About TailStart
Tailstart was built to make pet care simpler and more reliable. Our doorstep grooming, dog training, and walking services help pets stay comfortable at home while supporting busy pet parents.
Our story
How we started our journey to transform pet care
TailStart began in 2025 with five friends, a shared love for pets, and a simple question: why should good quality pet care be so hard to find? Like many pet parents, we had experienced last-minute cancellations, inconsistent service quality, and care that didn't truly understand pets. Instead of accepting this as normal, we decided to build something better, together.
What started as conversations between long-time friends gradually became TailStart, a pet-first platform built on trust, compassion, and convenience. Vinayak leads with hands-on experience from building startups, while Prateek oversees daily operations and service quality. Yashjeet builds the technology behind the platform, Gautam shapes the brand and communication, and Sachin focuses on product and experience.
As TailStart grows, our goal remains steady: to be a dependable partner for pet parents at every stage. We are building step by step, with a long-term vision of bringing everything pets need under one trusted roof. Guided by friendship, empathy, and care for animals, we aim to make everyday pet care simpler, more reliable, and genuinely better.
Our mission
To inspire and enable everyone to experience the joy of pawrenthood, at least once in their lifetime.
Our vision
To be the most trusted companion for every journey in pawrenthood - from first steps to lifelong memories.
Our values
Pet-First Always
Every decision starts with what's best for the pet — their comfort, safety, and well-being come before speed or convenience.
Reliability Over Promises
We believe trust is built through consistency. Showing up on time, doing the job right, and communicating clearly matter more than big claims.
Thoughtful Care, Every Visit
From grooming to training to walking, we approach every service with patience, empathy, and attention to detail.
Meet our team
Passionate professionals dedicated to your pet's happiness
Vinayak Rao
Founder & CEO
With over 20 years of experience in user experience and product design, Vinayak has successfully built and exited two startups. He brings a hands-on approach to building Tailstart, combining product thinking with a strong commitment to animal welfare and service quality.
Yashjeet
Co-Founder & CTO
Yashjeet leads Tailstart's technology and platform architecture, focusing on building systems that are reliable, scalable, and easy to use. He ensures the technology behind Tailstart supports consistent service delivery and a smooth experience for both pet parents and teams.
Prateek Bilagali
Head of Operations
An internationally trained and award-winning pet groomer, Prateek brings over 15 years of hands-on experience in pet care and grooming. He oversees on-ground operations, service quality, and training to ensure high standards across every visit.
Gautam Kini
Head of Marketing
With 15+ years of experience across early-stage startups, Gautam leads brand, communication, and growth at Tailstart. He focuses on building trust with pet parents through clear messaging, thoughtful storytelling, and consistent brand experiences.
Sachin
Head of Product
Sachin leads product strategy at Tailstart, translating real pet parent needs into practical, scalable solutions. He works closely with design, engineering, and operations to ensure products are purposeful, intuitive, and aligned with everyday use.
Abhijeet
Head of QA
Abhijeet is responsible for quality assurance across Tailstart's products and services. Through rigorous testing and attention to detail, he ensures reliability, consistency, and trustworthiness in every experience delivered to pet parents.