In Nigeria where millions of livestock farmers and pet owners struggle daily to access qualified veterinary care, Nigerian startup Vet Konect is emerging as a technology-driven solution to one of Africa’s most overlooked development challenges.
Launched in 2022, the platform leverages mobile phone ownership, artificial intelligence, and location-based services to directly connect animal owners with licensed veterinary professionals closest to them, while also offering AI-powered tools that help farmers improve productivity and reduce preventable losses.
By combining digital access with smart agricultural tools, Vet Konect is addressing a crisis that costs Nigeria an estimated US$445 million annually in animal disease losses, a problem that not only undermines food security but also destroys livelihoods across the livestock value chain.
Even more alarming is the widespread abuse of antibiotics by non-professionals, a practice that has evolved into a major public health threat linked to over 700,000 deaths annually across Africa.
Bridging the Animal Healthcare Access Gap
At its core, Vet Konect functions as a digital bridge between animal owners and veterinary professionals.
The platform allows users to locate and connect with veterinarians in their vicinity, eliminating the distance and access barriers that have historically prevented timely animal care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
“The thought process in building the platform was inspired by the twin problems of preventable animal diseases and limited animal health care coverage across Nigeria, and by extension other African countries,” said co-founder Terese Akpem, a veterinarian with more than eight years of professional experience.
By ensuring faster access to qualified professionals, the startup is reducing reliance on guesswork, self-medication, and unregulated drug use, while also creating employment opportunities for animal health professionals.
Artificial Intelligence at the Heart of Productivity
Beyond connectivity, Vet Konect is embedding artificial intelligence directly into livestock management.
The platform offers AI-powered feed calculators that help farmers optimize feed formulation and reduce waste, as well as disease prediction tools that act as early warning systems for potential outbreaks.
“We are also leveraging artificial intelligence uniquely in feed formulation for livestock farmers and disease prediction for early warning systems,” Akpem explained, adding that the startup uses USSD technology to extend these services to farmers without smartphones or reliable internet access.
This combination of AI and basic mobile technology ensures that even smallholder farmers in remote locations can benefit from modern animal health solutions.
Rapid Growth and a Pan-African Network
Since launching, Vet Konect has recorded strong traction. The startup has onboarded over 3,000 animal health professionals across eight African countries and has already served more than 150,000 animal owners.
It also claims to have built the largest accessible database of veterinarians in Nigeria, offering users flexibility and ease in locating trusted professionals based on proximity.
“Our goal is to connect five million Africans to animal care coverage by 2030 regardless of the barriers of distance,” Akpem said.
“We are passionate about empowering millions of animal owners with access to our technology to ensure equitable access to care, and improve livelihoods and food security.”
Although Nigeria remains its primary market, Vet Konect’s professional network already spans nearly 10 African countries, laying the foundation for broader continental expansion.
Bootstrapped Beginnings and the Search for Capital
Vet Konect’s journey began with limited resources. The startup was initially bootstrapped through personal savings and support from friends and family, a common path for many African tech founders.
“After building a functional model, we have been able to attract some funding in the form of grants and technical support that has helped in covering salaries and product fees to some extent, but not nearly enough,” Akpem noted.
With growing user adoption, the company is now actively seeking financing to close gaps in marketing, user onboarding, talent hiring, and the rollout of its planned micro-insurance solution, which aims to further protect animal owners from financial shocks related to disease outbreaks.
Building Africa’s Trusted Animal Care Platform
Looking ahead, Akpem envisions Vet Konect as a pan-African animal healthcare and social protection platform that farmers and pet owners can rely on across borders.
“In 2030, I aim to connect five million Africans across 54 African countries to animal care and social protection,” she said.
The startup currently generates revenue through a mix of subscriptions, advertisements, training fees, and affiliate marketing, creating multiple income streams that support long-term sustainability.
As Africa grapples with food security challenges, antimicrobial resistance, and limited rural healthcare access, Vet Konect’s technology-first approach positions it as a critical player at the intersection of agritech, healthtech, and artificial intelligence, proving that innovation in animal care may be just as vital as innovation in human healthcare.
Talking Points
Vet Konect is tackling a structurally neglected but economically critical sector by applying technology to a real, measurable problem, poor access to veterinary care and the cascading effects it has on food security, livelihoods, and public health.
Its strongest value lies in combining last-mile connectivity with practical AI tools such as feed formulation and disease prediction, which move the platform beyond a simple marketplace into a productivity and prevention system.
The inclusion of USSD technology is particularly strategic in the Nigerian and wider African context, as it acknowledges rural realities rather than assuming universal smartphone access.
However, the model’s long-term impact will depend on execution at scale, sustaining quality control across thousands of veterinarians, ensuring AI outputs are contextually accurate, and converting strong user traction into stable revenue.
While the vision of pan-African animal healthcare coverage is compelling, Vet Konect will need significant capital, strong regulatory alignment, and partnerships with governments and agricultural institutions to move from a promising platform to a truly systemic solution.
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