From Night Shifts Abroad to Shaping India’s Pet Care Ecosystem

Key Takeaways

1. Grew up in a small NAL quarters with limited space and few resources
2. Pushed himself through engineering despite scoring just 50.1% in PCM
3. Survived New Zealand student life through McDonald’s night shifts and Maggi
4. Built 20 electronic repair stores before returning to India
5. Adopted Chippy, the dog who transformed his purpose
6. Founded Pet Warehouse to make pet care accessible and affordable
7. Created “Chippy,” his own product line inspired by his dog
8. Started Pet First Hospitals after losing a rescued dog to unethical care
9. Launched the Pet First App to offer home-based vet services
10. Backed by Upstox founders and featured in Economic Times
11. Driven by ethics, affordability, and solving real problems in pet parenting

Founder’s Story

Manjunath Reddy’s journey is defined by resilience. Growing up in small and cramped NAL quarters in Bangalore, even owning a puppy was a distant dream. Despite struggling academically and barely passing school, he pushed himself through engineering. When the chance came to study in New Zealand, he moved abroad on a loan taken against his aunt’s house.

Life in New Zealand was far from easy. Night shifts at McDonald’s, three hours of sleep, and a diet of Maggi kept him going while he attended classes during the day. To earn a little extra, he began repairing gadgets after work — a side hustle that gradually grew into 20 full-fledged stores across the country.

Even with success, a part of him wanted to return home. When he finally came back to India and adopted Chippy, everything changed. Chippy wasn’t just a pet; he became the emotional anchor that pushed Manjunath toward the world of pet care. What he saw in the Indian market — high costs, poor accessibility, and lack of trust — made him realize there was a significant gap in the industry.

The Birth of Pet Warehouse

As a first-time pet parent, Manjunath felt that pet stores catered mainly to premium customers. Middle-income families struggled with overpriced products and limited options. That reality inspired Pet Warehouse — a brand built on affordability, community, and trust.

Key pillars included:

1. Fair pricing
2. Local-language staff
3. Strong grooming services
4. A wide product range
5. Customer-first operations

Within months, Pet Warehouse began outperforming long-established competitors. Today, it runs multiple stores in Bangalore, maintains 4.7+ ratings, and serves thousands of pet parents every month.

“Chippy”: A Product Line Inspired by Love

His bond with Chippy led to another idea — creating his own line of pet products. Named after his dog, “Chippy” includes:

1. Leashes, collars, and harnesses
2. Shampoos and grooming essentials
3. Dog and cat treats
4. Kibble launching soon

The vision was simple: high-quality essentials at prices that middle-income pet parents can afford.

Pet First Hospitals: A Promise Born from Heartbreak

A pivotal moment in Manjunath’s journey came when a rescued dog named Maya died in his arms due to unethical over-treatment. This loss became the foundation of Pet First Hospitals.

The model was built on:

1. Ethical care
2. Transparent treatment plans
3. No unnecessary procedures
4. Affordable pricing
5. A focus on pet-first decisions

Today, Pet First Hospitals handle 150+ cases a day across multiple branches, making them one of Bangalore’s fastest-growing veterinary networks.

The Pet First App: Bringing Vet Care Home

Manjunath noticed how stressful clinic visits were for many pets and parents. This inspired the Pet First App, offering:

1. At-home vaccinations
2. Home blood tests
3. Online consultations
4. Lower-cost care options

Within its first week, the app completed over 25 home visits — signalling strong demand for stress-free pet healthcare.

Scaling With Purpose and Support

Manjunath’s mission-driven approach drew the attention of Ravi and Kavita, founders of Upstox, who invested in his vision. His journey also earned recognition in the Economic Times. Despite rapid growth, his focus remains unchanged:

1. Hyperlocal expansion
2. Ethical care
3. Sustainable, long-term development
4. Solving real pain points for pet parents

A Vision for India’s Pet Future

Manjunath believes the Indian pet industry is poised for massive growth — but only founders solving real problems will shape its future.

His advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple:

“Don’t enter this industry for money. Enter it because something feels broken and you want to fix it.”