it was founded in 2020 by Ryan Black and Chris Lee.
What's the endgame? Buddy Bites wants to move from a dog food subscription business into a broader pet nutrition brand. The capital will fund subscription growth, a cat food launch, and expansion into Taiwan, adding to its presence in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Why now? The company says it has crossed $6 million in annual recurring revenue, added 10,000 customers over the 12 months ending in August 2026, and grew revenue 68% year on year. Subscriptions now account for 85.9% of revenue.
What's the model? Buddy Bites sells pet food online and donates food to shelters with each sale — 1kg for every 2kg sold. It says it now donates more than 20 tonnes of food each month to shelters in Hong Kong and Singapore, totalling more than 188 tonnes, or about 3.7 million meals, over the 12 months ending in August 2026.
The founders' link to rescue dogs shaped the model. Black and Lee have three rescue dogs between them, all from their first shelter partner, Catherine's PuppiesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in Hong Kong.
Who's backing it? Digitalis, a US-based firm that has backed health, food, and life sciences businesses, is making its first investment in an Asia-based pet food company. "Digitalis is perhaps the most experienced investor in the space," said Black, co-founder and chief executive officer. "They are betting on a category we believe is about to take off, and on a brand built to give back in the process."
What could go wrong? Subscription brands can lose trust fast if product quality slips or deliveries falter. In markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong, storage, fulfilment, and last-mile delivery costs are high, and recurring orders are only an advantage if the company keeps customers happy.
The signal: The round sits at the smaller end of venture deals, but it points to growing investor appetite for direct-to-consumer subscription models in Asia's pet care market. Buddy Bites is testing whether habit-forming buying — and a donation pipeline tied to it — can hold up as the brand scales beyond its first product.
Read more: e27
Image credit: dontcallmeikke
