Chinese social network for pets raises $6M funding, reports 5M furry users

SmellMe, a Chinese social network for pets, announced today it landed US$6 million in series A funding led by Innovation Works, according to 36kr. The startup claims it now has 5 million registered users.

Beijing-based SmellMe lets pet owners create profiles for their animals. They can decorate and post pictures and status updates, discuss pet-related topics in forums, and watch videos. Pet owners can see other users around them and join groups, where they set up real-world activities from going on walks to breeding.

Tech in Asia first reviewed SmellMe about one year ago, when the app reported 500,000 registered users. It received US$1.6 million in pre-series A funding from ChinaVenture group.

The app also functions as a location-based online-to-offline service platform. Users can shop for pet products and search nearby for pet related services, such as groomers, photographers, veterinarians, and kennels. It’s currently partnered with online pet food store Luscious and dog wearables company Petalways, to which it drives customers.

Some of these services are integrated directly into the app. Users can directly contact a veterinarian, for instance, to ask questions about their pet’s health. Expanding these integrated features will be something the startup pushes for using its fresh funding in the coming months.

About 33 million households in China have a cat or a dog.

(Source: 36kr)