Hoomanely, a Palo Alto-based startup, has developed a smart feeding bowl called EverBowl combined with an AI platform intended to help dog owners detect early signs of illness in their pets. The EverBowl uses multiple sensors to track a dog’s food and water consumption, eating speed, chewing and swallowing sounds, facial thermals, and oral motions. This data is analyzed by the AI to establish a health baseline for each dog, alerting owners through an app when significant changes in behavior occur, which could indicate health concerns like dental problems or infections.

The company conducted an 18-month beta test involving over 80 dogs and gathered approximately 5 million data points. During testing, the system detected health issues such as a chipped tooth infection and tick fever, leading owners to seek veterinary care in a timely fashion. Hoomanely’s app not only shows alerts but also compiles long-term health reports that can assist veterinarians by providing continuous and objective data about a dog’s eating habits and wellbeing.

Currently, Hoomanely offers the EverBowl device along with a subscription-based app costing $29 per month. While the device shows promise, the startup acknowledges limitations due to its small initial user base and lack of comprehensive validation studies measuring sensitivity and accuracy against veterinary diagnoses. The company is planning further formal veterinary studies and designs to test its system’s predictive capabilities more rigorously across a broader population of dogs.

Looking ahead, Hoomanely aims to expand its product line with wearable devices like EverSense that track activity and rest, and EverHub, which will integrate data from other smart pet devices. The startup envisions evolving into a broader animal health data company providing insights for research, nutrition, and insurance industries. With $1.8 million raised in pre-seed funding, Hoomanely is preparing to enter a seed funding round to support these future developments and potential expansion to other animals beyond dogs.