It all started with an everyday annoyance: cleaning up after the dog. Like millions of other pet owners, Anna Gannon, the founder of innovative dog waste cleaning solution Curbicus, found herself begrudgingly picking up pet waste with flimsy plastic bags for the lack of a better option. “Not only was it inconvenient and gross,” she recalls, “I realized I was contributing to the growing environmental problem of single-use plastics.” This frustration sparked the idea for Curbicus, a company designed to redefine how we handle dog waste by making it simpler, cleaner, as well as more sustainable.
Today, Curbicus offers an innovative vacuum device that collects pet waste in compostable capsules — completely hands-free. What started as an idea born out of frustration has become a viable business, attracting not only dog owners looking for a cleaner solution but also collaborators and investors keen on the company’s sustainable mission.
Rising Demand for Smarter Pet Waste Management
Pet ownership in the U.S. is booming. There are over 90 million dogs in American households, and the number continues to grow. However, with it, the problem of pet waste has grown too. Not only is canine waste terrible for the environment but left uncollected, it can get into landfills and water systems, contaminating soil and water with pathogens, polluting ecosystems, and posing serious health risks.
Yet, in cities and suburbs alike, managing this waste is a daily chore for dog owners, and the available pooper scooper solutions are either too inconvenient or environmentally irresponsible. While this growing concern about sustainability has spurred a significant market for pet litter solutions, dog waste remained largely overlooked for a long time, until Curbicus.
A Simple, yet Eco-Conscious Solution: Curbicus, The Future of Pet Care
At first glance, the Curbicus device seems like a simple tool: a vacuum-like device that clips to a dog leash, designed to collect waste in compostable capsules. And yet, its design reflects a deep understanding of what dog owners need.
Curbicus is lightweight, easy to carry, a perfect fit for every hand size, and most importantly, eliminates the need to touch waste entirely. The real innovation, however, lies in its eco-friendly design.
Traditional plastic dog waste bags are a significant contributor to landfill waste and environmental pollution. Research indicates that each plastic bag can produce approximately 1.58 kg of CO2. Even the so-called biodegradable bags don’t decompose in landfills due to the lack of oxygen and microbes. This issue is almost entirely solved by the compostable Curbicus capsules that break down naturally, ensuring a sustainable end to the waste management cycle.
By the company’s fourth year, Curbicus anticipates selling at least 935 million compostable capsules, potentially preventing the release of 1,480,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. Feedback from current beta customers has revealed that this eco-friendly angle is one of the key reasons they are drawn to the product, especially in today’s climate-conscious consumer landscape.
The Pet Industry: A Multibillion-Dollar Goldmine
Curbicus is diving into the booming pet waste management market, set to reach $10.5 billion by 2025 in the U.S. and Europe alone. As Anna notes, “The average dog poops twice a day, and the number of dogs is increasing,” pointing out the ongoing demand.
As more and more pet owners treat their furry friends like family, spending on their care continues to rise, and so does the need for eco-friendly clean-up solutions. This makes Curbicus‘ offering aptly timed, addressing the growing need for sustainable waste management.
Built to Scale: A Lucrative, Future-Proof Business Model
Curbicus is officially hitting the market in 2025 and is quickly catching the attention of pet owners seeking better dog waste solutions. By using a direct-to-consumer model, they offer a subscription service for compostable capsules, ensuring lasting relationships with customers.
Gannon highlights the company’s gross margins at scale being around 73%, making it an attractive prospect for investors looking for high-margin, recurring revenue-generating businesses. Moreover, the product line will soon expand to include larger dogs, addressing a segment of the market currently seriously underserved by traditional waste management solutions.
Seizing the Future: Curbicus Moving Towards Explosive Growth
Curbicus is already looking beyond its initial product offering, with plans to explore partnerships with dog parks and local governments. There is also potential to expand the product line for multi-pet households and larger waste solutions for public spaces.
The company is also widening its reach beyond the U.S. with licensing agreements in the EU and UK, gearing up for global growth. As Curbicus continues to grow, Anna remains focused on the future. “We want to keep innovating,” she says. “There are so many opportunities within the pet care industry, and we’re excited to see where we can go next.”
Curbicus has taken a daily chore — one that most dog owners don’t think twice about — and turned it into a thriving business. By focusing on sustainability, convenience, and community, Anna Gannon has transformed her frustration with pet waste into a company that’s not only profitable but also part of a larger mission to make the world a cleaner place.
