Riley, a Global pet health platform founded by Luke Boddis, today announced that it has been named to the OnStage Top 100 European Startups list, marking an early milestone for the company as it develops an app designed to bring core pet health information into one place. The recognition comes as pet owners face rising veterinary costs, more complex ownership structures across practices, and increased demand for clearer information about insurance, treatment records, and vet bills.
A Timely Response to a Fragmented Pet Care System
The announcement follows heightened public attention on the pet care market in the United Kingdom. The Competition and Markets Authority has reported that veterinary prices have risen significantly since 2016 and has examined concerns around pricing transparency, billing practices, and market concentration. The review has also brought attention to the fact that many pet owners may not know when local practices are part of larger corporate groups, a structure that can affect how services, referrals, and communications are presented.
Riley is being developed to address the everyday confusion that can arise when pet health information is spread across different insurers, veterinary practices, email inboxes, invoices, and personal records. The app is intended to help pet owners store medical history, interpret veterinary bills in plain English, manage insurance claim information, and access guidance at any time. Rather than replacing veterinary advice, Riley is designed to help owners organize information, understand next steps, and approach decisions with clearer context.
Built From a Christmas Day Emergency
Riley was created after Boddis experienced an emergency with his own dog, also named Riley, on Christmas Day. During the incident, he found himself without a clear view of what the insurance policy covered, without easy access to the dog’s medical history, and without a straightforward explanation of the costs that followed. The experience highlighted a gap between the medical care available to pets and the administrative support available to their owners.
“The moment that led to Riley was not theoretical,” said Luke Boddis, Founder of Riley. “I was in an emergency situation with my own dog, and I did not have the information I needed in one place. I could not easily see what was covered, I could not quickly find his medical history, and I did not have a simple way to understand the bill. Riley is being built around that specific problem, with a focus on clarity when owners need it most.”
Operator Experience Applied to Pet Health
Before founding Riley, Boddis held commercial leadership roles in high-growth technology companies. He was the first business development hire at Checkout.com, where he contributed to the company’s growth through its expansion toward unicorn status. He was also an early employee at Statista, gaining experience in scaling data-led products for broad commercial use.
That background is shaping Riley’s development as a platform that combines consumer accessibility with operational structure. Pet health involves multiple parties, including owners, veterinary practices, insurers, emergency providers, and specialists. Riley’s aim is to provide a single place where information related to those interactions can be organized and interpreted more clearly. The platform reflects a broader shift in consumer health and financial technology, where users increasingly expect records, claims, payments, and guidance to be connected through digital tools.
Recognition Among European Early-Stage Startups
Riley’s selection for the OnStage Top 100 European Startups list provides external recognition for the company at an early stage. The list highlights startups across Europe that are building products in sectors including consumer technology, health, financial services, software, and other high-growth industries. Notably, Riley was the only pet-focused company featured on the list, underscoring its unique approach to addressing one of the most common challenges in the pet ownership journey.
The pet market has continued to change as ownership increases, veterinary services become more complex, and insurance products expand. At the same time, many owners still rely on manual processes to collect records, submit claims, interpret invoices, and understand treatment costs. Riley’s development is centered on reducing that administrative burden by creating a clearer digital layer around pet care.
One Place for Records, Claims, and Guidance
The Riley app brings together several functions that are often separated across different systems. Its planned features include a central space for pet medical records, tools to support insurance claim management, clearer explanations of veterinary bills, and round-the-clock guidance for common questions that arise before, during, and after treatment. The company describes the platform as a support layer for owners navigating the practical side of pet health.
Riley maintains information through its official website at www.rileypets.com, where pet owners and industry observers can learn more about the platform. The company also shares updates through its Instagram profile, including product progress, founder updates, and information related to pet health clarity.
As the United Kingdom pet care market continues to face regulatory scrutiny and consumer pressure for greater transparency, Riley’s announcement places the company within a broader movement toward clearer, more organized pet ownership support. The company is continuing to build its early-stage platform with the goal of helping owners better understand the information, documents, and decisions that shape pet health care.
About Riley
Riley is a pet health platform based in the United Kingdom. Founded by Luke Boddis, the company is developing an app that brings together pet medical records, insurance claim support, bill translation, and round-the-clock guidance in one place. Riley was inspired by Boddis’s personal experience during an emergency involving his dog, Riley, and is focused on improving transparency, clarity, and organization for pet owners navigating veterinary care.
For more information email them at luke.boddis@rileyapp.co.uk