Maev
Series ARaised Since FeaturedReal food for real dogs
Direct-to-consumer human-grade raw dog food and wellness brand.
About
Maev is a pet nutrition company making the first human-grade raw dog food brand, offering whole-ingredient raw meals, vitamin bars, bone broth toppers, and supplements delivered via subscription. Founded in 2020 by Katie Spies (MIT) and Christine Busaba (Tufts/HBS), the company was born out of Spies' experience as a full-time dog walker in NYC, where she saw firsthand the gap between what dogs need nutritionally and what conventional pet food delivers. Maev's formulations are developed by PhD veterinary nutritionists from Cornell, Virginia Tech, and Purdue, and are AAFCO compliant. The company has served over 4 million meals, doubled its subscriber base since January 2022, and achieved 20%+ month-over-month growth. In 2025, Maev expanded into retail through a partnership with Chewy, and signed tennis star Jessica Pegula as a brand ambassador.
DailyDropout Take
Maev caught our attention as a Harvard Business School duo tackling the massive US pet food market with a genuinely differentiated product — raw, human-grade dog food delivered via subscription. While competitors like The Farmer's Dog went fresh-cooked, Maev bet on raw nutrition backed by veterinary science, achieving a 95%+ retention rate that speaks to real product-market fit. Their expansion onto Chewy validates the brand's crossover appeal beyond DTC.
Discovery signal: HBS founding team, differentiated raw positioning in crowded pet food DTC market, 95%+ retention rate, 20% MoM growth at time of feature
What Makes Them Unique
Maev is the first human-grade raw dog food brand, distinguishing itself from fresh-cooked competitors like The Farmer's Dog and Ollie by offering truly raw, whole-ingredient meals formulated by PhD veterinary nutritionists — a category that was previously only available through DIY preparation or local butchers.
4M+
Meals Served
20%+
MoM Growth
95%+
Retention Rate
$19M
Total Raised
Target Markets
Founders
Katie Spies
Co-Founder & CEO
Earned degrees in industrial design and environmental engineering at MIT. Previously worked in tech before spending a year as a full-time dog walker in NYC, inspiring her to create Maev. MBA from Harvard Business School.
Christine Busaba
Co-Founder & COO
Studied economics at Tufts University and worked on marketing analytics and strategy at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Met Katie during a project-based class at Harvard Business School. MBA from HBS.
Funding History
Lead: Springdale Ventures
Lead: VMG Partners