Bird Buddy
Kalamazoo, US · Founded 2020 · Delaware corporation · 80 employees on LinkedIn · 11 known investors
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Bird Buddy makes a smart bird feeder with a built-in camera (Nature Cam Pro) that captures 2K video and photos and uses AI to recognize bird species, paired with a mobile app that lets users view and share bird activity in their garden. The consumer hardware product is marketed to families and nature enthusiasts.
Also known as Birdbuddy
Founders & leadership
Bird Buddy was founded in 2020 by Franci Zidar and Kyle Buzzard.




Board

Investors · 11
How we know: Backed's portfolio page · board seat on SEC Form D · insightnews.media · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Boscarol d.o.o.'s portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Fundamental Ventures's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: General Catalyst's portfolio page · insightnews.media · open dataset · 5k.vc investor directory · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Prota Ventures's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Protagonist's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Silicon Gardens's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$36.7M disclosed across 2 of 3 rounds · 2021–2024
▶$28.1MraisedMar 2026 · 32 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- Nicolas WittenbornDirector
- Andre de HaesDirector
- Franci ZidarExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $28.1M
- Amount sold
- $28.1M
- First sale
- Nov 2024
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$8.6MraisedNov 2021 · 15 investors · OtherRule 506(b)
- Andre de HaesDirector
- Ziga VrtacicDirector
- Franci ZidarExecutive Officer, Director
- Kyle BuzzardDirector
- Offering amount
- $8.6M
- Amount sold
- $8.6M
- First sale
- Oct 2021
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2020
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Bird Buddy (branded Birdbuddy) develops and sells a smart bird feeder built around a detachable camera module, the Nature Cam Pro, which captures 2K video and 5MP HDR photos with a wide field of view and low-light performance, at variable frame rates up to 120fps depending on the camera version chosen. The camera connects to a household 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and sends alerts to a paired smartphone app when birds visit, with the product line designed so that a single camera can be moved between multiple housings including a bird feeder, hummingbird feeder and bird bath.
The companion app, available on the iOS App Store and Google Play, uses species recognition trained on bird visits to identify which birds appeared at the feeder, and provides reference content including profiles for up to 13,000 species, audio recordings of songs and calls, side-by-side comparisons of similar-looking birds, and information on diet, range, migration and attracting birds. Up to ten people can be connected to a single feeder, and the app supports English (US), English (UK), German, French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish. An in-app community is cited at 300,000 members.
Alongside the core feeder, the company sells add-on hardware: a perch extender for larger birds, a 3-in-1 nutrition set combining a water fountain, fruit stake and jelly tray, a wall mount, a suet ball holder, and a detachable solar roof that rotates 180 degrees and can keep the camera charged. Products are described as weatherproof, with the camera module rated from -5°F to 120°F (-20°C to 50°C) and battery life of up to one month per charge without solar.
Business model
Direct-to-consumer sale of camera-equipped bird feeders and related accessories through the company's own online store, supported by a free companion mobile app; a seed subscription and branded merchandise are also offered. Buy-now-pay-later financing is available at checkout.
Hardware sales of feeders, camera modules and add-ons (perch extender, nutrition set, wall mount, suet ball holder, solar roof), plus a seed subscription. In-stock orders ship from the company's warehouse within 24 hours; a 90-day return policy and a 24-month warranty on feeders and add-ons apply, excluding the seed subscription and merchandise.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Positions itself as the original smart bird feeder, citing product awards and a listing among trending gifts.
A single camera module compatible with multiple housings (bird feeder, hummingbird feeder, bird bath), AI species recognition combined with an in-app species encyclopedia covering up to 13,000 species, optional rotating solar roof for continuous power, and multi-user sharing of one feeder with up to ten people.
Technology
A detachable weatherproof camera module (Nature Cam Pro) with a large sensor, HDR imaging, 2K video and 5MP stills, close-focus optics and optional solar charging, paired over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi with a mobile app that performs AI-based bird species recognition trained on real bird visits and delivers push notifications, live streaming and a species reference library.
Go-to-market
Sells online via its own website with separate USA/Canada and European regions, using promotional sales events, gift positioning, buy-now-pay-later payment options, an in-app user community, a blog and an online support center with live chat.
Consumers interested in backyard birdwatching and nature, with marketing emphasis on families and gift buyers.
Geography
Serves the USA & Canada and a European region through its online store; the site states the company does its work from New York.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Founder mafia
2 people who came through Bird Buddy went on to found or lead other companies.
Related companies · 1
Companies working in the same space as Bird Buddy.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structureIn the news
▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- Bird Buddymybirdbuddy.com · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Bird Buddy do?
- Bird Buddy sells an AI-powered smart bird feeder with a camera that identifies visiting bird species through a companion app.
- Who founded Bird Buddy?
- Bird Buddy was founded by Franci Zidar, Kyle Buzzard in 2020.
- Who are Bird Buddy's investors?
- Bird Buddy's investors include Backed, Boscarol d.o.o., Emblem55, Fundamental Ventures, Gaingels, General Catalyst, Prota Ventures, Protagonist and 3 more.
- How much funding has Bird Buddy raised?
- Bird Buddy has disclosed $36.7M raised across 2 of its 3 known rounds.
- Where is Bird Buddy headquartered?
- Bird Buddy is headquartered in Kalamazoo, US.




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