Wagmo’s Vision for a New Category of Pet Wellness
An Interview with Wagmo Cofounder & CEO Christie Horvath
By Revolution Ventures’ Clara Sieg and Graham Ober
There are currently 85 million pet parents in the United States, contributing to a $99 billion pet care market. Yet only 3% of those pets are covered by insurance. At Revolution Ventures we’ve been following the sector for a while, particularly during the pandemic as pet adoption numbers have soared. Wagmo co-founders Christie Horvath and Ali Foxworth are experienced insurance and finance leaders and importantly, animal lovers dedicated to reimagining the pet parent experience. We’re thrilled to back their vision for a new category of pet wellness that extends far beyond traditional pet insurance.
Learn more about why Christie launched the company, how pet care is changing for the better, and what customers can expect when they sign-up with Wagmo.
What inspired you to launch Wagmo?
During my second year at Harvard, my dog, Denver began experiencing grand mal seizures. I took him to a veterinarian and expected a swift diagnosis with treatment to follow. Instead, while Denver spasmed on the floor, I was required to sign papers agreeing to pay thousands of dollars before they would even touch my dog. As a student making zero income, this was an incredibly stressful decision, but I was willing to go into debt to save my dog’s life.
What I experienced at the veterinarian’s office that day inspired me to reinvent the pet insurance industry. Up until that point, choosing pet insurance was incredibly frustrating and confusing. The industry needed much more transparency. So, we built Wagmo.
One silver lining to the pandemic was the never-before-seen levels of pet adoption. What new needs have emerged in the world of pet care as a result?
Now more than ever pet parents need more. There are a greater number of first-time pet parents trying to figure out what to do and veteran parents seeking a new outlook on pet health. We recognize the increased need for financial preparedness and cost savings as it relates to pets.
Wagmo continuously answers the question of what it means to be a responsible pet parent. We offer continuing education in collaboration with vets and specialists, perks and discounts, options to customize our product offerings based on budget, and more. Our full team is fully committed to proactive and responsive pet health solutions.
The pet insurance landscape is crowded, what can pet owners find with Wagmo that they can’t find elsewhere?
Wagmo offers the most comprehensive coverage on the market giving customers the ability to unbundle Wellness and Insurance plans. We process claims and reimbursements quickly and in a way that is more accessible than other providers: Wagmo Wellness customers receive 24-hour reimbursements through Venmo, Paypal, or direct deposit. Our unparalleled customer support saves pet owners time and money. We are also continuously connecting our members to resources and tools. From advice on pet travel, food and more we’ve got them covered.
Wagmo recently introduced their B2B services, partnering with companies to offer employees pet wellness and insurance plans. Tell us about your conversations with employers and why they are placing value on this benefit.
In today’s market, there is a true war for talent. Employers are rising to the occasion and offering coverage for their employees’ entire family, including pets. “Wagmo for Work” can be customized as a perk, benefit, or subsidy. We provide a suite of resources, tools, and even events to help educate employees.
How do you see the pet insurance market evolving in the next 5 years? What role do you see Wagmo playing in the growing landscape?
The pet insurance market will reflect what we’ve seen in human health insurance: increasing coverage for emergencies and more preventative and proactive care. This means providing coverage for the everyday, not just when something goes wrong. Through Wagmo’s tech-forward platform and superior customer service, we are going to lead the way in pet wellness and insurance.
