Founded in 2011, Seattle-based A Place For Rover Inc. connects pet owners — Rover prefers the phrasing “pet parents” — with people who can provide services like pet sitting and dog walking. Rover estimates that about 92 percent of the U.S. population lives within a short drive of the more than 65,000 sitters who have signed up. Recently, the company announced a $40 million round of financing led by the venture-capital firms Foundry Group and Menlo Ventures. John Lapham says the company is mulling an initial public offering but there’s no set timetable.
LEGAL TEAM
Lapham is the first and only in-house lawyer at the fast-growing company. He works closely with a legal manager, who worked with him at Getty Images for about 10 years. Rover may soon bring on another in-house lawyer, Lapham said. The small team is a change of pace compared to Getty, where Lapham led a 25-person team spread over four countries. But Lapham said he doesn’t mind it.
