RightPaw
Sydney, AU · 2 known investors
Australian online marketplace connecting prospective dog owners with vet-approved, responsible breeders.
Also known as RightPaw · rightpaw.com.au
Founders & leadership
Investors · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026RightPaw is an Australian company operating an online platform that connects prospective dog owners with breeders that have been vetted against responsible-breeding criteria. Consumers can browse curated profiles of available dogs from vet-approved breeder partners, contact breeders through a secure in-platform chat, and submit puppy applications. The company also offers welcome-home services, including puppy training courses.
On the supply side, RightPaw provides breeders with software to run their kennels and breeding programs, replacing whiteboards and spreadsheets, and to manage inbound enquiries and puppy applications in one place. The breeder vetting criteria were developed by working with breeders and vets and reviewing state guidelines, then translated into consumer-facing language intended to make ethical standards easier to understand. The company has stated intentions to expand its database of responsible breeders and subsequently extend into shelters, and it treats public education about how to find a pet responsibly as part of its role.
Founding story
Co-founder and CEO Nathan Olivieri's partner is a veterinarian, and her accounts of health, behavioural and abandonment cases led the pair to conclude that many pet problems trace back to the earliest stage of a dog's life. Olivieri, who had spent six years in global marketing roles at Unilever in Australia and the UK and previously worked as a journalist, started RightPaw with co-founder and CTO Adelaine Ho, a front-end engineer focused on moving offline industries onto online platforms. The company's own account describes a founding team of dog owners who had found the process of searching for a puppy online fragmented, with many websites, little transparency on ethical standards and no support afterwards.
Business model
Two-sided marketplace: breeders list vetted profiles and use RightPaw software to manage kennels, leads and puppy applications, while prospective owners search listings, message breeders and apply for puppies. Additional welcome-home services such as puppy training courses are offered alongside the marketplace.
Traction
By the CEO's account in a pet industry interview, RightPaw had grown to nearly 1,000 breeders and tens of thousands of puppy applications a year within just over two and a half years of operating.
Latest developments
A 2024 article on funding paths for pet startups cites RightPaw as an Australian marketplace connecting aspiring pet parents with responsible breeders, founded by co-founder and CEO Nathan Olivieri.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Positioned as a digitiser of the pet-buying process in Australia, an area the company and press describe as not yet moved online, competing with informal channels such as social media groups, breeder associations and classifieds listings.
Breeders on the platform are vetted against criteria developed with breeders, vets and state guidelines and presented in plain consumer language, positioned against Facebook communities, breeder associations and classifieds sites where buyers cross-reference multiple websites. The platform also emphasises post-purchase follow-up during the first six to 12 months of a dog's life.
Technology
Web platform combining consumer-facing search of curated dog and breeder profiles, secure in-platform chat and puppy application submission with breeder-side tools for kennel and breeding program management and lead handling; the founders describe the vetting approach as virtual vetting technology.
Go-to-market
Breeders could sign up to try the app for free at rightpaw.com.au, with prospective pet owners able to subscribe to be notified at launch. The company participated in the Antler Australia accelerator program and presented at Antler Australia's online Demo Day on 25 June 2020, and pursues public awareness and education on responsible pet sourcing.
Prospective dog owners seeking a puppy online, and dog breeders — including cross breeders outside unified regulatory associations — who need tools to manage breeding programs and enquiries.
Geography
Australia-based, operating under the rightpaw.com.au domain.
History
RightPaw launched within Antler Australia's early-stage accelerator program, with Antler also investing in the startup, and featured at Antler Australia's online Demo Day on 25 June 2020. The founding team comprises CEO Nathan Olivieri and CTO Adelaine Ho, with Dr Imogen Game listed as Chief Veterinary Officer. Plans described by the CEO included building out the responsible-breeder database and later branching into shelters, partly in anticipation of dogs needing re-homing as owners returned to work after COVID-19.
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 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.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filingsRightPaw presented at Antler Australia's online Demo Day after joining the accelerator's program.
RightPaw launched in early-stage VC accelerator Antler Australia's program, with Antler also investing in the startup; no amount disclosed.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 6
primary sources listed
- Antler Demo Day: RightPaw takes buying a dog online - Startup Dailystartupdaily.net · web
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does RightPaw do?
- Australian online marketplace connecting prospective dog owners with vet-approved, responsible breeders.
- Who founded RightPaw?
- RightPaw was founded by Nathan Olivieri.
- Who are RightPaw's investors?
- RightPaw's investors include Black Nova VC, Darcy Naunton.
- Where is RightPaw headquartered?
- RightPaw is headquartered in Sydney, AU.