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Nov 28, 2022

Instinct Announces Growth Equity Investment from Mainsail Partners

Instinct Science, a fast-growing veterinary practice management software platform, plans to use the investment to accelerate product development for animal care centers.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Instinct Science, a veterinary practice management software and workflow platform, announced a significant investment from Mainsail Partners, a growth equity firm that invests in fast-growing software companies. Instinct plans to use the capital to accelerate product development and enhance services and support for veterinary hospitals everywhere.


“The veterinary industry that we care deeply about faces some unique challenges. Instinct’s mission is to be part of the solution by building software that is actually loved by veterinary teams and those that operate veterinary centers,” said Caleb Frankel, VMD, founder and CEO of Instinct. “As we reflect on this exciting milestone, we’re constantly reminded of how impactful Instinct has become to our hospitals and we take this awesome responsibility seriously. We believe that we are just getting started and with this investment and the experience Mainsail brings as a partner, we’re looking forward to expanding our products and services for the long term. We see this as not just an investment in Instinct but also a vote of confidence in the broader veterinary world, animal care, and future veterinary teams.”

Instinct provides practice management software as well as workflow and e-prescribing tools for the veterinary industry through their innovative Instinct EMR, Instinct Treatment Plan, and Instinct Scripts products.


Instinct’s robust platform, combined with a flexible and easy-to-use interface, makes it attractive to veterinary hospitals of all sizes, including corporate-owned centers with multiple locations looking to modernize. Their products help veterinary centers automate charge capture and enhance workforce efficiency and staff happiness. Hospitals that use Instinct benefit from functionality such as decision support tools, electronic smart boards, digital treatment sheet and anesthesia management, diagnostic and payment integrations, built-in referral management tools, patient safety warning systems, and advanced billing and reporting tools.


“This is an exciting opportunity and a responsibility we take personally,” said Taylor McKinley, Partner at Mainsail Partners. “As pet owners ourselves, we appreciate the importance of pet care that is delivered safely and efficiently, and we believe the Instinct team has built a trailblazing solution to make the lives of veterinary teams, and ultimately pet owners, better,” added McKinley. “We look forward to working with Caleb and the team to continue building long-term value for leading veterinary centers and the customers they serve.”

The investment closed in the first half of 2022 and financial terms are not being disclosed.

Taylor McKinley, KC Kanoff, and David Gersholowitz joined Frankel on the board of directors. In addition, Gayle Crowell, former software company CEO and seasoned board director with extensive experience in technology company operations, sales, marketing, and C-level management, has joined the board as Executive Chair.


About Instinct Science

Instinct’s practice management platform is the patient nerve center for some of the most advanced veterinary care centers. Founded in 2017 by Frankel and a team of veterinary and technology professionals, Instinct has seen over 60,000 users on their platforms in veterinary centers spanning 4 continents. Their suite of products power many of the industry’s leading university veterinary teaching centers and multispecialty/emergency advanced care centers. For more information, visit www.instinct.vet.


About Mainsail Partners

Mainsail Partners is a growth equity firm that partners with founders of bootstrapped software companies to help them realize their potential. For nearly 20 years, Mainsail has been helping management teams navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with rapidly scaling a software company. The firm includes women and men who are former software company operators who have seen these challenges first-hand. Mainsail offers assistance across a variety of functional areas including talent, finance, customer success, sales and marketing, product management, and R&D. With offices in Austin and San Francisco, the firm has raised over $2.2 billion in committed capital and invested in more than seventy companies. For more information, visit www.mainsailpartners.com or follow the firm on LinkedIn.


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