Tinder Co-Founder Invests in Pet Service Startup

LAIKA, a fast-growing online pet market platform from Colombia, has just welcomed Justin Mateen as a new investor.

The Tinder co-founder first discovered the business when it was included in a funding round from Y Combinator earlier this year.

Founded in 2017, LAIKA offers a convenient location for pet owners to get all the necessary products for their animals. This includes everything from food and medicine to toys and other accessories.

Speaking to Contxtco, Mateen said: “I decided to bet on LAIKA because I saw an excellent team with vision and ability to become a pioneer in the regional pet industry. I saw sustained exponential growth that caught my attention, and when I met its founders, I didn’t hesitate to invest.”

The entrepreneur has been involved in several startups across a variety of sectors since leaving Tinder, including digital men’s health clinic MOSH and heavy machine rental platform Tendered.

Mateen is also part of the $2 billion lawsuit against Match Group and IAC that alleges the dating app was deliberately undervalued in order to decrease the value of early employee stock options.

Global Dating Insights interviewed Leigh Isaacson, founder of Dig – the dog person’s dating app, on the third episode of The GDI Podcast last week. 

The startup hosts popular launch parties in each of its new cities, where dog owners can discover a range of new companies that provide different pet services.

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