It started with a missed flight, a denied refund, and a 15-pound dachshund named Bodhi.
Co-founders Brad Pauer and Angela Le had booked a trip to London with their dog, confirming with the airline in advance that Bodhi could fly in the cabin. But days before departure, a follow-up call revealed a sudden policy change: non-service animals were no longer permitted in-cabin at Heathrow Airport. Despite the policy change, the airline refused to issue a refund. With no recourse and no safe alternative for their pet, they missed the flight and lost over $3,000.
That experience became the turning point. Along with engineer and fellow pet lover Sauradeep Paul, they founded Kruiz, the first AI-powered travel assistant built specifically for pet owners. As of this month, the Kruiz app is officially available on the Apple App Store, offering a smarter, more transparent way to navigate the complexities of traveling with pets.
Pet Travel Is Growing, but the Tools Haven’t Kept Up
Millions of pet parents travel each year, yet most still face outdated airline websites, hidden fees, and unclear regulations that can result in denied boarding, trip delays, or costly surprises. While the pet travel segment continues to grow alongside the broader $136 billion U.S. pet care industry, digital infrastructure has lagged behind.
Kruiz offers a different approach: a real-time AI assistant that helps pet parents plan and travel with confidence. By entering a pet’s breed, size, and destination, users receive instant, verified guidance on airline policies, pet fees, documentation requirements, and airport-specific restrictions.
“We didn’t set out to build a travel company,” said CEO Brad Pauer. “We just wanted to take our dog on a trip. But we realized this wasn’t just a personal inconvenience — it was a systemic issue that no one had solved.”
Powered by AI, Designed for Real Life
The core of Kruiz is its proprietary AI, built to address one of the most frustrating aspects of pet travel: scattered, inconsistent information. Airline rules can vary by carrier, route, aircraft type, and destination. Often, this information is buried in PDFs or is only available by calling customer service.
Kruiz pulls from verified data sources and delivers personalized answers through a chat-based interface, giving users the clarity they need — before, during, and after their journey.
“Traveling with pets shouldn’t feel like a gamble,” said CMO Angela Le. “We built Kruiz so people could stop guessing and start planning stress-free, joyful trips with their animals.”
From Accelerator Success to Market Launch
Before launching publicly, Kruiz participated in the Fall 2024 UC Berkeley LAUNCH Accelerator, where the team refined its product and pitch. The startup won the Audience Choice Award at Demo Day, a signal that the platform resonated with early users, investors, and industry observers alike.
Kruiz’s beta program brought in more than 500 sign-ups and informed key product improvements ahead of its full release. The team has also partnered with over 10 pet influencers and brands to increase awareness and build community momentum around modern pet travel.
What’s Next for Kruiz
With the app now live, Kruiz will continue to expand its capabilities. Pet-friendly hotel booking is slated for release in June 2025, followed by integrated flight and car rental search features by the end of the year. International destination support is in active development.
“We’re not just solving pet travel,” Pauer said. “We’re reimagining travel itself — making it more inclusive, intelligent, and seamless.”
Download Kruiz Today
The Kruiz app is now available on the Apple App Store. To learn more, visit Kruiz’s website or follow them on Instagram, TikTok, or LinkedIn.
Because travel should work for everyone, including the pets we call family.
Spencer Hulse is the Editorial Director at Grit Daily. He is responsible for overseeing other editors and writers, day-to-day operations, and covering breaking news.
