Editing Catipilla

==Summary==

Catipilla designs, manufactures and retails an innovative range of wall-mounted products that enrich the lives of cats. After a 5.36x increase in orders during 2020 lockdown (compared to Q2 & Q3 2019), Catipilla requires investment to scale up sales, distribution, manufacturing and export capability.

* 2,000+ units sold in 16 countries in first 3 yrs.
* 2.3x growth in orders YOY. Direct sales via website, Etsy & Amazon.
* Returning customers, exceptional 5-star reviews, zero returns
* 2018 PetQuip ‘Product of the Year’ finalist

==Idea==

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The cat segment of the pet market is worth an estimated £5B in the UK alone and we feel it's largely underserved. 'Food' aside, there's no dominant cat brand. For too long the UK's 8M cats have put up with unimaginative, poorly designed, low-quality products. If you're a cat owner, you'll know what we mean.

Following an extensive career in engineering and sales at NASA, IBM and Oracle, Andy Sutton founded Catipilla after solving a need for his own family cat. Within 3 years Catipilla has grown into a vibrant new cat brand positioned to make an impact in the global pet market worth £110B and growing at 6.5%.

We're passionate about cat health, well-being and happiness. Our first products are a collection of high quality, innovative and functional, wall-mounted climbing frames, resting points and scratchers that create exciting, new living spaces for cats.

In 3 years Catipilla has:

* Sold 2,000+ products in 16 countries
* Grown quickly; 2.3x YoY order growth in 2020
* Secured amazing customer reviews; 4.9/5.0
* Finalist in the PetQuip '2018 Product of the Year'
* Listed at Pets at Home

We have a growing number of installations in vet practices, catteries and cat rescue centres. We're endorsed by International Cat Care and have a partnership with IAMS, a global pet food giant.

Our next steps are accelerated growth through new retail distribution channels in the UK and international export market.

==Team==

Catipilla is a family business.

Andy Sutton: founder. Cambridge educated, a design engineer & experienced business professional with 16 years experience in corporations (NASA, IBM, Oracle) and 15 years as an entrepreneur (3 start-ups). Andy’s skills include leadership, sales, finance, operations & engineering.

Joseph Sutton: co-founder (part time). An honours graduate of Loughborough University with a degree in marketing & communications. Joseph has oversight of Catipilla's marketing function. Our day-to-day marketing delivery is outsourced to an exceptional digital marketing agency, Exposure Ninja.

Alan Sutton: adviser. A highly experienced business professional with 50+ years of experience in public and private company roles (including Anovo and Anglolink). Highly skilled in business growth, finance, exits & entrepreneurship.

Chris Isherwood - Experienced Operations Director, adviser, investor & our UK based manufacturing partner.

Paul Guy - lead investor - highly experienced and successful serial entrepreneur.

Catipilla came about through solving a problem for our ageing family cat. The solution was the catalyst for the large global opportunity that we are focused on today. New products, new markets & new customers are the immediate objective but the creation of an enduring, new brand in the pet market is where the ultimate vision lies.
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