After two decades in the high-stakes world of investment banking, Dhanu Roy has traded credit ratings for canine nutrition. The former banker, who spent his free time as a competitive dog trainer, spotted a critical gap in the market for healthy, unprocessed pet food. This insight led him to launch Right4Paws in 2020, a startup now poised to disrupt the pet care industry with its innovative approach.
From Banking to Bowls: The Journey of a Pet Passion
Dhanu Roy's unique journey is defined by a 35-year passion for dog training, which he pursued alongside his finance career. "I am more experienced with dogs than with banking," Roy admits. His hands-on experience in competitive dog shows revealed a widespread problem: many Indian pet owners rely on home-cooked meals like curd rice and biryani, which lack balanced nutrition and can lead to obesity. Even standard commercial kibble, while providing essential nutrients, is often ultra-processed using decades-old technology, potentially harming pets' health and longevity.
Roy partnered with his former classmate from PSG College, Sameer Achan, another veteran banker who was running his own boutique investment firm. "For a long time, ultra-processed food was the only option available to a pet parent," Achan notes. Together, they identified a stagnant sector ripe for innovation, where general food tech had advanced, but pet food manufacturing remained stuck in the 1950s.
The MFCD Technology: A Nutritional Breakthrough
The core of Right4Paws' disruption lies in its proprietary, patent-pending technology developed in collaboration with veterinary nutritionists. Called Multi-Factor Controlled Dehydration (MFCD), this method was refined over three years of product iteration.
Unlike traditional kibble production, which uses high heat and extreme pressure that destroy vital nutrients, the MFCD process carefully preserves them. The founders claim their method retains nearly 90% of the original nutrition, ensuring better nutrient integrity, bioavailability, and the natural characteristics of each ingredient.
Expansion Plans and Sourcing from Coimbatore
Today, Right4Paws offers a portfolio of 19 different products. This includes complete meals, nutritional additives for home-cooked food, dog treats, and a range of "in, on, and around" pet care items like specialised shampoos, grooming butter, and pet-safe cleaners.
The startup has successfully raised more than ₹20 crore to date, including founder capital. A recent funding round secured ₹14 crore from a group of High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs). This capital will fuel the expansion of their manufacturing facility in Coimbatore, a city Roy and Achan consider ideal for sourcing. They can procure 99% of their raw inputs—meat, eggs, and vegetables—locally from the Kongu region, working with suppliers who ensure traceability and export-grade quality.
With a strong foundation in India, Right4Paws is already setting its sights on international markets. The company plans to begin its global foray with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Europe, aiming to bring its nutrition-focused pet food to a worldwide audience.
