The pet wellness industry, valued at over $100 billion globally, is booming, with an increasing number of pet owners seeking ways to extend the health and lifespan of their beloved animals. As the demand for scientifically backed, personalised pet care grows, New Zealand-based Sprout Agritech has announced its latest pre-seed investment in POP, a company redefining pet wellness with innovative, science-backed solutions.
Founded by Alan Tsui, Gigi Ng, and Lauren Bonds, POP’s flagship product, POP-Topper, is a daily nutritional supplement designed to target inflammatory pathways and biomarkers, promoting immunity and longevity in dogs. Made with human-grade ingredients and 62 bioactives, POP-Topper comes in convenient sachets to pour over your dog’s meal, supporting joints, digestion, skin and coat, cognition, and heart health—all without additives or fillers.
POP’s vision goes beyond nutrition, aiming to make data-driven care more accessible and actionable for pet parents through its digital health platform. This includes POP-Labs, which delivers straightforward, science-backed content to improve canine healthspan and well-being, and POP-Insights, an AI-powered tool offering personalised recommendations based on each dog’s unique health profile. Together, these tools enable informed, proactive care, fostering longevity and vitality in dogs.
“At POP, we see dogs as more than companions—they’re key to our own health and happiness. With over 500 million dogs worldwide, the potential to improve lives is immense. With Sprout’s support, we’re driving a new era of pet health that benefits both ends of the leash,” shares Alan Tsui, CEO of POP.
POP’s founding team has a proven track record of working together to deliver shareholder value. Alan Tsui previously co-founded an analytics startup acquired by Cathay Pacific Airways and led the launch of an e-commerce business unit within Hong Kong Telecom, achieving US$100 million in annual revenue in less than three years. Gigi Ng, formerly a lead product manager at the South China Morning Post, and Lauren Bonds, a seasoned operations leader who oversaw F&B marketing for over 2,000 restaurants at Marriott International, were both key members of Alan’s leadership teams in prior roles. Collaborating with Massey University, AgResearch, and the New Zealand Food Innovation Network, the team worked with animal scientists and food technologists to rigorously develop POP-Topper—from formulation and palatability testing to metabolomics studies—ensuring scientific rigour and the highest standards.
“This investment represents a significant step in redefining pet wellness, a market poised for innovation. POP's vision of personalised pet care signals a future where pet health is elevated by tailored solutions that enhance longevity and overall wellbeing. We’re thrilled to support POP as they continue to develop transformative solutions that redefine pet health.” comments Sprout Agritech CEO Sandhya Sriram
This is the ninth investment Sprout has made with its investment partners US-based Finistere Ventures, Kiwi dairy giant Fonterra and venture builder OurCrowd, with the support of Te Pokapū Auaha Callaghan Innovation’s Deep Tech Incubator programme. The programme supports the commercialisation of early-stage deep tech ventures in New Zealand.
ABOUT POP
Founded in New Zealand with a focus on large international markets, POP is a pet health and wellness company that specialises in clean, science-backed innovations for dogs. In collaboration with a team of animal and food scientists from top research institutions, the company focuses on raising the standards of pet health by combining nutrient rich ingredients with scientific research. Learn more at pop-labs.com.
