Bitten by the Startup Bug: A Tech Startup Story with Petscreening

In this episode of the Tech Startup Stories Podcast, we speak with John Bradford, founder and CEO of Petscreening, about the unexpected route that led him from engineering and corporate sales into property management, public office and eventually the creation of a platform that reshaped how the rental industry handles pets. The discussion traces how a single moment in his own portfolio revealed a structural gap most landlords had normalised, how he built and deployed an MVP without telling his own team he was behind it, and how the combination of lived experience, political insight and a genuine love of animals positioned him to create a category that did not previously exist.

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Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

From operational pain point to product opportunity

John’s career has never followed a tidy linear path; instead, it has moved through engineering, enterprise sales, property investment, and a significant political role as a state legislator. These experiences appear unrelated at first glance, yet they all deepened his understanding of how rules, systems and people intersect, particularly in environments where risk and responsibility are shared. His shift into tech began when a visiting dog caused a bite incident in one of his rental properties, triggering an insurance process that forced him to question why the industry relied so heavily on assumptions rather than structured information that could protect both landlords and residents.

Once he recognised that no platform existed to handle the practical realities of pets in rented homes, the idea for Petscreening took shape. The premise was simple enough: landlords needed a consistent way to understand the pets entering their units and the behaviour of the owners responsible for them, and tenants needed clarity so they could keep their animals while following the rules. When he reframed the issue as a risk-management opportunity rather than a pet problem, the path forward became obvious.

Testing quietly, learning quickly

John funded the first version of Petscreening himself and worked with an external development team to get an MVP into the world. Instead of announcing it internally, he rolled it out to his own property management business without telling his team he had created it, because he wanted honest reactions uncoloured by hierarchy or obligation. The feedback was immediate and positive, and colleagues started asking where he had sourced the product because it solved problems they had long accepted as unavoidable.

Encouraged by that momentum, he shared the platform with trusted industry peers, and adoption grew. A defining moment came when he stayed at his trade show booth long after most exhibitors had packed away, which led to a conversation with a senior leader who had seen his pitch earlier that day. That chance interaction ultimately secured one of Petscreening’s earliest and most influential enterprise customers, reinforcing John’s belief that perseverance and presence still matter in an age obsessed with automation.

Building a business with intention and character

Petscreening’s culture is deliberately shaped rather than incidental. The company operates out of a converted textile mill where dogs arrive alongside their owners, cubicles are built from privacy fencing to create “yards,” and the office environment reflects the belief that professionalism and personality can coexist comfortably. The values behind the brand are not optional statements; they guide decision-making and behaviour. John emphasises opportunity, impact and enjoyment, and he leads from the front by doing whatever job needs attention, whether that means assembling exhibition stands or hauling equipment to the courier depot.

The platform itself has matured significantly. The introduction of the FIDO Score offered landlords a structured way to understand pet-related risk by focusing on owner behaviour rather than stereotypes about breeds. The company later launched FIDO Alert, a free national service that helps reunite lost pets with their families, as well as Down for Pets, which provides grants to people with Down syndrome who want to adopt rescue animals. These initiatives demonstrate a consistent belief that commercial success and social impact can reinforce one another when purpose remains clear.

Navigating growth, complexity and category creation

Scaling a business in a regulated environment is always demanding, and Petscreening is no exception. The landscape around service animals and emotional support animals continues to evolve, requiring both precision and vigilance. John’s legislative background has been invaluable here, allowing the company to interpret and adapt to new rules quickly while maintaining a strong commitment to fairness for residents who genuinely rely on assistance animals.

Over time, it became clear that the platform’s value extended beyond long-term rentals. Holiday accommodation faces its own challenges, particularly when pets are involved in furnished properties with different expectations and risks. Petscreening’s move into short-term rentals reflects its broader ambition to support pet-inclusive living, whether people are staying for two days or two years. The company’s international potential is obvious, although John is intentional about strengthening the US operation before expanding further.

Advice grounded in experience

When asked what he would tell his younger self, John returns to the importance of listening, embracing change and taking action rather than sitting on a promising idea until the perfect moment arrives. He acknowledges that earlier in his career he resisted uncertainty, but experience has taught him that momentum often emerges from small, sometimes uncomfortable steps. His message is clear: if a problem keeps resurfacing in your mind, there is usually a reason, and it is worth exploring before someone else builds the solution you imagined.

The broader lesson

Petscreening’s journey illustrates how expertise gained through hands-on experience can inform a powerful product when paired with persistence, curiosity and a willingness to challenge long-established norms. John did not set out to build a tech company; he set out to solve a problem that affected landlords, residents and pets alike. His ability to integrate professional insight, regulatory understanding and genuine empathy has allowed the platform to grow into a recognised industry standard.

Listen to the Podcast
Available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Learn more about Petscreening or connect with John Bradford.