Why We Invested in Koala Health’s Growth Round
At Valspring Capital, every investment starts with identifying where buyer behavior is transforming, where infrastructure is falling behind, and where visionary founders are shaping new categories. We’ve had a longstanding thesis focused on the veterinary pharmacy space, backing companies like Vetsource and Covetrus (f.k.a. Vet’s First Choice), which ultimately exited to Mars and Henry Schein, respectively. Building on our prior experience and continued tailwinds, we’re extremely excited to announce our investment in Koala Health, a next-generation pet prescription delivery platform that’s redefining the veterinary experience.
The market tailwinds are undeniable: pet ownership continues to grow, yet ordering prescription medications often relies on outdated systems like fax machines, phone calls, and clunky workflows. Both veterinarians and pet parents want a better user experience. Koala Health reimagines this process with a modern platform designed to serve both sides. What truly sets Koala apart is its partnership with veterinarians. Unlike Chewy or 1-800-PetMeds, Koala doesn’t cut vets out of the equation. Instead, it equips them with tools that streamline workflows, reduce administrative headaches, and strengthen relationships with their clients.
That same thoughtfulness extends to the consumer experience. Pet parents get a simple, seamless way to order and manage prescriptions, eliminating the stress of tracking multiple medications or chasing down refills. Behind the scenes Koala delivers real operational elegance with infrastructure built for precision, reliability and scale. It is rare to find a model that delights on the front-end while solving tough infrastructure problems on the back-end.
And the innovation doesn’t stop there. Koala’s signature pouch system and advanced medication packaging are two of its biggest breakthroughs, built on the team’s proven supply chain expertise from PillPack. Instead of juggling bottles and instructions, pet parents receive medications packed into easy pouches organized by dose and time. Pets with chronic conditions stay on track and owners gain peace of mind knowing every pill is accounted for. What looks like packaging is actually a breakthrough in adherence and convenience that removes friction from one of the hardest parts of managing a pet’s health.
Lastly, this isn’t founder Gavin Cotter’s first rodeo. Gavin previously served as VP of Ops Strategy and Director of Ops Engineering at PillPack (acquired by Amazon) and as a Technical Program Manager at Kiva Systems (now Amazon Robotics). With a career at the intersection of supply chain automation and consumer experience, he’s uniquely positioned to reimagine what pet pharmacy can be for both vets and the families they serve.
Koala Health is transforming how prescriptions are managed in veterinary care—not with brute force or big-box clout, but with precision, partnership, and empathy for both ends of the leash. We’re proud to join them on this journey.
Let’s go, Koala.